# How to sync drafts, sent, and deleted messages on iPhone and iPad

> Make sure your IMAP email folders sync to the server on iPhone and iPad, not just locally on your device.

Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/email-apple/how-to-sync-drafts-sent-and-deleted-messages
Updated: 2026-06-04

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This guide applies to email accounts set up as IMAP. If sent messages, drafts, or deleted items are not appearing in the correct folders, your device is likely saving them to local folders rather than the server.

## Fix folder syncing on iPhone or iPad

1. Tap the **Settings** icon on your device.
2. Tap **Mail**, then tap **Accounts**.
3. Tap the email account you want to edit.
4. Tap the account name again on the IMAP screen.
5. Scroll to the bottom and tap **Advanced**.
6. Tap the mailbox type you want to change (for example, Sent Mailbox or Deleted Mailbox).
7. Under the **On the Server** section, tap the matching server-side folder.

To update another mailbox, tap the **Advanced** back arrow in the top left and repeat steps 6 and 7.

:::tip
You may need to do this separately for Drafts, Sent, and Deleted mailboxes if all three are saving locally.
:::

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_Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/email-apple/how-to-sync-drafts-sent-and-deleted-messages · © Kualo Ltd._