Gmail Driving Me Crazy!!!!
Discussion
Hi everyone
So my Mum has a Gmail address. Accesses through Mail on her iPhone and Mac. All was good for years, then about a year ago all emails were missing from her folders (labels in Gmail speak I think). Not in Trash etc. Followed online guidance and reset password and all emails recovered back to the folders by using the Gmail Recovery Tool.
Then...... as my Mum has bad arthritis in her wrists, she sometimes drops her phone, which happened a few days ago. Then, yesterday, on checking her emails the folders were almost all empty - 99% gone. Ran the tool again and it appeared that 22k plus emails were downloading. Checked today nearly all gone again. Ran the tool but said that already recovered what it can!
Most of the emails won't be important, but some more so (medical).
Anything I can do to help? She has lots of storage showing (not sure what is was like before all the emails went but she recall checking and seeing on 77% full). Dropping the phone is probably not linked, but I checked the settings and save for one about POP they are the same as mine. Also changed password. Just don't know what else I can do to try and recover and to also have confidence that this will not happen again!
Really appreciated!
So my Mum has a Gmail address. Accesses through Mail on her iPhone and Mac. All was good for years, then about a year ago all emails were missing from her folders (labels in Gmail speak I think). Not in Trash etc. Followed online guidance and reset password and all emails recovered back to the folders by using the Gmail Recovery Tool.
Then...... as my Mum has bad arthritis in her wrists, she sometimes drops her phone, which happened a few days ago. Then, yesterday, on checking her emails the folders were almost all empty - 99% gone. Ran the tool again and it appeared that 22k plus emails were downloading. Checked today nearly all gone again. Ran the tool but said that already recovered what it can!
Most of the emails won't be important, but some more so (medical).
Anything I can do to help? She has lots of storage showing (not sure what is was like before all the emails went but she recall checking and seeing on 77% full). Dropping the phone is probably not linked, but I checked the settings and save for one about POP they are the same as mine. Also changed password. Just don't know what else I can do to try and recover and to also have confidence that this will not happen again!
Really appreciated!
Look in the 'All' email folder (from the menu) as she may have archived them by accident and gmail is even worse at letting you easily find emails when archived than letting labels organising your sent folder (you can't move from the like you would with folders, instead I have email accounts with hundreds of emails in sent as it is only emails in inbox that are 'moved out).
Thank you.
Is Thunderbird any different to Blue Mail would you know? I've tried Blue Mail and as expected I guess, it just shows what we have in Mail and when signing into Gmail directly. Blue Mail did not let me save the few emails she has locally - I guess this is the advantage of TB - is that why you suggested it? Or can I do this in Mail or Gmail?
I really have tried to search everywhere. All Mail seems to have the quantity we were expecting i.e. those we know were present (less than 1%!). It's odd that some are dated years ago and some recent!
Any more thoughts would be really appreciated. Someone online suggested leaving for 7 days, totally dormant without accessing anything.
Is Thunderbird any different to Blue Mail would you know? I've tried Blue Mail and as expected I guess, it just shows what we have in Mail and when signing into Gmail directly. Blue Mail did not let me save the few emails she has locally - I guess this is the advantage of TB - is that why you suggested it? Or can I do this in Mail or Gmail?
I really have tried to search everywhere. All Mail seems to have the quantity we were expecting i.e. those we know were present (less than 1%!). It's odd that some are dated years ago and some recent!
Any more thoughts would be really appreciated. Someone online suggested leaving for 7 days, totally dormant without accessing anything.
GE90 said:
So log into Gmail directly rather than use Apple Mail? Do you think it is an issue Apple Mail has created then?
Thanks.
I'm just not sure a mail client adds an awful lot of value but that's just a me thing Thanks.
I keep Gmail open in a browser tab and IMO searching and finding mail is simpler and there is probably less chance for accidents due to finger trouble (absolutely no offence intended).
Not sure there's a need these days to keep emails offline given how robust the likes of Gmail are but that's just me too.
Might be worth trying it just to see if she gets on better with it.
GE90 said:
This setting was set to 'Delete GMail's Copy'. But as under POP I assume wouldn't cause this issue as Mum presumably uses IMAP. However I have no idea! Thanks.
I wonder if IMAP is dangerous for older people as if something gets deleted off the local device then it goes off the server.POP qwith email retained on the server might be safer, but I guess would need some management to keep it under control.
the-norseman said:
I access Gmail using website on deskptop/laptop and Gmail app on Android, I'm going to guess there is a Gmail app for iOS?
Third party apps are usually the cause of most issues.
There is but as a gmail/apple user who uses the native mail client its been fine for me for fThird party apps are usually the cause of most issues.
king yearsEdited by geeks on Friday 10th October 16:16
Use the Gmail app where you can. It works great on everything i use it on (macbook, iphones, ipad, etc.) and on the move the gmail.com site is also great.
If you need integration through Apples Mail app then set it up as IMAP, this keeps copies in Gmail whereas POP is syncronising and downloading the mail to whatever device it's being configured for. Will chew through storage and make things sluggish.
All you need is her email and password and the app will take it from there. Set up 2FA for security as well if she's comfortable with a small extra step for security
If you need integration through Apples Mail app then set it up as IMAP, this keeps copies in Gmail whereas POP is syncronising and downloading the mail to whatever device it's being configured for. Will chew through storage and make things sluggish.
All you need is her email and password and the app will take it from there. Set up 2FA for security as well if she's comfortable with a small extra step for security
Deathblz said:
Try logging into Gmail directly from a browser, not Mail app. If the emails are gone there too, it s not a sync issue but a deletion or label bug. Google support can restore deleted mail for up to 25 days if you file a request.
Thank you. Logging in directly didn’t help I’m afraid; that’s the first I tried.
How do I log this with Google? I tried the restore function many times now.
Deathblz said:
Try logging into Gmail directly from a browser, not Mail app. If the emails are gone there too, it s not a sync issue but a deletion or label bug. Google support can restore deleted mail for up to 25 days if you file a request.
Thank you. Logging in directly didn’t help I’m afraid; that’s the first I tried.
How do I log this with Google? I tried the restore function many times now.
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