06/30 Update below. This post was originally published on June 25.
A Google bomb last week gave users a big reason to quit Windows 10. Now, the new serious issues mean that millions of Gmail users may want to join them.
As reported by Windows Latest and MSPowerUser, Gmail users are discovering that Microsoft’s Windows 10 built-in email client is automatically deleting their emails and / or spamming them. One user described his experience:
“I have had a problem with the Windows 10 Mail application linked to a Google account. I noticed that when I reply to emails, the email I send disappears and cannot be found in sent items, outbox, trash, junk mail or anywhere else. The missing email cannot be found in the gmail web interface either. It appears to be automatically removed and deleted from the server. “
6/30 update: After significant escalation of this issue (has been extended to Outlook and also Windows 10 Mail; see update below), Microsoft has contacted me. The company confirmed that it acknowledges the increase in user reports and that an investigation into the matter has now begun. Understandably, Microsoft was unable to provide a timeline for a solution. Given the solutions that users have discovered (guides below), I hope this can be mitigated quickly. The only potential downside is whether the cause boils down to a behind-the-scenes change at Google, because collaboration between companies tends to take longer. It remains to be seen if the emails lost by Gmail users can be recovered, but the good news is that the action is already underway.
06/28 Update: This issue seems to be getting worse with numerous threads now appearing in the Microsoft Communities forum citing the loss, deletion, or automatic sending of Gmail email to spam by the Windows 10 Mail application (one,two 3, 4 4 5 5, 6 6, 7 7, 8 9 9, 10, eleven, 12, 13, 14, fifteen, sixteen, 17, etc.) In addition to this, reports are also growing of similar issues now occurring between Outlook and Gmail, both on Windows and Mac (one, two. 3, 4 4 5 5, 6 6, 7 7 8, 9 9, 10, eleven, 12, etc.) At this point, it is clear that Microsoft has a significant issue of synchronization with Gmail and, although there are temporary solutions (see above and below), it would avoid using a Microsoft email client to access your Gmail at this time. . Microsoft has acknowledged my request for more information on these issues, but has not yet offered an explanation.
06/27 Update: according various posters, Google has confirmed that this is a problem from Microsoft instead of Gmail, which means that users will have to wait for a Windows 10 update instead of a Google server tweak. In addition to the workarounds listed below, an additional workaround has been found:
- Gmail.com> Settings> Filters and blocked addresses> Create a new filter
- In the ‘From’ field enter your address
- Click on ‘Create Filter’
- On the next page, select ‘Never send it to Spam’
- Click on ‘Create Filter’
This workaround isn’t perfect because it creates two sent items in Windows Mail, but it prevents Gmail emails from being lost or deleted, which is most important until Microsoft finds a solution.
“The latest version of Windows Mail has broken Gmail settings,” confirmed a Windows Insider MVP. Claiming that the only solutions are: a) delete your Gmail account from the Mail app and weaken the security settings in Gmail by allowing access to less secure apps (guide), or b) delete your account and use manual IMAP settings Gmail (guide) If you’re lucky, you might be able to recover some of your lost email after spam.
So what has caused this potentially damaging problem? Most fingers currently point to the problematic Windows 10 May 2020 update (surprise, surprise), though by no means is it all. As it is, Microsoft has not recognized the problem and remains a concern for all Gmail users who access their email through the Windows 10 Mail app.
I have contacted Microsoft and Google about this and will update the post when I know more.
___
Follow Gordon on Facebook
More about Forbes
Microsoft Releases Problematic Windows 10 Update, Despite Warnings
Google Chrome has spectacular MacBook problems, silent Apple
.