How to use rules to delete old messages from a certain mailbox?

This has bugged me for years. I keep waiting for it to be fixed in the next update of Apple Mail, but it never is!
Is there a way to apply a rule to a certain mailbox? For instance, I have a mailbox (folder) that all of my newsletters get automatically thrown into, and I'd like the older ones to be deleted as the new ones come in. The problem is, there is no way (that I know of) that allows me to apply a rule to this mailbox.
Years ago I had no trouble achieving this function with OutlookExpress. IF MESSAGE IN MAILBOX XXX IS OLDER THAN XXX THEN DELETE. Why is Apple Mail missing this feature? Frustrating. Possibly this has been fixed in Leopard/Mail but I wouldn't know, I'm stuck with Tiger for a while because my g4 won't play nice with Leopard... I'm using Mail 2.1.3

Mail's rules only apply to incoming messages. You can create such a rule but it will not run automatically. You would need to select the all the messages in that mailbox then select Apply Rules from the Messages menu. Alternatively you can create a Smart Mailbox that's configured to contain messages older than a set criterion. Periodically delete the contents of the Smart Mailbox.
You could purchase Microsoft Office in order to use Entourage instead of Mail, Address Book, and iCal. Entourage has additional rules programming.
"Why is Mail missing this feature?" Perhaps because it isn't very much needed. Perhaps to give you a reason to ask the question. Or maybe just to aggravate those who feel they cannot live without it. Best you email Steve Jobs for an answer. It has not changed in Leopard.
You can always submit a feature request at Feedback.
Or, you can return to OS 9 or Windows where you can use Outlook Express.

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Im trying to delete old messages from my iphone 4 but how can i view them on a computer to make it easier?

hi i have recently backed up my iphone 4 to do a wipe of my phone. i got all my info back on it but was wondering how can i view my messages on my computer so that i can delete old messages from months ago without actually having to delete the recent ones?

The backup includes text messages but they are stored in a format meant only for restoring back to the phone. There are 3rd party backup extractors that can view them. One of them is http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/ibackupextractor/

How can I stop auto deletion of messages from my inbox?

How can I stop auto deletion of messages from my inbox?
I've tried to fix this by changing the IMAP account's Junk settings so that they are moved either to the
"Junk" folder on 'account name'
or
Other: (drop down list for choosing accounts and one of its folders) Junk on 'account name'
I am sure I lost all of my important, not junk mail, amazon.com messages as well as other messages from comercial sites.
Secondly: Please tell me what the difference is between the 2 junk folder choices above.
Thank you,
- Jim

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Disappearing_mail
I don't understand "Junk on 'account name'". Can you provide a screenshot?
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-create-screenshot-my-problem

How can I retrieve my deleted text messages from my iPhone 5s? I don't sync to a computer, only to iCloud.

How can I retrieve my deleted text messages from my iPhone 5s? I don't sync to a computer, only to iCloud. My last backup was 2/19/14.

Unless you had them backed up somewhere, I'm afraid they are gone.

How can I read non-deleted text messages from months ago without having to continuously press "Load Earlier Messages"?

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Yes.
I use iBackupBot.

TS3899 How do I select and delete multiple messages from mail?

How can I select mutiple messages in my inbox and send them all to the trash without selecting each message and trashing it? Using the "Mark All" command does not give me that option--only the "Flag" and "Mark as Read" options.

I know there is no delete all option within Mail app but this workaround does the trick
1. Go to your inbox
2. Press Edit
3. Tap any message once to select it
4. Press AND HOLD the Move button
5. While still holding the Move button, tap the message you selected
6. Release the Move button
7. This will bring up a dialog box asking you which folder you’d like to move all your messages to – just select the Trash folder and you’re all done

How do I retrieve a deleted text message from my i cloud backup?

I deleted a text message today and need to get it back. My i phone was backed up last night to the cloud but I can't figure out how find the message. Help!

You have to restore the entire backup. This explains how to restore an iCloud backup: iCloud: Restore or set up your iOS device from iCloud.

How do I restore my deleted text messages from the iCloud?

Is there any way to restore text messages that have accidentally been deleted?

You would have to restore from a backup made while your messages were still on your phone (described here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766). This will revert all data and settings to those contained in the backup, not just messages. Before doing this be sure to import all photos and videos to your computer (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4083) and back up your contacts (such as by syncing them with iCloud: Settings>iCloud>Contacts>On) as sometimes these get lost when restoring from a backup.

Create a rule to delete older messages in a folder

I'm finding housekeeping in my Mac Mail time consuming and wanted to create a rule for a particular folder to delete messages older than say 2 weeks. I've tried googling and looking around for help but I can't find much.
I also have another issues I have a iMac and a Macbook pro and find I have to manage 2 inboxes, how does everyone else do this if I have read a message on my macbook pro why do I then have to see it as unread on my iMac. My machines are setup for syncing and I have a mobile me account? This should be so much easier. Am hoping iCloud might solve this, I only want to read an e-mail once.
I'm now on Lion, any help or advice would really be appreciated.
Thanks
Catherine

Rules apply automatically only to new, incoming messages. It is easy enough to make a rule to delete old messages, but you would have to run it manually. (To create a rule, go to the Rules pane in Mail Preferences. The process is pretty self-explanatory, and much easier to do than to explain.)
Your Inbox behavior is exactly the way a POP account works — your email program simply downloads messages from the server. The server has no idea which messages you have or have not read. If your mail service provides IMAP, that is what you want. Set up an IMAP account, if you can, and deactivate the POP account. Not all email providers include IMAP, however.

What is the best product to retrieve deleted text messages from someones phone that are a month old

What is the best product to use to retrieve deleted text messages from someones phone a month ago?

The only way to retrieve a deleted text message would be to restore a backup created after the message was sent but prior to the message being deleted.
There may be programs that can extract this information directly from the backup files themselves, google for possible solutions.

Can't delete email messages from some folders in Mail

I CAN delete email messages from header Folder "MAILBOXES" (drafts, sent, trash); however, there's another folder header below called "ON MY MAC", where I save various emails by dragging them to a subfolder, and when I try to delete these, I get this message:
"The message '(subject of email)' could not be moved to the mailbox 'Deleted Messages --- On My Mac' The destination mailbox 'Deleted Messages --- On My Mac' does not allow messages to be moved to it."
The only way to delete from this folder is to hold Control, select from the dropdown Move to, then Trash, and then one of three sub-trash folders (the one that has my email address) -- this is a pain to do.
Mail is just not working properly any more (I just added 2 other posts - one about crashing, another about all my Fonts missing)
thank you in advance!

Colin,
Have you checked Mail>Window>Previous Recipients for the old address? If not, attempt to "Remove From List" at that location and let us know what happens.
;~)

Since updating my Iphone 4 I cannot figure out how to delete old messages. There is no edit button. Can anyone help?

Since updating my Iphone 4 I cannot figure out how to delete old messages. There is no edit button. Can anyone help?

By "sending" do you mean sending email?
If so, what app are you using to take the photos on your iPhone 5? Or are the photos from a different source (saved to your Camera Roll from somewhere else, like a web page or Messages)?
My guess is that Mail gives you the option to send different file sizes when it detects you are trying to Mail a really large photo file. The size of photos on the iPhone 5 is really big and some email providers may stop your mail from being delivered if attachments are too large. Thus, Mail tries to help you by offering to resize the photo.
I suspect that if you are sending smaller files, Mail does not bother giving you options to save a smaller version. In fact, I have seen this behavior. So, if the photo is already "small enough", it gets sent as-is.
To my knowledge, there is no global iOS setting for this. Some apps may have different rules, of course.

How can I set up a rule to delete all messages older than 6 months left in Apple Mail's main inbox?

How can I set up a rule to delete all messages older than 6 months left in Apple Mail's main inbox?
I have created other rules to move some of my daily messages into specific folders and I don't wish to auto-delete those.
Just the general stuff that keeps piling up in my me.com main email box. Mail such as FB announcements and other low priority stuff I want to look at before deleting but don't want to keep longer than a week or month.
TIA
thokitts

Thanks, but I am looking for a more automated solution than hand marking emails as junk. I might as well move them to the trash myself.
Again, these are emails I want to receive and quickly read, but not keep longer than a week or month or so. By setting a rule to toss any older than 30 days back then my Mail program (and thus my hard drive) won't be wasting so much space. For example, currently I have over 6000 read messages, with their attachments, in my main email box. I'd rather not have to physically attend to sorting the one I don't want out.
The one I do keep for other reasons get moved into other folders.
It seems this should be possible.
thokitts

Inside mail, how do you find and delete old useless messages

inside mail, how do you find and delete old useless messages, there are thousands of them.

go thru all your mail boxes, and delete, all your synced boxes, highlight the stuff you want to trash, click delete.
Go thru all the boxes and do the delete, then go to your server trash, and delete.
You canthen go to on my mac and do the same thing.
This is way different than 10.6.8, and I'm sure there is a much better way to do this, but at least it will get rid of some junk.
Sorry this all I can offer.
I'm sure someone who has been working with OS can offer a much better path.

When i try to delete my messages it turns my imessage off so i have to restart my phone to get it to work again, by then all my messages have come back which i deleted... how can i delete old messages i dont need anymore withou imessage going off?

when i try to delete my messages it turns my imessage off so i have to restart my phone to get it to work again, by then all my messages have come back which i deleted... how can i delete old messages i dont need anymore withou imessage going off?

To get rid of "pop-up ads and other crap on my computer when I am on the internet", click on Safari in the Menu bar, and select Preferences. Next select Extensions. Delete all of them. Restart Safari.
The first step in addressing the black screen is an SMC reset.
Shut down the computer.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
Note: The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.
Excerpt from
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht39

How to use rules to delete old messages from a certain mailbox?

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