Folders and sync on E-3 email (SmarterMail)

How do I make, rename or delete folders in webmail?

Create a folder

1. In webmail, click the Folders icon at the top of the folder list, or right-click a folder and choose New Folder.
2. Under Parent Folder, choose Root Folder for a top-level folder.
3. Type a Name and click Save.

Expected result: the folder appears in webmail straight away, and in IMAP apps after their next refresh.

SmarterTools advises against folders inside the Inbox, because many apps don’t sync them reliably. Make top-level folders instead.

Rename: select the folder, choose Edit Folder, change the name and save.

Delete: select it and choose Delete Folder. Every message inside goes too, so move anything you want first. The built-in folders (Inbox, Drafts, Sent Items, Deleted Items, Junk Email) can’t be renamed or deleted.

These steps follow SmarterTools’ current folder guide. Your version may label things a little differently.

The short version

• Webmail at https://mail.e3webmail.com shows exactly what’s on the server. IMAP apps match it; POP apps don’t.
• Never remove an account or switch POP to IMAP until mail stored only on that device is backed up.

How do I get my folders to show on my phone or in Outlook?

1. Check webmail at mail.e3webmail.com. If the folder and its mail are there, your mailbox is fine. The problem is the app.
2. Check the account type in the app’s account settings. IMAP: carry on. POP: stop and read the next section first.
3. Refresh. Pull down on a phone, or use Send/Receive in Outlook. A new folder can take a few minutes to appear.
4. Show all folders. Some apps, including classic Outlook, can be set to show only “subscribed” folders. Look in the account’s folder options and subscribe to the missing folder. The menu depends on your app version.
5. Close the app fully and open it again.

How do I switch from POP to IMAP without losing mail?

This is where people lose email, so take it slowly.

• POP accounts often keep mail only on that computer. Microsoft explains that Outlook stores mail in a data file (a .pst file). With POP, that file may be the only copy.
• Apple says mailboxes made under On My Mac can only be reached on that Mac.
• Removing an account from a device removes that device’s copy. With POP, there may be no other copy.

A safe order:

1. Back up first. In Mac Mail, export each mailbox with Mailbox, then Export Mailbox. In Outlook, find where the .pst file is saved and copy it somewhere safe.
2. Add the account again as IMAP, alongside the old one: incoming mail.e3webmail.com, port 993, SSL/TLS; outgoing mail.e3webmail.com, port 587, STARTTLS, with outgoing sign-in on. Our guides for Outlook and Apple Mail and phones cover this.
3. Check the IMAP account shows your server folders.
4. Only then remove the old POP account.

If any step feels uncertain, stop and call 814-399-4655.

Why does this matter?

SmarterTools’ sync guide explains that IMAP keeps devices in step while POP pulls mail down to one place. When folders don’t match, POP on an older computer is the usual reason. Fixing it once means a new phone or laptop shows everything from day one.

What are the common mistakes and edge cases?

• Deleted on the phone, still in webmail. On IMAP, deleted mail usually moves to Deleted Items. Some apps only mark it. Check the app’s setting for deleted mail.
• Sent from Outlook, missing from webmail’s Sent Items. Some apps save sent mail in their own folder. Point the app’s sent folder at Sent Items.
• Deleted Items empties itself. The server may clear old deleted mail on a schedule. Don’t use Deleted Items as storage.
• Odd folder names. Characters such as / \ * ? < > | aren’t allowed. Use plain words.

What if this didn’t work?

Look at the same folder in webmail and in the app, side by side. Note the device, the app and the account type. Then call 814-399-4655 or use the Get support form. If a screenshot of the folder list helps, blur customer names, subjects and message text first. Don’t include your password.

How does E-3 handle this?

E-3’s settings for our mail service use IMAP (mail.e3webmail.com for both servers), so your phone, computer and webmail stay in step. If a device was set up years ago with POP, call us before moving it to IMAP, and back up anything stored only on that device first. Call 814-399-4655 or email support@e3help.me with your email address, the device and what you see. Replies usually come within one business day.

Related questions

• Set up your email in Outlook or Apple Mail
• Set up your email on an iPhone or Android phone
• My mailbox is full. How do I free up space?