Fix Outlook and Samsung Mail Not Syncing Deleted Emails
Question details
Users experience a one-way synchronization issue where emails deleted in Samsung Mail sync to Outlook 365, but emails moved to Trash in Outlook do not appear in the Samsung Mail Trash folder.
- Product
- Outlook 365 and Samsung Mail
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Deleting emails or moving them to the Trash folder using a private domain IMAP account.
- Observed behavior
- Deletions in Samsung Mail correctly update Outlook, but Outlook deletions fail to reflect in Samsung Mail's Trash folder. Additionally, email flags do not synchronize across the devices.
Log in to your email provider's Webmail interface to check if the deleted emails from Outlook are appearing there. This helps isolate whether the issue is with Outlook uploading the changes or Samsung Mail downloading them.
Verify and Map the Correct IMAP Trash Folders
Different email clients often use different default folder names for deleted items (e.g., 'Trash' vs. 'Deleted Items'). Aligning these folders ensures synchronized behavior.
IMAP protocols rely on subscribing to specific server folders. If Outlook moves deleted emails to a local 'Deleted Items' folder instead of the server's official 'Trash' folder, Samsung Mail will not detect the changes.
Log in to your Bluehost (or private domain) Webmail and note the exact name of the server's default deleted items folder (usually 'Trash' or 'Deleted').
Open Outlook, right-click your IMAP account name in the left pane, and select 'IMAP Folders'. Click 'Query' to load all available server folders.
Select the correct server 'Trash' folder and click 'Subscribe'. Ensure Outlook is configured to move deleted items to this specific synchronized folder rather than a local one.
Open Samsung Mail on your device, swipe down to refresh the folder list, and confirm it is mapping to the exact same server folder.
Confirm IMAP Server Settings and Ports
Mismatched or outdated IMAP settings can cause partial synchronization failures, such as read-receipts syncing but deletions failing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't my email flags sync across IMAP devices?
The standard IMAP protocol has limited to no support for custom flags and categories used by Outlook. While read/unread status usually syncs correctly, colored flags and follow-up reminders are often stored locally within the specific email client and will not transfer to other devices like Samsung Mail.
How do I force Outlook to sync my IMAP folders?
To force a manual sync in Outlook, navigate to the 'Send/Receive' tab on the top ribbon and click 'Update Folder'. Alternatively, you can click 'Send/Receive All Folders' or press F9 on your keyboard to trigger an immediate synchronization with the IMAP server.
Why does Samsung Mail have a different Trash folder than Outlook?
Different email clients have their own default naming conventions for system folders (e.g., Outlook uses 'Deleted Items', while mobile clients often use 'Trash' or 'Bin'). If they don't automatically map to the same server folder, you will see duplicates or experience synchronization failures until you manually subscribe them to the same IMAP folder.
Will reinstalling the email accounts fix IMAP sync issues?
Removing and re-adding the IMAP account on your devices can often resolve underlying sync issues by forcing the application to fetch a fresh folder list and server configuration. Ensure you have your correct server settings and passwords before doing this.
