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How do I delete messages from the Yahoo! server after downloading them to my email client?

Last Updated: July 28, 2011
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If you prefer not to have a copy of your messages left on the Yahoo! Mail server, you can configure your POP3 client to delete them from the server.

To learn the steps, click from the list of supported clients:

Microsoft Outlook 2002 (XP) and 2003

  1. From the Tools menu, choose Email Accounts.
  2. Select the radio button next to "Add a new email account" and click the Next button.
  3. Double-click the Yahoo! account.
  4. Select the Advanced tab.
  5. In the Delivery section at the bottom of the window, ensure the box next to "Leave a copy of messages on server" is un-checked. If you want to save your Yahoo! Mail messages on both the Yahoo! Mail server and on your local computer, then check this box.

Microsoft Outlook 98 and 2000

  1. From the Tools menu, select Accounts.
  2. Click the Mail tab.
  3. Select your Yahoo! Mail account and click Properties.
  4. Click the Advanced tab.
  5. If you want your messages to be deleted from the Yahoo! Mail server after you've received them in Outlook Express, don't check the "Leave messages on server" box.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Close Microsoft Outlook, and reboot.

Microsoft Outlook Express

  1. From the Tools menu, choose Accounts.
  2. Select the Mail tab.
  3. Double-click the account labeled "pop.mail.yahoo.com."
  4. Select the Advanced tab.
  5. In the Delivery section at the bottom of the window, ensure the box next to "Leave a copy of messages on server" is un-checked. If you decide you want to save your Yahoo! Mail messages on both the Yahoo! Mail server and on your local computer, check this box.

Microsoft Outlook Express for Mac

  1. From the Tools menu, choose Account.
  2. Select the Mail tab.
  3. Double-click your Yahoo! Mail account.
  4. Select the Options tab.
  5. In the Server Options section at the bottom of the window, ensure the box next to "Leave a copy of each message on the server" is un-checked. If you want to save messages on both the Yahoo! Mail server and your local client, this box should be checked.

Eudora 5.1 and higher

  1. Click the Tools menu and select Options.
  2. Click the picture on the left that says "Incoming Mail."
  3. Ensure the box next to "Delete from server after…" is checked. If you decide you want your messages to keep messages on the Yahoo! Mail server after you have received them Eudora, un-check this box.

IncrediMail 618 and higher

  1. From the Tools menu, select Accounts.
  2. Click the Mail tab.
  3. Select your Yahoo! Mail account and click Properties.
  4. Click the Advanced tab.
  5. Ensure the box next to "Leave a copy of messages on server" is un-checked. If you decide you want to save your Yahoo! Mail messages on both the Yahoo! Mail server and on your local computer, check this box.

Macintosh Mail client (OS X 10.5)

To change your Mac Mail email client delivery settings using Mail for Macintosh:

  1. Click Mail at the top of the screen and select Preferences.
  2. Click the Accounts tab and click the Advanced button.
  3. Click "Remove copy from server after retrieving a message."
  4. From the pull-down menu select the appropriate action of deleting copies: Right away, after one day, after one week, etc.
  5. Close the Accounts screen.

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