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Delete Gmail Email on Phone But Not Computer? How

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Written By Mohit Jha
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh 
Published On June 28th, 2024
Reading Time 5 Minutes Reading

Finding that deleting the email on phone and still appearing on the computer can be troubling and difficult. Moreover, understanding the email protocols and sync settings that Gmail employs on different devices is crucial to solving this issue. In this post, we’ll examine the reasons for this and offer suggestions for ensuring that your emails are constantly synchronized across all of your devices.

Understanding Email Protocol

  • IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol):
    This protocol syncs your emails across all devices. Moreover, when you delete an email on one device, it should be deleted from the server and all other devices as well.
  • POP3 (Post Office Protocol):
    This protocol downloads emails from the server to a single device and does not sync actions (like deletions) across other devices.
    # Most modern email setups, including Gmail, use IMAP by default, but it’s important to ensure your devices are configured correctly.

Common Reasons for Sync Issues

1) Device Configuration

  • IMAP Disabled: If IMAP is not enabled in your Gmail settings, changes made on one device won’t be reflected on others.
  • Incorrect Account Settings: Different devices may have different email settings. Ensure all devices are set to use IMAP.
  • Outdated App Versions: Although Ensure that your email apps are up to date to avoid sync issues caused by outdated software.

2) Cache and Sync Settings

  • Sync Settings on Devices: Each device may have different sync settings. However, ensure that sync is enabled for Gmail on all your devices.
  • Cached Data: Sometimes, cached data on your email app may cause a sync delay. Moreover clearing the cache can resolve this issue.

How to Ensure Proper Sync Across Devices

A) Enabling IMAP in Gmail

  1. Open Gmail in a web browser.
  2. Click on the gear icon and select “See all settings.”
  3. Navigate to the “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” tab.
  4. Ensure that “Enable IMAP” is selected.
  5. Save changes.

B) Configuring Devices
1. For Android/iOS:

  • Open your email app.
  • Go to account settings and ensure IMAP is selected.
  • Enable automatic syncing if available.

2. For Desktop Clients (e.g., Outlook, Thunderbird):

Check the account settings to ensure IMAP is used.

  • Verify that the server settings match those recommended by Gmail (imap.gmail.com for incoming and smtp.gmail.com for outgoing).

C) Clearing Cache
1. On Mobile Devices:

  • Go to Settings.
  • Navigate to Apps or Application Manager.
  • Find your email app.
  • Tap on Storage and then Clear Cache.

2. On Desktop:
The process depends on the email client, but often you have to find the cache or storage settings by going to the settings or options menu.

Why Delete Email on Phone But Not Computer? Delete Gmail Emails from All The Devices

Manual Method-

  • Users must first open their Gmail account on a desktop computer.
  • Then, choose the emails that they wish to delete.
  • A little tick box will appear below the Search bar at the top of the page. Check it to select all emails.
  • Users will get a message: ‘All 50 chats on this page are selected’. Tap the second sentence.
  • You can also choose to Select all conversations in the primary if necessary.
  • To erase Gmail emails from all devices, click the Delete or Clear Selection button.
  • You will then get a notification stating that the conversation has been moved to trash.
  • Open the Trash folder and select all emails with the checkbox.
  • To delete Gmail emails permanently across all devices, click the Delete Forever option.
  • Now, you can see your Gmail Emails deleted from all the devices

What Limitations May Users Face?

Manually emails deleted on phone but still on computer make it tough for users to deselect the necessary emails that they do not want to destroy. Since it will take a long time to choose emails one by one, which may also cause confusion. However, to avoid this, it is better to use a technical solution to complete this task.

Read More: Although, before deleting any Gmail emails from your mobile or computer, make sure that the emails do not contain any important data. If they do, you can use SysTools Gmail Backup Software to make a copy of your Gmail account. Moreover, this automated tool makes a backup of your data to make sure that you don’t lose any important information or crucial data.

Conclusion

However, to ensure that your emails are consistently deleted across all devices, not only emails deleted on phone but still on computer, make sure IMAP is enabled and correctly configured on each one. However, to avoid sync delays, keep your email programs up to date and regularly clear their caches. Moreover, understanding IMAP’s role and maintaining the proper settings will enable seamless email management across all your devices. Additionally, create a Gmail backup using an automated tool to prevent the accidental deletion of important data, ensuring you can retrieve it anytime.

FAQ

Q1: Why are my emails not syncing between devices?
A1: Make sure IMAP is enabled in your Gmail settings and properly configured across all of your devices. Moreover, check that sync is enabled and, if required, clear any cached data.

Q2: where i can see if the IMAP is enabled or not?
A2: In Google Gmail, go to Settings > Forwarding & POP/IMAP and select “Enable IMAP”.

Q3: What I do if my emails still don’t sync after enabling the IMAP?
A3: Since, make sure your email client settings are right, update your email programs, and remove any cached data. Although, if the problem persists, try uninstalling and re-adding your email account to the afflicted device.

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By Mohit Jha

Meet Mohit, an accomplished professional serving as an Assistant Digital Marketing Manager and content strategist. As a content strategist, Mohit combines creativity and strategy to craft compelling narratives that captivate audiences and align with brand objectives. With a dual expertise in digital marketing and content strategy, Mohit is your trusted partner in achieving digital excellence.