Mailbox shows email but I do not see any

Knowledgebase

Email & Webmail | Updated 2026

If your email client shows your mailbox with a message count but the messages themselves are invisible or the inbox appears empty, the issue is usually a synchronization problem, a corrupted local cache, or messages stuck in a subfolder.

Try This First

Check webmail to confirm messages exist

Log into webmail at https://yourdomain.com:2096 and check if your messages are visible there. If they show in webmail but not your desktop client, the problem is local (your email app). If they are also missing in webmail, the issue is server-side.

01. IMAP Sync Issues

If you use IMAP, your email client syncs folders with the server. Sometimes the sync breaks:

Rebuild the folder list - In Outlook: right-click your account > Properties > clear offline items. In Thunderbird: right-click the folder > Properties > Repair Folder.
Check subscribed folders - IMAP clients only show "subscribed" folders. In Thunderbird, go to File > Subscribe and make sure your Inbox is checked.
Delete and re-add the account - Remove the account from your email client (this does NOT delete server-side messages with IMAP) and add it again.

02. POP3 - Messages Already Downloaded

If you use POP3, messages may have already been downloaded to another device and deleted from the server. POP3 downloads messages and can remove them from the server after download. Check your other devices. See POP3 vs IMAP.

03. Messages in Wrong Folder

Check your Spam/Junk folder, Trash, and any custom folders. Email filters (either in cPanel or in your email client) may be routing messages to unexpected locations. Check cPanel > Email > Email Filters and Global Email Filters for any active rules.

Also check Folders in Roundcube Are Missing if you are using Roundcube webmail and folders have disappeared.