Permanently delete emails in Roundcube

In Roundcube, Delete normally moves messages to the Trash. While they stay there, they keep taking up space. Emptying it removes them from the server mailbox, and the change shows up on the devices connected over IMAP.

Delete only messages you have reviewed

1. Log in to webmail and open the relevant folder.
2. Select the messages you want to remove. If you are trying to free up quota, start with the largest ones and keep anything you need to save outside the mailbox.
3. Click Delete and check that the messages appear in Trash.
4. Review its contents before using Empty in that folder's options. The operation affects the whole Trash, including messages deleted earlier.

Once it is emptied, Roundcube offers no undo. A copy synced over IMAP may also receive the deletion: do not mistake it for an independent archive.

If messages appear struck through or you cannot see the Trash

How deletion works depends on the webmail preferences. A message marked as deleted may stay in its folder until you run Compact or the permanent deletion action available. Check the selection before doing so.

In Settings > Preferences > Special Folders, check which folder is assigned to Trash. In Settings > Folders, check whether it is visible or subscribed. Do not create another folder with the same name without checking the existing one.

If the space used does not go down

The indicator may take a while to update. Also check Sent, Spam and custom folders: emptying the Trash does not clean the rest. To find what takes up most space and review clean-up options, follow how to free up space in your email.