Does the emClient backup function include emails on the server (Inbox & Sent mainly) in an IMAP context, not just the locally stored emails?
If so, wouldn’t a daily automatic backup on IMAP come pretty close to the goal of POP, which is having all (most) emails on the local machine, excepting only those appearing on the server since the previous day’s backup?
eM Client only retains a local cache of messages in the backup.
If you want to keep your actual complete messages on the server, you have 2 options.
1). You can copy your eM Client IMAP account messages and any custom message folders regularly “to a folder in eM Client Local Folders” which then would then be all included either in the automatic periodic backup or manual backup depending on how you backup in eM Client.
Or
2). You could alternatively sync your online IMAP account mailbox regularly “to another online IMAP mail backup server”. There are many online “server to server cloud backup systems” available for IMAP mailboxes out there. Alot of businesses do cloud to cloud mailbox backup strategies.
Interesting. On your first option, could the copying be done by creating an automated rule, e.g. “Copy all messages in Inbox to a (local) folder” called for example Inbox Local? A Move command presumably would not work, since that would remove items in the IMAP inbox, instead of just copying them. I do not know if there is such a thing as an automated copy rule. I do not recall seeing one in Outlook Classic, my long-time email client, to be devoured by Microsoft in 2025.
On your first option, could the copying be done by creating an automated rule, e.g. “Copy all messages in Inbox to a (local) folder” called for example Inbox Local?
As far as I know you can only set a rule for new single incoming messages (and not all messages) from a specific recipient to move to a local folder of your choice, which you could then “manually run anytime” for exiting messages already in the Inbox from that specific sender.
I’m not aware of a rule to automatically copy all Inbox or any other complete folder message contents to a Local folder. However if you can, someone will update this thread. Im not an expert in eM Client Rules.
The only thing I’m aware of is there is in Settings and eg: Automatic Archiving function to automatically move email older than X days from the server to a Local folder of your choice. That’s normally designed though for someone who is wanting to save space on their server so wouldn’t suit what you want to do with just backing it up.
A Move command presumably would not work, since that would remove items in the IMAP inbox, instead of just copying them.
Yes the Move command is no good in eM Client as that will remove it from your online mailbox end and inturn then all your other devices.