Palm Pre Gmail archive hack
I love just about everything about the Pre’s mail application, but since it’s built for all mail services the delete button really, you know…deletes stuff, which isn’t optimal for Gmail users who are used to the archive button. Fortunately, I found his quick little hack to enable archive functionality:
- Open the Mail application and go into Preferences and Accounts.
- Under accounts, tap your Gmail account
- Under Default Folders, change the trash folder to [Gmail]/All Mail
That’s it! Since this hack usurps the delete functionality, I’d still prefer that Palm add a dedicated “move to folder” button. This button could, for example, move the message to a “default” folder when tapped, or pop up a list to choose the one you want if you tap and hold. Still, the workaround is preferable for those of us who can’t live without archive.
Update: Lifehacker commenters mentioned that the Pre does allow you to move mail to a folder, but for me this would take 5 taps: menu > move to folder > scroll, scroll (I have a lot of tags) > All Mail. Like most hacks, changing the delete folder isn’t perfect but for some it may be better than the alternative.
28 Comments, Comment or Ping
dave
Have you tried using the “Advanced IMAP controls” Gmail lab? the lab settings can customize this for you.
Jun 8th, 2009
kasl33
Thanks for the tip! VERY helpful!
Pre rocks!
Jun 9th, 2009
Jacob Lunde
So let me make sure I am getting the same results as you are, you change this and it archives it on your PHONE only, when you log into gmail you still have to archive these correctly, is this right??
Jun 10th, 2009
kasl33
Jacob Lunde -
That’s a negative. After your phone syncs with the Gmail server, the inboxes will be in sync.
Jun 10th, 2009
Jacob Lunde
Well its not archiving on the gmail end, I wonder why that is
Jun 10th, 2009
kasl33
Do you have Gmail set to auto sync? What happens if you force a sync?
Jun 10th, 2009
Lisa Brewster
I think that’s been happening to me today, too. Changes typically reflect on the Gmail side immediately, but I’ve noticed a few messages getting left behind.
Just tested to make sure, and messages sync’d on the Gmail side right after the unread message count icon in the upper right corner went through its little animation. Does anyone know if Palm has a proxy server (maybe part of Synergy)?
Jun 10th, 2009
Jacob Lunde
Mine is syncing every 15 min on this account (dont have it setup like this for my other account as its mostly my personal and spam account) and its will to throw it into the trash when set to that, but when set to all mail it dosent work right. I hope its just a issue for today.
Jun 10th, 2009
danny
brilliant!
thanks!
Jun 12th, 2009
Christopher Caswell
I still like to delete mail vs. archive, and I agree the Menu | Move to folder… scroll, scroll, scroll is tedious. I got around the last part by creating a new label called .AllMail (with preceding period) which will alphabetize to the top of the list. I can remove mail from this label later if I want but it makes for an easy destination.
Jun 13th, 2009
Ken A
Thank You!!!! That helps so much! I see it xfers the mail to the “all” folder, which is great so I can go back and reference emails without ever losing them.
Do the emails in the “all” folder ever go away? Or will they be there always (hopefully)?
Jul 19th, 2009
John
i wish these settings existed for my other email accounts. after i view my email on the pre it just disappears. and i dont have it set to sync deletions with server and messages i dont delete just disapear from phone. i had an email from someone this morning that i wanted to get back to but didnt have time when email came in, i just opened my email on phone to find that message isnt there? Any help would be appreciated.
Jul 29th, 2009
Ken A
John,
I had that problem with my AOL account on my pre. In gmail, I set it up so that ALL my aol emails are copied/imported to the gmail account also. So, if it is deleted from the phone or AOL, at least I have copies on my gmail account.
Hope this helps.
Jul 29th, 2009
Daniel Zen
I had to disable the IMAP controls lab to make this hack work reliably. Otherwise I had the same problem as Jacob Lunde.
Sep 10th, 2009
Leo
Awesome! This fixed my issues with PalmPre email client not archiving my emails! I created a label “PalmPre_Deleted” and changed the trash location to that label. Works great!
Sep 21st, 2009
Dan
A bit confused. So even though I am pressing the TRASH button it is being archived?
Oct 14th, 2009
kasl33
Absolutely Dan. The idea with Gmail is to never delete your email, so although there is a trash icon, you are actually archiving your mail with this modification.
Oct 14th, 2009
Lock80
Thank You!!! Now it’s usable.
Nov 17th, 2009
Nancy
Thanks so much for this tip. Thanks also to Daniel Zen; I also needed to disable the IMAP controls lab, and it’s working great now!
Nov 28th, 2009
Jeffrey Cox
Thank you so much for this quick and perfect tip. Just what I needed after accidentally deleting two emails.
- Jeffrey (via my new Pre!)
wwwFixYourToDoList – a free add-in for Outlook
Dec 26th, 2009
Reply to “Palm Pre Gmail archive hack”