# Windows Live Mail - Configuring IMAP Folders

> Configure IMAP folder paths in Windows Live Mail to keep sent, deleted, and draft messages in sync across multiple devices.

Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/email-other-devices/windows-live-mail-configuring-imap-folders
Updated: 2026-06-09

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When you configure an email account using Windows Live Mail, you may need to adjust a few settings so that your sent and deleted mail is visible across two or more devices.

## Configure IMAP folder settings

1. Open Windows Live Mail.

2. Click **Tools**, then **Accounts** from the menu bar.

:::tip
If the menu bar is not visible, hold down **Alt**, press **T**, then release both keys.
:::

3. In the Accounts window, click the account you want to adjust to highlight it, then click **Properties**.

![Accounts window showing a highlighted email account and the Properties button](https://kb-cdn.kualo.com/04/e3/04e35a3ca4d8f0808e2fafecbc02221d30f891cb.png)

4. Click the **IMAP** tab at the top right of the Properties window.

5. Enter `INBOX` in the **Root folder path** field.

6. Tick **Check for new messages in all folders**.

7. To have Windows Live Mail save drafts, deleted messages, and copies of sent messages on the IMAP server (rather than on your PC), configure the following:

   a. Tick **Store special folders on IMAP server**. Without this, drafts, deleted items, and sent messages are stored locally in what Windows Live Mail calls "Storage Folders".

   b. Enter `Sent` in the **Sent Items Path** field.

   c. Enter `Drafts` in the **Drafts path** field.

   d. Enter `Trash` in the **Deleted Items path** field.

   e. Set the **Junk path** to whichever folder name you prefer.

:::warning
The values `Sent`, `Drafts`, and `Trash` are case sensitive. Enter them exactly as shown - one capital letter followed by lowercase - not as `sent`, `SENT`, or any other variation.
:::

The completed screen should look something like this:

![Completed IMAP settings screen in Windows Live Mail](https://kb-cdn.kualo.com/cf/c9/cfc91499b77564ea96d2c92db4d2546d2d645ed9.png)

8. Click **OK** to close the Properties window, then click **Close** to close the Accounts window. If Windows Live Mail asks whether you would like to refresh your folder list, choose **Yes**. You may also need to restart Windows Live Mail for the changes to take effect.

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_Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/email-other-devices/windows-live-mail-configuring-imap-folders · © Kualo Ltd._