Inbox messages removed by POP3 sync?

[kenhlaw]

I've been having the same issue that I've seen several times in the forum: messages disappearing from my Inbox after a period of time. If I understand the answers I've read so far, if I download messages to my desktop mail program (Thunderbird) and it deletes messages from the server, or I delete them directly using my email provider's (Comcast) email web site, the next time Aqua-Mail syncs it will delete those messages from my phone that have been deleted from the server (it's a POP3 account)?? Is there a way to disable this behavior?? I'm looking for, essentially, one-way downloads: i.e. once messages are on my phone they stay there until I delete them (or I exceed the number of messages to keep that I set up in the settings). 

[Kostya Vasilyev]

There is.

Long press the account -> options and folders -> account options -> turn off "remove deleted messages".

And one step back from that -- at "options and folders" -- please check that the account is indeed POP3 and not IMAP.

You will also need to increase:

Aqua settings -> network -> WiFi / Mobile -> "Load when checking mail" (size)

This is so Aqua downloads each message *fully* when it checks mail -- and doesn't try to go back to server to complete the downloading later, and the message(s) not there anymore.

However, for multi-device sync (mobile, desktop, doesn't matter) -- I really, really recommend using IMAP everywhere.

With Comcast, it's something you have to sign up for (the default is POP3 only, how 1996):

https://xcsignup.comcast.net/onboardingapps/imap

[kenhlaw]

Thanks for replying so quickly.  The "Remove deleted messages" setting in the Account Options menu is not checked and never has been. This is a POP3 account. I will look into changing to IMAP, but for now any other ideas?

[Kostya Vasilyev]

Yes, there is one more setting (from way back, I should probably remove it):

Account's options and folders -> POP3 options -> "Purge when server is empty". Please be sure it's turned off, it specifically checks for server message count being zero.

[kenhlaw]

That one ("Purge when server is empty") is also off (and always has been).  That's why I've been confused.

[Kostya Vasilyev]

>> That one ("Purge when server is empty") is also off (and always has been).  That's why I've been confused

I'm also confused now.

Can you please capture it in the app's debug log?

See links below (in my signature).

Enable logging -> make sure there are a few messages to sync -> sync them into Aqua -> check mail in desktop app -> sync again in Aqua so they disappear.

Send the log to kmansoft / gmail / dot com.