Are you tired of accidental email archiving on your iPhone and wish to delete emails instead? Or do you want to clear space on your email server by deleting emails instead of archiving them? Whatever your reason may be, changing the archive setting to delete on your iPhone can save you time and frustration in managing your emails. In this blog, we will guide you through the steps and methods to change the archive setting on your iPhone from archive to delete.

Video Tutorial:

The Challenge of Changing iPhone Email from Archive to Delete

By default, the email app on iPhone archives emails when you swipe left on the email list. However, this setting may not be helpful for you if you want to delete emails and free up your inbox or email server space. Changing the archive setting from archive to delete on the iPhone can be a challenge for some people since Apple doesn’t provide a direct way to change this setting. But don’t worry! We have gathered the best methods to help you change this setting.

Things You Should Prepare for

Before changing the archive setting from archive to delete on your iPhone email, you should prepare the following things:

  • iPhone with the latest iOS version installed.
  • Good internet connectivity to avoid any issues with syncing email settings.
  • Your email account and password.
  • A stable and updated version of any email client app (such as Outlook, Gmail, or Yahoo mail app).

Method 1: Via iPhone Settings

The first method we recommend is to change the setting via iPhone settings. Follow these steps to change the email archive setting from archive to delete:

  1. Launch the "Settings" app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and select the "Mail" option.
  3. Tap "Accounts."
  4. Select the email address whose settings you want to change.
  5. Scroll down and tap "Advanced" and scroll down again to find "Move Discarded Messages Into" and select "Deleted Mailbox."
  6. Go back to the previous screen and tap on "Account" again."
  7. Select "Advanced" and make sure the option "Deleted Mailbox" is selected under "Move Discarded Messages Into."

Pros:

  1. This method is straightforward and convenient.
  2. The settings are permanently updated, and emails are deleted rather than being archived.

Cons:

  1. It can be challenging to find the "Deleted Mailbox" option in advanced settings.
  2. You may accidentally delete emails that you’ve been archiving before.

Method 2: Via Third-Party Email App Settings

If you’re using a third-party email app, changing the archive setting from the archive to delete might not be as straightforward as it is on the iPhone default Mail app. Follow these steps to change the archive settings from archive to delete on the most common third-party email apps:

Outlook:

  1. Launch the "Outlook" app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on the "Settings" icon.
  3. Select the email address whose settings you want to change.
  4. Scroll down and select "Swipe Options."
  5. Toggle the option "Swipe left to Archive" off.
  6. Scroll down and select "Discard."
  7. Choose "Delete."

Pros:

  1. This method is flexible, and you can choose a preferred swipe option for your inbox.
  2. You can undo any accidental email deletion.

Cons:

  1. The steps can vary depending on the email client app.
  2. You might accidentally delete emails when using the swipe option if you’re not careful.

Gmail:

  1. Open "Gmail" app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on the "Settings" icon (gear icon) in the upper right corner.
  3. Select "General settings."
  4. Select "Swipe actions."
  5. Select "Left swipe."
  6. Select "Delete."

Pros:

  1. This method is easy to use.
  2. You can undo any accidental email deletion.

Cons:

  1. The steps might vary depending on the email client app.
  2. You can accidentally delete emails if you’re not careful.

Method 3: Via Siri Automation

Did you know you can change the archive settings from archive to delete on your iPhone email app using Siri automation? Siri automation is a powerful tool that allows you to automate tasks on your iPhone. Follow these steps to use Siri automation to change the archive settings to delete:

  1. On your iPhone, create a new shortcut by launching the "Shortcuts" app.
  2. Select "Create Shortcut."
  3. In the search bar, type "Find Mailboxes," select "Find Mailboxes," and add it to the shortcut.
  4. Select "Show More" and add "Set Mailbox" to the shortcut.
  5. Select the "Set Mailbox" option and choose the mailbox for which you want to change the archive settings.
  6. Select "Deleted Items" as the mailbox.
  7. Name the shortcut and select "Done."
  8. Go to the email app and swipe left; the archive option should now be replaced with the delete option.

Pros:

  1. This method is fast and convenient.
  2. You can use Siri automation to perform this task on multiple mailboxes simultaneously.

Cons:

  1. This method requires creating a new shortcut, which can be time-consuming if you’re unfamiliar with the "Shortcut" app.
  2. The delete option may not appear if there is no data in the folder.

Why Can’t I Change iPhone Email from Archive to Delete?

1. Archive setting enabled on email, which caused email archive instead of being deleted
– Fix:
Go to the email settings and turn off the archive setting.

2. Email app settings set to archive instead of deleting emails
– Fix:
Change the email app settings to delete emails instead of archiving them.

3. Insufficient storage in your email account or iPhone
– Fix:
Free up storage space by deleting unnecessary data, or upgrade your storage plan.

Additional Tips:

  • Regularly delete unnecessary emails and spam emails to keep your inbox clean and organized.
  • Use different swipe options to manage your emails more efficiently.
  • Back up your emails regularly to avoid losing important data.

5 FAQs about Changing iPhone Email from Archive to Delete

Q1. Can I undo deleted Emails?

A1. Yes, if you accidentally deleted emails, it is possible to recover them by checking your email’s "Trash" folder.

Q2. What happens when I delete emails instead of archiving them?

A2. When you delete emails, they are permanently removed from your email account and cannot be recovered unless you have a backup copy.

Q3. Will I lose any emails if I switch from archiving to deleting?

A3. No, you won’t lose any emails if you switch from archiving to deleting. The emails that were previously archived can still be found in the "All Mail" or "Archive" folder.

Q4. Can I use Siri to delete emails instead of archiving them?

A4. Yes, you can use Siri to delete emails instead of archiving them by using the Siri automation feature.

Q5. Can I change the email archive settings on my iPad?

A5. Yes, you can change the email archive settings on your iPad by following the same steps as on the iPhone email app.

In Conclusion

Changing the archive setting to delete on your iPhone email is possible, and with the methods mentioned above, you can easily make this change. Also, with additional tips and knowledge gained from our FAQs, you can effectively manage your emails and free up storage space in your email account. Keeping your email account clean and organized ensures easy navigation, and with our guide, you can rest easy knowing that you have complete control over your email archive settings.

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