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How can I NOT have my outgoing emails accumulate on gmail?

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by MacOrRon

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I'm using Thunderbird with gmail via POP3, not IMAP. I want to just grab the emails, download them to my PC, and delete them from gmail. That part works great. But with both TB and my previous Outlook 2000, my outgoing emails end up staying on the gmail server. I see no control in TB nor on the gmail site to say "delete outgoing emails after sending" like is done when receiving. Is this just the nature of email systems? So every couple months I log onto gmail manually, and delete all of them. I just don't like my emails being available to a hacker. Are there any settings to accomplish this? Thanks.

I'm using Thunderbird with gmail via POP3, not IMAP. I want to just grab the emails, download them to my PC, and delete them from gmail. That part works great. But with both TB and my previous Outlook 2000, my outgoing emails end up staying on the gmail server. I see no control in TB nor on the gmail site to say "delete outgoing emails after sending" like is done when receiving. Is this just the nature of email systems? So every couple months I log onto gmail manually, and delete all of them. I just don't like my emails being available to a hacker. Are there any settings to accomplish this? Thanks.

Chosen solution

If there is no such option in the Gmail settings then I'm afraid that Gmail does this by default when using their SMTP server (i.e. the Gmail SMTP server saves a copy of your outgoing email in your Gmail Sent folder). So there is likely nothing else you can do other than using a different SMTP server, e.g. the one provided by your ISP.

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Verify your server settings. Do you have the option 'place a copy to the Sent folder' checked? If not, I think this is just the nature of the Gmail system.

I just don't like my emails being available to a hacker.

If that was the case, why would you use Gmail in the first place?

To increase the security of your account you can activate Google 2-step authentication.

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Christ1 asked: Verify your server settings. Do you have the option 'place a copy to the Sent folder' checked? If not, I think this is just the nature of the Gmail system.

Not sure if you mean "server settings" in Thunderbird or at gmail. But in TB, under Account Settings/Copies and Folders there is a check in the BOX for "Place a Copy in:" I found yesterday that if I UNCHECK this box that I do not get a copy in my "Sent" folder in TB. I WANT a copy there, just not on the gmail server. Also, that did NOT prevent the copy showing up on gmail, just TB. Can you explain what the difference is between the two "bullet point" choices are? They look identical: 1. "Sent Folder on:" 2. "Other" The fields to the right seem to be the same. Thanks,.

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You're right, for a POP account, the option "Place a Copy in:" in TB, under Account Settings/Copies and Folders would only enable/disable local copies to the Sent folder. If you want local copies, leave it checked.

To control the setting for copies to the Sent folder on the server, login to your Gmail account via browser, and look for an option to disable it there.

The 'Other' option in TB can be used to chose another account's Sent folder, e.g. underneath 'Local Folders'.

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Christ1 said: To control the setting for copies to the Sent folder on the server, login to your Gmail account via browser, and look for an option to disable it there.

There is no option whether to leave or not leave OUTGOING mail on the server, that's my issue. I don't know if it's TB that creates a copy or whether it's gmail since I don't understand the mechanism of POP3.

Does anyone know IF or HOW this can be done? (I think I had the same problem years ago with WildBlue as server) Thanks.

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Chosen Solution

If there is no such option in the Gmail settings then I'm afraid that Gmail does this by default when using their SMTP server (i.e. the Gmail SMTP server saves a copy of your outgoing email in your Gmail Sent folder). So there is likely nothing else you can do other than using a different SMTP server, e.g. the one provided by your ISP.

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OK, thanks. I'll take that as the final answer. I figured as much but thought I'd ask the experts in case there was a "trick". Mac