How to Stop Emails Going to Trash Instead of Inbox in Gmail
Have you tried opening Gmail in another browser?
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Key notes
- Users report that their Gmail emails go directly to the trash, even after moving them back to the inbox.
- The problem is usually linked to misconfigured filters that directly move emails to the trash.
- A simple fix would be to remove filters that trigger deletion and revoke access for third-party tools to Gmail.
Gmail is one of the most used email services, with 1.8 billion users as of 2022. It’s quick, simple to use, and has several other benefits.
However, many users reported that emails are going to trash in Gmail, and they have been wondering how to stop that.
Why are my emails going to trash in Gmail?
Here are some of the reasons why emails are going to the trash instead of inbox in Gmail:
- Poorly configured filters – If you have several filters in place on Gmails, chances are that it’s the reason behind emails going to the trash. Also, third-party Gmail filter tools may often cause the problem.
- Blocked addresses – Many users found out they had blocked specific addresses, so the emails ended up in the trash on Gmail.
- A low trust score on an email list – If the sender has a poor score, Gmail may send the email to spam or trash. So, you will have to check that and, if required, create a specific filter to retain the email.
How do I stop emails from going to the trash in Gmail?
Before we head to the slightly complex solutions, here are a few quick ones:
- First, log out of your Gmail account and then re-login to it.
- Manually move the email in the trash folder to your inbox if this is the first time you have had this problem. In some cases, this was a one-off thing and didn’t reappear. Subsequently, there’s no need for advanced troubleshooting.
If these two methods don’t work, head to the ones listed next.
1. Try opening Gmail in a web browser
Sometimes opening Gmail in a web browser can be a solid workaround for this issue.
For this purpose, you can use any browser, but we’d recommend using Opera One since it offers the best security & privacy options and also the most efficient customization features.
The Speed dial feature lets you see Gmail in the list of suggestions every time you open a new tab. From there, you can select to open it in one of the Workspaces you created before.
Another option is to add Gmail to your bookmark bar, and you can access it fast, regardless of which Workspace you are in.
The browser is similar to Chrome but has built-in malware, tracking, phishing, and privacy protection. There’s also a built-in VPN for an extra layer of privacy.
Opera One
Get fast access to all your emails by bookmarking the account or adding it to the Speed dial list.2. Delete Gmail filters
- Click the Settings button in Gmail and select See all settings.
- Navigate to the Filters and blocked addresses tab, verify all the filters here, and look for any with the term Delete.
- If you find any, select the filter checkbox(s) and press the Delete button.
That’s it! If you have been wondering how to stop emails from going to trash in Gmail, it’s usually the configured filters to blame, and now that you have deleted them, the problem shouldn’t reappear.
3. Remove third-party apps from Gmail
- Log in to your Gmail account, click on the profile icon near the top-right, and select Manage your Google account.
- Navigate to the Security tab, and click on Manage third-party access under Third-party apps with account access.
- Now, look through the apps with access to your Gmail account, locate the ones that could be problematic, and click on the Remove Access button.
- Click OK in the confirmation prompt.
Once done, re-login to your Gmail account and verify if the emails are still going to trash, but most likely, the changes here should stop it. Also, Unroll.me is found to often lead to the issue, so make sure to remove it.
4. Try an alternative to Gmail
Since we always want to recommend the best solutions, a comprehensive option is Mailbird due to features like multiple accounts sync or built-in apps.
The service is available as both a downloadable client and a web client, and it acts as a central hub for all of your email addresses.
This means you can better manage everything you send and receive, and the customizable UI and service integrations make it fun to use.
⇒ Get Mailbird
5. Disable POP and IMAP in Gmail
- Click on the gear icon in Gmail, and select See all settings.
- Navigate to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab, select the Disable POP and Disable IMAP options, and finally click on Save changes at the bottom.
If you have ever used a third-party tool to configure Gmail filters or settings, disabling POP and IMAP will help if you are wondering how to stop emails from going to the trash.
By now, we expect you to know how to stop emails from going to the trash in Gmail, and things should be up and running.
Also, do not forget to check out the best backup tools for Gmail (including free ones) and keep your emails safe and secure.
If you have a query or know of another solution, drop it in the comments section below.
