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If you log into Roundcube Webmail and your Sent, Drafts, Trash, or other folders are missing, it's usually an IMAP subscription issue or a folder naming mismatch. The emails are almost certainly still there. This guide covers how to get your folders back and why they disappeared.
Manage Folder Subscriptions
IMAP folders need to be "subscribed" to appear. Your folders still exist on the server, they're just hidden. Re-subscribe in 3 clicks:
- ✓ In Roundcube: click the gear icon (bottom-left) > Manage folders
- ✓ Check the boxes next to Sent, Drafts, Trash, Junk, and any custom folders
- ✓ Go back to your inbox, the folders reappear in the sidebar
01. Resubscribe to Missing Folders
- Log into Roundcube - via cPanel > Email Accounts > Check Email
- Click the gear icon - at the bottom of the left sidebar (folder list)
- Click "Manage folders" (or "Folders" in some versions)
- Check the subscription boxes - you'll see a list of all folders on the server. Check the box next to each folder you want visible: Sent, Drafts, Trash, Junk/Spam, and any custom folders
- Return to your inbox - the subscribed folders now appear in the sidebar
This is an IMAP feature, not a bug. IMAP allows you to selectively subscribe to folders so that email clients only sync the ones you care about. If a folder gets unsubscribed (by another device, by a settings change, or during a migration), it disappears from the interface but the emails inside it remain on the server.
02. Special Folders Configuration
Roundcube has settings that control which folders are used for Sent messages, Drafts, Trash, and Junk. If these get misconfigured, Roundcube might create a new "Sent" folder while your old "Sent Messages" folder (created by Outlook or another client) still exists with all your messages in it.
Check Special Folders
In Roundcube, go to Settings (gear icon, top right) > Preferences > Special Folders. Verify each is set to the correct folder:
- Drafts - "Drafts"
- Sent - "Sent" (not "Sent Messages" or "Sent Items" unless that's where your email app stored them)
- Junk - "Junk" or "Spam" or ".Junk"
- Trash - "Trash"
If you see duplicate folders like "Sent" and "Sent Messages," your desktop email app (Outlook, Thunderbird) created one with a different name. Set Roundcube's Special Folders to match whichever one has your messages in it, then you can delete the empty duplicate.
03. Quota and Storage Issues
If your mailbox is at or near its quota, Roundcube may not be able to load the folder list properly. Check your mailbox quota in cPanel > Email Accounts. If it's full:
- Delete old messages from Trash and Junk first (these often contain large attachments)
- Empty the Trash after deleting (Roundcube doesn't permanently delete until you empty the Trash)
- Increase the mailbox quota in cPanel > Email Accounts if needed
04. Folders Missing in Desktop Apps
If folders are missing in Outlook, Thunderbird, or a mobile app rather than Roundcube:
Outlook
Right-click your account name in the folder pane and select "IMAP Folders" or go to Account Settings > More Settings > Advanced > set "Root Folder Path" to INBOX.
Thunderbird
Right-click your account > Subscribe. Check all the folders you want visible. See our Thunderbird guide for more details.
iPhone/iPad
Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > your account > Account > Advanced > IMAP Path Prefix and enter INBOX. See our iPhone email guide.
For general email troubleshooting, see our Email Troubleshooting Guide.
Folders Still Missing?
If your folders don't appear after resubscribing, there may be a server-side issue with the mail directory. Open a ticket and we'll check the IMAP folder structure for your mailbox.
Open a Support TicketQuick Recap: Get Folders Back
If you only do 5 things from this guide, do these:
- Manage folder subscriptions - gear icon > Manage folders > check the missing folders
- Check Special Folders settings - make sure Sent, Drafts, Trash point to the right folders
- Check mailbox quota - a full mailbox can prevent folder listing from loading
- Set IMAP Path Prefix to INBOX - fixes folder display in most desktop/mobile apps
- Your emails are not lost - unsubscribed folders are hidden, not deleted
Last updated March 2026 · Browse all Email articles
