Map Gmail IMAP Folders to Mail.app Default Folders

Oct 24, '07 07:30:13AM

Contributed by: spudnik187

With the release of IMAP for Gmail (was I the only one who thought this would never happen?), one can finally keep his / her Gmail account synchronized across the web application and a desktop mail client, such as OS X's Mail.app. Google provides instructions for setting up the Gmail IMAP account in Mail.app, but, by default, your standard folders such as Sent, Drafts, Trash, etc. will be stored in a separate folder in Mail's side bar and not in Mail's standard folders.

The fix for this is simple, and may have only been unknown to me: Click on a folder in the Gmail folder in Mail's side bar. Click on the Mailbox menu in Mail. Click on the Use This Mailbox For menu item and click on the Mail folder that corresponds to the Gmail folder you've selected. That's it. Your Mail folders and Gmail folders should stay in sync. Note that you'll still have folders that don't map to Mail defaults such as, Starred and All Mail. Not to mention, all Gmail labels are converted to folders and Mail.app, which could create quite a mess if you're like me and have a lot of labels. It's a small price to pay, however, for IMAP access to Gmail.

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