Clean Your Server/IMAP Inbox

Server Inbox FAQ

Check Your Server Inbox Size

Journey of an Email Message

Install and Configure an
IMAP Email Client

Getting Started with Thunderbird

Manage SquirrelMail Folders

Manage Email with IMAP

Clean Your Server/IMAP Inbox

If an automated message from our mail system directed you to this web page, your server inbox is already too large and has exceeded the Server Inbox Storage Limit. A very large server/IMAP inbox can cause delays or other problems when you try to collect new mail. Although the Computing Center will not prevent email from being delivered to you, we recommend you take one of the actions described below to avoid difficulties accessing your mail.

• Use SquirrelMail to move messages from your server/IMAP inbox into another IMAP folder. When you make a SquirrelMail Folder and move messages from your IMAP inbox into a different IMAP folder, you clean the message out of your server inbox on the mail server.

• Use a desktop client configured with IMAP to move messages from your server/IMAP inbox into another IMAP folder. If you do not need to reference those messages from other systems, you can further clean out your IMAP space by moving those messages to a local folder. See Manage Email with IMAP for more information.

• Use a mail client configured with POP (e.g. Eudora) to download messages out of your server inbox. Change your settings to shorten the length of time you "leave email on the server." We recommend leaving mail on the server for 5 days. Remember that messages downloaded via POP are no longer available from other mail clients, unless you leave them on the server too. Thus, if you are using IMAP clients, it is best to manage your server inbox with the methods above. However, for those who are still primarily using POP, this is a great option.
  

• Empty your Trash folder. It's a good idea to empty your trash folder on a regular basis.

If you are leaving campus for an extended period such as summer break, sabbatical, or semester abroad, we recommend that you clean your server inbox before you leave. That way, if you need assistance cleaning your server inbox, you will still be able to visit the Help Desk. If you have too much mail in your Server Inbox, you may experience difficulty collecting and reading your email.

Want to know more about your server inbox size? You can check your server inbox by using the mail system information tool.

If you need help cleaning your server inbox, please contact the Help Desk (610-896-1480, helpdesk@haverford.edu).