Are your emails mysteriously deleting from your iPhone or Outlook? Don’t worry, there’s a computer fix for that. That email issue typically means that your emails are set to not remain on its email server. When that happens, the first device (i.e. iPhone or Outlook from a computer) will download the email and remove it from other devices configured for that email account.
Here’s how to stop emails from deleting on their own if you use Outlook and an iPhone:
On your iPhone, you typically do not have to configure anything if you’re having deleting email issues. With the current iOS on your iPhone, your emails are usually set to accept all incoming emails. However, if you’re using an older iOS (iOS 6.0 or earlier) that is found on the iPhone 4s or earlier or if you have an Exchange account configured, you may have to tweak your iPhone settings.
If your iOS is 6.0 or earlier or your iPhone is configured via an Exchange server: Go to Settings for the specific email account. From Mail, Contacts, Calendar settings, tap on the specific account you are having a problem with. Then, tap on the Account tab at the top (usually has your E-Mail address in there also). You should see your server information. Down at the bottom tap on Advanced.
Go to Deleted Messages. You may have “Remove” set to Day. Change Remove to be never, or Week or Month.
On your computer with Outlook 2016,
- Go to->File->Account settings.
- Highlight your current POP3 account and click Change->More settings->Advanced-> make sure to select Leave a copy of messages on the server.
- You can uncheck the box that reads “Remove from server after 14 days” or set it to a limit you prefer. Also, it is a good rule of thumb to check the box, “Remove the server when deleted from ‘Deleted Items.’ There’s no need to keep your email on your iPhone if you intended to delete the email. And vice versa as well.
On your computer with Outlook 2013 / 2010, go to->File->Info->Account Settings->Double-click on the POP3 email account->More Settings->Advanced->Advanced-> make sure to select leave on server. You can uncheck the box that reads “Remove from server after 14 days” or set it to a limit you prefer. Also, it is a good rule of thumb to check the box, “Remove the server when deleted from ‘Deleted Items.’
On your computer with Outlook 2010, go to->File->Options->Advanced->Go to Send/Receive section->Edit->Select your email account->Account Properties->Advanced Tab-> make sure to select leave on server. You can uncheck the box that reads “Remove from server after 14 days” or set it to a limit you prefer. Also, it is a good rule of thumb to check the box, “Remove the server when deleted from ‘Deleted Items.’ This way, everything is synced properly.
Or if you have Outlook 2007, go to-> Tools->Account Settings->Select your email account->Change->More Settings->Advanced->select leave a copy of messages on the server. You can uncheck the box that reads “Remove from server after 14 days” or set it to a limit you prefer. Also, it is a good rule of thumb to check the box, “Remove the server when deleted from ‘Deleted Items.’ This way, your deleted items folder is also the same for your iPhone and computer that has Outlook.
Configuring your Outlook account is the easy way to stop your emails from being removed from your iPhone or Outlook. If you need further help with this, you may contact a local email support specialist.
30 thoughts on “Emails are disappearing from iPhone / Outlook – Emails delete on their own – Emails deleting on iPhone / Outlook”
No, that’s the not the problem. The problem is that when a mail program like Outlook is opened on another machine and the setting there are to remove emails from server after downloading, then all messages spontaneously disappear on the iphone, and they are not in the trash; they are gone.
Hi Edna, you are spot on! This is the cause of why emails could disappear from your iPhone.
My IOS 10.2 iPhone does not have a field to select “never delete from server”. Can you help me, I have been working on this problem for weeks and no one seems to understand it, not even Apple.
Do you have a backup to restore from?
There is no such option on the iPhone but you may find it within Outlook or online in your email host settings.
I have run into the same problem on two occassions within the past week. I have no idea why it is happening. They always seem to just come back after a few hours. Im afraid that one day they wont. Any advice on how to prevent this? Like others I dont see the “never delete from server option” Thanks You
Hi Jay, you should make sure there are no other Outlook accounts set up that may be playing tug-of-war with your emails. If you’re still having issues, it may be wise to remove and reset up your Outlook account. It may be an old configuration that’s not stable or the Outlook account itself could be corrupted. Just a couple things to try first.
I lost 5 years of emails in my sent items folder. Unrecoverable including critical legal evidence. It’s obviously a bug. Reminds me why I moved to MAC 10 years ago.
Well, we’ve seen Mac email being deleted inadvertently or through odd bugs. Just make sure to back up, Brian, so you always have a disaster recovery backup.
I just upgraded to a new computer with Windows 10 and Outlook 16, configured to an IMAP connection. My settings on my iPhone mail didn’t change but now everything that is done on each device is mirrored on the other device. So if I delete a message on iPhone it’s deleted on computer, and vice versa. The only thing that’s remaining the same is the provider webmail, which is retaining a copy of all messages. I think my old Outlook 2010 was configured as POP, but I can’t seem to get Outlook 2016 to be the same. It keeps wanting to synchronize everything. This is ridiculous. I can’t keep a billion messages on my iphone, and if I go and get deleted ones from the web mail server to put back in my Outlook inbox, bingo, they appear on my iPhone as well. Surely there must be a way to fix this.
If you are in NYC, Alison, feel free to get in touch with us in person to further assist with your email support. We are at New York Computer Help, 53 East 34th Street in NYC.
On your iPhone – settings, contacts, accounts, exchange, then mail days to sync – no limit.
ive got same problem as alison cant seem to stop only just started doind this recently
Hi Michael, have you checked if your emails are configured on another computer or device that may be pulling them to the computer/device and off the server/cloud?
All of my E-mail on my I-phone 7 keep disappearing when I go to inbox to read them. They don’t even go to trash, they are just gone. I can’t continue on like this. I have Spectrum which was Time Warner a company I dislike very, very much. Can someone help me! Thank you.
Hi Cindy, You may have a setting on your Outlook that may need to be tweaked or your iPhone 7 email could be seriously corrupted. Check your Outlook settings to ensure that emails remain on your server so they don’t disappear. Any other questions, let us know!
You may have had a failing logic board or have no space left.
no exchange option after accounts
This is something you should chat with your company about in regard to the exchange option and settings.
Please how do I fix this problem from my Windows phone (Lumia 64). My outlook emails disappears like money.
Hi there, You should go to your email host provider site and set it how you’d like. Phone emails may only last 30 days by default.
Hey thank admin, you did really awesome. It’s helped us a lot. Roadrunner email log is one of the best webmail service provider in the USA and almost in the world. The only user needs to register themselves for this service and can easily use it. But those people those who face the problem with it or unable to delete roadrunner email account or roadrunner email is not working Roadrunner email settings outlook, can contact us at [email protected]
I appreciate you chiming in, Mr. Roadrunner tech.
I have run into the same problem on two occasions within the past week. I have no idea why it is happening. They always seem to just come back after a few hours. Im afraid that one day they wont. Any advice on how to prevent this? Like others I dont see the “never delete from server option” Thanks You
Glitches from Outlook or the email host are unavoidable, but it’s recommended to ensure your Outlook is backed up periodically in case disaster strikes.
As I can see you really solve a lot of issues of my with Outlook email , Can you also provide some tips for the Roadrunner Email Not Working issue??? As I have also take help from a third-party website: http://www.emailhelpdesks.co/roadrunner-email-not-working/ you can also suggest to me.
Have you run hardware tests? Sometimes, the issue may have nothing to do with your email.
Have you tried calling Roadrunner or TimeWarner or Spectrum? There may be a new server IP or address you have to connect to for incoming / outgoing email.
All tickets could also be canceled for a full refund up to 24 hours after the time of purchase with no cancellation fees.
Allegiant Cancellation Policy
Glad to visit your blog. Thanks for this great post that you share to us. For instant supported related to the Epson Printer Error Code E-11 please visit http://www.printercustomerservice.co/blog/epson-printer-error-code-e-11/ for instant help related to Printer.
Comments are closed.