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Why do all my emails, both normal and junk, keep coming back into my email even after I have deleted them?

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  • 6 have this problem
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  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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My regular email as well as the junk emails constantly show back up after I have deleted them, moved them to trash and emptied the trash. This happens repeatedly, up to 3 or 4 times!

My regular email as well as the junk emails constantly show back up after I have deleted them, moved them to trash and emptied the trash. This happens repeatedly, up to 3 or 4 times!

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If you keep getting deleted emails reappearing in the inbox then it sounds like you may have a corrupted folder, which usually occurs if compacting is not done on a regular basis.

Background info: When you delete an email, from your point of view, it disappears from inbox and reappears in the 'Deleted' or 'Trash' folder.

In reality, it is 'marked as deleted' and hidden from view, but it is still in the Inbox. This allows for people who might delete in error and need to get the email back via 'edit' > 'Undo delete message'.

To get rid of any traces of 'marked as deleted' emails and free up space, you would compact your Inbox.

Please do this: As your Inbox may be corrupted, do not compact just yet. Move all good emails into another suitable folder for organising. Delete all emails you do not want. when Inbox is empty, right click on Inbox and select 'Compact'.

Usually, you do not need to empty the Inbox in order to compact the folder, but if there is any sign of possible corruption, then it would be wise to move good emails first as you could risk losing them.

Helpful info: I use a helpful column that tells me the size of my folders. via 'Menu Bar': 'View' > 'Layout' > 'Folder Pane columns'

via 'Mail Toolbar': 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Layout' > 'Folder Pane columns'

the you can choose the 'Size' folder pane column. see image below.

Just to show you what I mean: If you have items in Junk and you choose to empty the folder. Right click on 'Junk' and select 'Empty Junk' all emails will disappear, but look at the 'Size' column, it will still show a size as if emails are still there. Right click on 'Junk' and select 'Compact' Notice how the size becomes nothing.