Delete single mails from Evolution trash

rolfie · 2026-05-29 21:34:56

I am using Evolution as mail client. Many years of mails, and the trash can is filled with a lot of stuff. I am keeping certain stuff in there in case I deleted it by mistake. Instead of completely deleting the trash can I would like to selectively remove certain repeating mails. Is there any chance I can do that?

I am coming from my business experience with Outlook. There this was possible.

stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn · Yesterday 19:17:33

at the moment i am not near my notes but i might get that way fairly soon.

in the meantime be careful what you do as i seem to remember some email clients choking/failing/corrupting-data/etc when attempting processes on a very large number of emails.

how many are in your trash directory/folder?

if you don't already have a _proven_working_backup_ for your whole email archive(s) you should do and confirm that as a first step.

keep us posted!

Last edited by stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn (Yesterday 20:09:17)

stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn · Yesterday 20:33:06

grabbed my old chimaera drive since i was using evolution on it.

wanted to confirm that evolution does have its own backup function(so if you don't have a current one then make a couple backups, preferrably on different media)

also evolution has a "remove duplicate messages" function as well(you mentioned "repeating mails" but i suppose that isn't the same as "duplicates" so that probably won't work for you)

i was able to create a new directory/folder and i was able to select and move emails out of the trash folder and into a "normal" folder(the trash folder appears to not allow as many operations/options?)

i was also able to create duplicate emails and then use the "remove duplicate messages" function to get rid of them.

keep us posted on your progress!

steve_v · Today 13:38:12

Uhhm, I'm not the only one who finds the idea of using the trash bin as a backup strategy completely batshit insane, am I?

Two words: Verified backups.
Make them. Test them. Then empty the trash bin and restore anything important from backup, to a sensible archive folder.

rolfie · Today 14:50:01

My dear friends, I think your are on the wrong track. I am not talking about the file system trash can but the one built in into Evolution. Its a folder like the Inbox, Archive, Send Messages, .... Similar to the setup in Thunderbird and other mail clients. Was my description that bad? In any case, thank your for your feedback.

I am aware of the built in functions "Save/Restore Evolution Data" or how its called in the English menu (I am from Germany so my menu is in German). Have used it many times to transport the Evolution settings and mails to a new release or a different computer over the years. And I am running a backup of my data with rsync normally. Please don't worry, I am no beginner.

stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn wrote:

also evolution has a "remove duplicate messages" function as well(you mentioned "repeating mails" but i suppose that isn't the same as "duplicates" so that probably won't work for you)

I am sorry, I do not mean duplicates. I am talking about something like the weekly mailing from one of my email providers who spams his customers with a "magazine" I do filter out to the trash can without looking at it. Repeating messages of similar structure and slightly differing content. Or shippig information from ... whatever.

As of today I have not found a way to partially clean out am single one of the more than 10000 deleted mails in the Evolution trash can like I could do with Outlook. I miss this function.

Last edited by rolfie (Today 14:52:44)

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#1 2026-05-29 21:34:56

Delete single mails from Evolution trash

#2 Yesterday 19:17:33

Re: Delete single mails from Evolution trash

#3 Yesterday 20:33:06

Re: Delete single mails from Evolution trash

#4 Today 13:38:12

Re: Delete single mails from Evolution trash

#5 Today 14:50:01

Re: Delete single mails from Evolution trash

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