Delete Gmail Messages From Sent Mail, But Keep a Copy in All Mail GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Email, Messaging, & Video Calls > Email

Delete Gmail Messages From Sent Mail, But Keep a Copy in All Mail

Clear your Gmail outbox without losing important messages

By Heinz Tschabitscher Heinz Tschabitscher Writer University of Vienna A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 31, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Email Gmail Yahoo! Mail

What to Know

Drag the message from Sent Mail into a different Gmail folder.The message will be gone from the Sent folder but still found in the other folder. You can search All Mail to find it. In Gmail, there is a way to remove email from your Sent folder while keeping archived copies in the All Mail folder. However, it's not possible to do this from the Gmail web interface. Instead, you must connect to your Gmail account from another email client via Internet Mail Access Protocol (IMAP).

How to Delete a Message from Sent Mail But Keep an Archived Copy in Gmail

To remove an email you sent from Gmail's Sent Mail folder while still keeping a copy under All Mail, drag the message from Sent Mail into a different Gmail folder. For example, you can do this if you link your Gmail account to Microsoft Outlook. The next time you check your mail from the Gmail web interface, the message will be gone from your Sent folder, yet you can still find it in the other folder. You can then search All Mail to find it in the future.

Why Would You Delete an Email From Sent Mail But Keep an Archived Copy

When you archive a message in Gmail, it is removed from your inbox, and a copy is kept in the All Mail folder for later reference. However, the only way to remove a message from your Outbox is to delete it, which also removes it from All Mail. If you delete the message in the Gmail web interface under Sent Mail, it will be moved to the Trash folder and eventually disappear, even if you had previously archived it. This workaround can come in handy for specific situations. For example, if you use a corporate Gmail account that's been configured by an administrator to automatically purge Sent Mail items after a period of time, you may want to keep an archived copy of your correspondence. If you do this with a Gmail account that's governed under specific document-discovery or data-retention policies, you may run afoul of your company's policies or even the law. Check with your system administrator before you circumvent auto-purge mechanisms. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Select All Messages in Gmail How to Access Free Windows Mail in Gmail How to Export Emails From Outlook How to Import Windows Mail or Outlook Emails Into Gmail How to Recover Missing Emails in Gmail macOS Mail: How to Keep Emails on the Server How to Retrieve Archived Emails in Gmail How to Forward Windows Live Hotmail to Gmail How to Delete Gmail Emails Faster on Android How to Forward Outlook Mail to Another Email Address How to Stop Gmail Sent Mail From Appearing in Your iPhone Inbox How to Empty Your Gmail Inbox Quickly How to Back Up and Save Gmail Messages Offline How to Import Mail and Folders From Gmail to Outlook.com How to Send iPhone Mail From a Different Account How to Import AOL Messages and Contacts Into Gmail Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies