How can I save emails to separate folders without them just going back into the “archived” folder mess?

[3118]

So I have emails from lots of different vendors, purchases and categories like most people. I have created several mailboxes with the categories I want them in but they just keep getting dumped back into the archived folder once sorted.

Is there anyway to just save emails to their set folders without having them just reappear in the archive folder? I realized they are technically “archived” even though they are sorted, but is there anyway to eliminate them once moved?

It gets so confusing because I’m not sure if I sorted an email or not when looking in this “archived” mess and the more that gets saved, the bigger the archive folder gets. Is there another program that you can recommend instead of the default Mac Mail program that might manage things better?

Thanks

 

[sgtaylor5]

Which email service are you using? You could create rules or filters on that service to route emails to your desired folders. That way no matter which device you are using, your emails are in the right places.
I’d ensure that the service-based rules are the only rules that are active. Don’t have any rules in any email client on any device.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Yes…what email provider are you describing here?

When you say "I have created several mailboxes with the categories I want them in but they just keep getting dumped back into the archived folder once sorted" do you mean they are only in the archived folder and no longer in the category folders?

 

[NoBoMac]

Will go out on a limb and guess Gmail. And if so, with Apple's Mail, can toggle the view in Archive to show only unread but that is about it.

Gmail has their own variation of IMAP that forces the Archived folder on people. Can't hide it in Gmail's settings in their web version.

(See @BrianBaughn below)

On the upside, the email is not getting duplicated. Mail program has an underlying database that tracks the Gmail labels (aka folders) assigned to a message, and only one copy of the email is actually on disk.

For example, here's a search for an Amazon order I made the other day. The email is in Archived and a label/folder named "Purchases". Search is on order number from subject line:

% cd ~/Library/Mail/V10
% find . -type f -exec grep -li 555-123456-123456 {} \;
./9D0F41B5-F50E-45AC-B309-C4160DC1397A/[Gmail].mbox/All Mail.mbox/771EC4C4-5AFF-44B2-90D5-72965A53AF79/Data/4/2/Messages/24204.partial.emlx
./MailData/Envelope Index
./MailData/Envelope Index-wal
%

EDIT: can also hide the "All Archive" folder so that have to deliberately go to the Gmail account and click on "Archive" to see it.

 

[BrianBaughn]

If it's Gmail…at the web interface you can, at Settings>See all settings>Labels, uncheck Show in IMAP for "All Mail" and the corresponding Archive folder in macOS Mail won't show anymore.

 

[NoBoMac]

Duh! Right! Forgot to translate Archive to All Mail.