Why gmail reimports old mail again?
I'm importing mail from our own mail server via POP3 (without removing mail on import). It worked flawlessly for a few years, but recently gmail reimported all old mail again and showed up us unread (edit: all the mail from a certain date in mid-2012, not all the mail since the beginning of time). I thought it was some kind of our server misconfiguration, blamed our sysadmin and sent all the old mail to trash in gmail. The problem, however, repeated, and our admin claims that no changes were made to our server configuration. What to do to prevent old mail showing up again in inbox? Gmail import settings are as follows:
Import mail using POP3
username: [my mail at company domain]
password: [my password]
pop server: [our pop server address], port: 110
[YES]: Leave a copy of received message on the server
[NO]: Always use SSL connection (that probably should get switched on, but it's a different story)
[NO]: Apply a label
[NO]: Archive incoming mail
gmail pop3 import-mail
asked Apr 18 '14 at 9:20
Wojciech PtakWojciech Ptak
10613
add a comment |
I'm importing mail from our own mail server via POP3 (without removing mail on import). It worked flawlessly for a few years, but recently gmail reimported all old mail again and showed up us unread (edit: all the mail from a certain date in mid-2012, not all the mail since the beginning of time). I thought it was some kind of our server misconfiguration, blamed our sysadmin and sent all the old mail to trash in gmail. The problem, however, repeated, and our admin claims that no changes were made to our server configuration. What to do to prevent old mail showing up again in inbox? Gmail import settings are as follows:
Import mail using POP3
username: [my mail at company domain]
password: [my password]
pop server: [our pop server address], port: 110
[YES]: Leave a copy of received message on the server
[NO]: Always use SSL connection (that probably should get switched on, but it's a different story)
[NO]: Apply a label
[NO]: Archive incoming mail
gmail pop3 import-mail
asked Apr 18 '14 at 9:20
Wojciech PtakWojciech Ptak
10613
What do you mean by "old mail". Do you receive again and again every mail you received from the beginning, are do you only receive mails from a certain date?
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 9:24
Gmail reimported again all the mail dating from mid-2012 -- not all the mail ever received, but pretty much
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:25
add a comment |
I'm importing mail from our own mail server via POP3 (without removing mail on import). It worked flawlessly for a few years, but recently gmail reimported all old mail again and showed up us unread (edit: all the mail from a certain date in mid-2012, not all the mail since the beginning of time). I thought it was some kind of our server misconfiguration, blamed our sysadmin and sent all the old mail to trash in gmail. The problem, however, repeated, and our admin claims that no changes were made to our server configuration. What to do to prevent old mail showing up again in inbox? Gmail import settings are as follows:
Import mail using POP3
username: [my mail at company domain]
password: [my password]
pop server: [our pop server address], port: 110
[YES]: Leave a copy of received message on the server
[NO]: Always use SSL connection (that probably should get switched on, but it's a different story)
[NO]: Apply a label
[NO]: Archive incoming mail
gmail pop3 import-mail
asked Apr 18 '14 at 9:20
Wojciech PtakWojciech Ptak
10613
I'm importing mail from our own mail server via POP3 (without removing mail on import). It worked flawlessly for a few years, but recently gmail reimported all old mail again and showed up us unread (edit: all the mail from a certain date in mid-2012, not all the mail since the beginning of time). I thought it was some kind of our server misconfiguration, blamed our sysadmin and sent all the old mail to trash in gmail. The problem, however, repeated, and our admin claims that no changes were made to our server configuration. What to do to prevent old mail showing up again in inbox? Gmail import settings are as follows:
Import mail using POP3
username: [my mail at company domain]
password: [my password]
pop server: [our pop server address], port: 110
[YES]: Leave a copy of received message on the server
[NO]: Always use SSL connection (that probably should get switched on, but it's a different story)
[NO]: Apply a label
[NO]: Archive incoming mail
gmail pop3 import-mail
gmail pop3 import-mail
asked Apr 18 '14 at 9:20
Wojciech PtakWojciech Ptak
10613
asked Apr 18 '14 at 9:20
Wojciech PtakWojciech Ptak
10613
edited Apr 18 '14 at 9:32
Wojciech Ptak
asked Apr 18 '14 at 9:20
Wojciech PtakWojciech Ptak
10613
asked Apr 18 '14 at 9:20
Wojciech PtakWojciech Ptak
10613
asked Apr 18 '14 at 9:20
Wojciech PtakWojciech Ptak
10613
10613
What do you mean by "old mail". Do you receive again and again every mail you received from the beginning, are do you only receive mails from a certain date?
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 9:24
Gmail reimported again all the mail dating from mid-2012 -- not all the mail ever received, but pretty much
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:25
add a comment |
What do you mean by "old mail". Do you receive again and again every mail you received from the beginning, are do you only receive mails from a certain date?
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 9:24
Gmail reimported again all the mail dating from mid-2012 -- not all the mail ever received, but pretty much
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:25
What do you mean by "old mail". Do you receive again and again every mail you received from the beginning, are do you only receive mails from a certain date?
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 9:24
What do you mean by "old mail". Do you receive again and again every mail you received from the beginning, are do you only receive mails from a certain date?
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 9:24
Gmail reimported again all the mail dating from mid-2012 -- not all the mail ever received, but pretty much
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:25
Gmail reimported again all the mail dating from mid-2012 -- not all the mail ever received, but pretty much
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:25
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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votes
The problem is with your Email client. The client controls what data to receive with POP3. As I bet you have a setting on which would leave messages in POP3 server after downloading (not deleting), once you changed/updated your email client, it downloads everything as it lost track of what was previously downloaded.
You can avoid this by using IMAP as when using POP3, servers cant distinguish between "read" and "unread" messages. Messages are just there and your client usually keeps information on which emails were already downloaded (so it does not redownload everything every time if you have "leave messages on the server" option enabled).
answered Apr 18 '14 at 9:44
phoopsphoops
2,79731520
Gmail is my email client in this case. And you don't have to bet, I explicitly stated that "leave emails on the server" is on. So are you saying that gmail "forgot" it already downloaded the mail?
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:49
Yes. You can see this answer for reference: stackoverflow.com/questions/13473534/…
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:51
I would say your problem is that you are using wrong protocol for what you want to achieve. Is there any reason you are not using IMAP?
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:52
Gmail can't retrieve mails using IMAP protocol, and changing protocol won't explain why the behavior suddenly changed.
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 10:06
No it won't, but I think the use-case would be more appropriate for IMAP servers, thus my suggestion. I doubt the reasons can be explained really when email client you are using is out of your control.
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 10:19
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
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votes
1 Answer
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active
oldest
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oldest
votes
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votes
The problem is with your Email client. The client controls what data to receive with POP3. As I bet you have a setting on which would leave messages in POP3 server after downloading (not deleting), once you changed/updated your email client, it downloads everything as it lost track of what was previously downloaded.
You can avoid this by using IMAP as when using POP3, servers cant distinguish between "read" and "unread" messages. Messages are just there and your client usually keeps information on which emails were already downloaded (so it does not redownload everything every time if you have "leave messages on the server" option enabled).
answered Apr 18 '14 at 9:44
phoopsphoops
2,79731520
Gmail is my email client in this case. And you don't have to bet, I explicitly stated that "leave emails on the server" is on. So are you saying that gmail "forgot" it already downloaded the mail?
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:49
Yes. You can see this answer for reference: stackoverflow.com/questions/13473534/…
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:51
I would say your problem is that you are using wrong protocol for what you want to achieve. Is there any reason you are not using IMAP?
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:52
Gmail can't retrieve mails using IMAP protocol, and changing protocol won't explain why the behavior suddenly changed.
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 10:06
No it won't, but I think the use-case would be more appropriate for IMAP servers, thus my suggestion. I doubt the reasons can be explained really when email client you are using is out of your control.
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 10:19
add a comment |
The problem is with your Email client. The client controls what data to receive with POP3. As I bet you have a setting on which would leave messages in POP3 server after downloading (not deleting), once you changed/updated your email client, it downloads everything as it lost track of what was previously downloaded.
You can avoid this by using IMAP as when using POP3, servers cant distinguish between "read" and "unread" messages. Messages are just there and your client usually keeps information on which emails were already downloaded (so it does not redownload everything every time if you have "leave messages on the server" option enabled).
answered Apr 18 '14 at 9:44
phoopsphoops
2,79731520
Gmail is my email client in this case. And you don't have to bet, I explicitly stated that "leave emails on the server" is on. So are you saying that gmail "forgot" it already downloaded the mail?
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:49
Yes. You can see this answer for reference: stackoverflow.com/questions/13473534/…
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:51
I would say your problem is that you are using wrong protocol for what you want to achieve. Is there any reason you are not using IMAP?
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:52
Gmail can't retrieve mails using IMAP protocol, and changing protocol won't explain why the behavior suddenly changed.
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 10:06
No it won't, but I think the use-case would be more appropriate for IMAP servers, thus my suggestion. I doubt the reasons can be explained really when email client you are using is out of your control.
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 10:19
add a comment |
The problem is with your Email client. The client controls what data to receive with POP3. As I bet you have a setting on which would leave messages in POP3 server after downloading (not deleting), once you changed/updated your email client, it downloads everything as it lost track of what was previously downloaded.
You can avoid this by using IMAP as when using POP3, servers cant distinguish between "read" and "unread" messages. Messages are just there and your client usually keeps information on which emails were already downloaded (so it does not redownload everything every time if you have "leave messages on the server" option enabled).
answered Apr 18 '14 at 9:44
phoopsphoops
2,79731520
The problem is with your Email client. The client controls what data to receive with POP3. As I bet you have a setting on which would leave messages in POP3 server after downloading (not deleting), once you changed/updated your email client, it downloads everything as it lost track of what was previously downloaded.
You can avoid this by using IMAP as when using POP3, servers cant distinguish between "read" and "unread" messages. Messages are just there and your client usually keeps information on which emails were already downloaded (so it does not redownload everything every time if you have "leave messages on the server" option enabled).
answered Apr 18 '14 at 9:44
phoopsphoops
2,79731520
answered Apr 18 '14 at 9:44
phoopsphoops
2,79731520
answered Apr 18 '14 at 9:44
phoopsphoops
2,79731520
answered Apr 18 '14 at 9:44
phoopsphoops
2,79731520
2,79731520
Gmail is my email client in this case. And you don't have to bet, I explicitly stated that "leave emails on the server" is on. So are you saying that gmail "forgot" it already downloaded the mail?
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:49
Yes. You can see this answer for reference: stackoverflow.com/questions/13473534/…
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:51
I would say your problem is that you are using wrong protocol for what you want to achieve. Is there any reason you are not using IMAP?
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:52
Gmail can't retrieve mails using IMAP protocol, and changing protocol won't explain why the behavior suddenly changed.
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 10:06
No it won't, but I think the use-case would be more appropriate for IMAP servers, thus my suggestion. I doubt the reasons can be explained really when email client you are using is out of your control.
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 10:19
add a comment |
Gmail is my email client in this case. And you don't have to bet, I explicitly stated that "leave emails on the server" is on. So are you saying that gmail "forgot" it already downloaded the mail?
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:49
Yes. You can see this answer for reference: stackoverflow.com/questions/13473534/…
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:51
I would say your problem is that you are using wrong protocol for what you want to achieve. Is there any reason you are not using IMAP?
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:52
Gmail can't retrieve mails using IMAP protocol, and changing protocol won't explain why the behavior suddenly changed.
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 10:06
No it won't, but I think the use-case would be more appropriate for IMAP servers, thus my suggestion. I doubt the reasons can be explained really when email client you are using is out of your control.
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 10:19
Gmail is my email client in this case. And you don't have to bet, I explicitly stated that "leave emails on the server" is on. So are you saying that gmail "forgot" it already downloaded the mail?
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:49
Gmail is my email client in this case. And you don't have to bet, I explicitly stated that "leave emails on the server" is on. So are you saying that gmail "forgot" it already downloaded the mail?
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:49
Yes. You can see this answer for reference: stackoverflow.com/questions/13473534/…
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:51
Yes. You can see this answer for reference: stackoverflow.com/questions/13473534/…
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:51
I would say your problem is that you are using wrong protocol for what you want to achieve. Is there any reason you are not using IMAP?
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:52
I would say your problem is that you are using wrong protocol for what you want to achieve. Is there any reason you are not using IMAP?
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 9:52
Gmail can't retrieve mails using IMAP protocol, and changing protocol won't explain why the behavior suddenly changed.
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 10:06
Gmail can't retrieve mails using IMAP protocol, and changing protocol won't explain why the behavior suddenly changed.
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 10:06
No it won't, but I think the use-case would be more appropriate for IMAP servers, thus my suggestion. I doubt the reasons can be explained really when email client you are using is out of your control.
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 10:19
No it won't, but I think the use-case would be more appropriate for IMAP servers, thus my suggestion. I doubt the reasons can be explained really when email client you are using is out of your control.
– phoops
Apr 18 '14 at 10:19
add a comment |
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What do you mean by "old mail". Do you receive again and again every mail you received from the beginning, are do you only receive mails from a certain date?
– ssssteffff
Apr 18 '14 at 9:24
Gmail reimported again all the mail dating from mid-2012 -- not all the mail ever received, but pretty much
– Wojciech Ptak
Apr 18 '14 at 9:25