# It may be unobvious that the "Deltachat" folder use case is going away (update: is apparently still being looked into)

**URL:** <https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Tags:** open-standards, classic-mailbox\
**Created:** [December 22, 2025, 7:30am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495 "2025-12-22T07:30:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/ell1e/32/2308_2.png) [@ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/u/ell1e)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/21 "2025-12-23T17:35:49Z")

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Typically the inbox would be already in use. But I think [with this approach](https://support.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away/4495/19) migration will work.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![iequidoo](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/46a35a/32.png) [@iequidoo](https://forum.delta.chat/u/iequidoo)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 4:48am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/22 "2025-12-24T04:48:07Z")

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The problem is that while your new address is propagating to the contacts, messages from them arrive to “DeltaChat”, but you’ve already switched to watching only INBOX. If you can’t move these messages manually e.g. in webmail, they’ll be missing.

Also it’s not necessary to “delete” other devices, the relay settings are synced and as for “Only watch DeltaChat folder”, you can just disable it manually on all devices. But it’s better to have them offline during the migration. Having the only device, even for a short period, is dangerous and shouldn’t be advised to users normally having two or more.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/ell1e/32/2308_2.png) [@ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/u/ell1e)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 6:26am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/23 "2025-12-24T06:26:22Z")

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I’m guessing the other devices wouldn’t even get the messages about the new relay.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![iequidoo](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/46a35a/32.png) [@iequidoo](https://forum.delta.chat/u/iequidoo)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 10:14am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/24 "2025-12-24T10:14:50Z")

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User’s other devices will, there’s even [fix: synchronize primary transport immediately after changing it · chatmail/core@58cd133 · GitHub](https://github.com/chatmail/core/commit/58cd133b5c26a470472ad66fe4be4b686621b3b6), but currently syncing the primary relay has a bug: [Setting new added relay as default fails to sync · Issue #7640 · chatmail/core · GitHub](https://github.com/chatmail/core/issues/7640). The workaround is to change the primary relay manually on all devices, but maybe just wait until the bug is fixed.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/ell1e/32/2308_2.png) [@ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/u/ell1e)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 11:24am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/25 "2025-12-24T11:24:44Z")

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I meant because it would go to the “Deltachat” folder but I assume that would then be turned off, sorry for being unclear.

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**Author:** ![dln949dc](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@dln949dc](https://forum.delta.chat/u/dln949dc)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/26 "2025-12-28T18:56:53Z")

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Hi. Apologies in advance, but… I’ve read throught this topic several times, I’m still a very confused simple user of Delta Chat.

Here is my situation: I use the Delta Chat app. I have a “regular” email account that I use only for Delta Chat - although I guess I could use it for other email purposes, just never thought to do that. Using Delta Chat, I communicate with people who insist on communicating using their regular email accounts and email applications. So far this has worked fine.

Questions: Is my use case going to stop working in Delta Chat? What should I be doing so I can continue communicating with these people in the future using Delta Chat?

Thanks in advance.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![link2xt](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/link2xt/32/1971_2.png) [@link2xt](https://forum.delta.chat/u/link2xt)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/27 "2025-12-28T22:30:20Z")

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> [@dln949dc](#):
>
> Here is my situation: I use the Delta Chat app. I have a “regular” email account that I use only for Delta Chat - although I guess I could use it for other email purposes, just never thought to do that. Using Delta Chat, I communicate with people who insist on communicating using their regular email accounts and email applications. So far this has worked fine.
> 
> Questions: Is my use case going to stop working in Delta Chat? What should I be doing so I can continue communicating with these people in the future using Delta Chat?

If you use your email account only with Delta Chat, then you don’t need to change anything. The only change is that eventually Delta Chat will keep all messages in the Inbox and not move them to `DeltaChat` folder.

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**Author:** ![spudNumber1](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@spudNumber1](https://forum.delta.chat/u/spudNumber1)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 7:00pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/28 "2025-12-30T19:00:27Z")

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Hi - I’m confused and afraid (!). I use DC with posteo and my regular email address. I move chat messages to a deltachat folder and only read from that folder. I have several devices. Does this mean that when this option is removed I will start seeing all my emails in DC client also, or that DC will not work as it does not - very well, for me. ? Happy to help with the use case if I can.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/ell1e/32/2308_2.png) [@ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/u/ell1e)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/29 "2025-12-30T20:30:34Z")

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Sadly, this seems to be what it means, yes. Your DC e-mails will show in your normal mail client, and your normal emails will show up in DC.

Seems like not enough people use a mixed inbox, so the folder separation feature appears to be slated for removal. So if you use a paid provider, you’d need to pay for two separate inboxes.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CrazyM](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@CrazyM](https://forum.delta.chat/u/CrazyM)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 10:56am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/30 "2025-12-31T10:56:35Z")

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Hi there, I use [mailbox.org](http://mailbox.org) as my trusted provider since many years and pay for it. They have amazing filters available so that I can have my DeltaChat emails (with dedicated alias) moved into the DeltaChat IMAP folder and use my account for normal emails as well as chatmail.  
Removing the DeltaChat-folder-feature could be a reason for me to leave DeltaChat. I use it since quite some years and advertised it (successfully) to friends. A couple of recent design decisions make DeltaChat more and more unattractive though. A pity.

I’m curious, is it such a complex feature or is so much code needed to look for email in the DeltaChat folder instead of INBOX? Is there a related security concern?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![link2xt](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/link2xt/32/1971_2.png) [@link2xt](https://forum.delta.chat/u/link2xt)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 11:26am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/31 "2025-12-31T11:26:46Z")

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> [@CrazyM](#):
>
> I’m curious, is it such a complex feature or is so much code needed to look for email in the DeltaChat folder instead of INBOX? Is there a related security concern?

Having an “IMAP folder” configuration in advanced settings next to the port is likely almost no code at all, basically a field here after “IMAP port” and then selecting the folder instead of the inbox:

 ![image](https://support.delta.chat/uploads/default/original/2X/c/c8f7975fc2f54970f15799bf1ea2200af3e5a416.png)  
Might even be the easiest way to get rid of “only watch deltachat folder” option, migrating the configuration here into the relay settings without asking the users to reconfigure anything.

The code for listing folders, automatic configuration of folders etc. I would really like to remove because it is not tested and results in bugs due to virtual folders, folder renaming etc. that are hard to reproduce, e.g. because they require using a specific provider.

For example:

1. Virtual folders may get renamed depending on the language setting in the provider: [Gmail account stays "updating..." forever · Issue #6444 · chatmail/core · GitHub](https://github.com/chatmail/core/issues/6444)
2. There is also no order between folders, so when you watch multiple folders, e.g. `Inbox`, `Sent`, `DeltaChat`, and get online after some time, there is no easy way (or maybe no way at all if you consider that messages may arrive while you switch between folders) to fetch messages in the same order in which they arrived. Moving messages between boxes results in assigning them later UID, but keeps the timestamp, so you get different order depending on whether you sort by UID or INTERNALDATE.
3. Different providers use different path separator and sometimes don’t allow to create folders inside the inbox or on the top level, so you may end up with `DeltaChat` folder, or `Inbox/DeltaChat` or `Inbox.DeltaChat` folder, or fail to create it at all.
4. Watching multiple folders at once requires maintaining multiple connections if `NOTIFY` extension is not supported. Some providers have connection limit per IP, so you have failure modes where you managed to connect to the `INBOX` but failed to connect to `DeltaChat` folder or vice versa.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/ell1e/32/2308_2.png) [@ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/u/ell1e)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/32 "2025-12-31T13:03:34Z")

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I guess if there is still uncertainty when debating the removal of this: what about setting up a survey on the [delta.chat](http://delta.chat) web server, and linking it during a device update text? To figure out how popular this feature is.

(I’m among those who’d use it, but I’m reading between the lines it’s unclear how many others would.)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![spudNumber1](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@spudNumber1](https://forum.delta.chat/u/spudNumber1)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/33 "2025-12-31T14:20:08Z")

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I was going to suggest the same thing. It would get my vote given the downsides (_but otherwise I’ll have to find a way to work around it, I wont stop using DC_)

For met, the attraction of DC was the convenience (I know, that shouldnt win over security) and the possibility that it be attractive in an enterprise environment - no new accounts needed, no new servers, “it just works”. I casually mention this to people whenever I can.

When I started I did get the mixed chat and email issues and so started to use the DeltaChat folder option (in my client install it doesnt appear under a “legacy” heading though, just “Advanced”).

Like [mailbox.org](http://mailbox.org), posteo has server side filters so I can move stuff around. I don’t think Posteo supports multiple inboxes: is it even an IMAP thing - I’ll have to look at the RFT I suppose.

For folder naming issues, and subject to a willingness to maintain this feature and the code, with the attractiveness of this possibility for new users - would it be possible to let the user choose a folder rather than rely on it being called DeltaChat, at their own risk etc?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![link2xt](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/link2xt/32/1971_2.png) [@link2xt](https://forum.delta.chat/u/link2xt)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/34 "2025-12-31T16:33:03Z")

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> [@spudNumber1](#):
>
> I don’t think Posteo supports multiple inboxes: is it even an IMAP thing - I’ll have to look at the RFT I suppose.

There is no such thing as multiple inboxes for the same IMAP credentials, it just means using a different username (email address) and password for chatting. Technically nothing prevents email provider from creating a new email address with a separate mailbox for existing customer and offer it for the same price (e.g. free, no additional cost) as an alias.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![spudNumber1](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@spudNumber1](https://forum.delta.chat/u/spudNumber1)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/35 "2025-12-31T20:19:52Z")

</div>

thanks for that clarification - does that mean that I can use e.g. one of Posteo’s email “aliases” for this? (I don’t think that means there is a separate inbox tho’).

c.f. [Help - What is an email alias? - posteo.de](https://posteo.de/en/help/what-is-an-email-alias)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/ell1e/32/2308_2.png) [@ell1e](https://forum.delta.chat/u/ell1e)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/36 "2025-12-31T20:36:29Z")

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To my knowledge you can’t, since it has no separate inbox. Unless the IMAP subfolder option stays.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![link2xt](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/link2xt/32/1971_2.png) [@link2xt](https://forum.delta.chat/u/link2xt)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/37 "2026-01-26T21:24:23Z")

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I made an alias setup using mailcow (postfix-based) for testing.

Created a mailbox, let’s say `user-nochat@example.org`. Then created an alias `user-chat@example.org` pointing to `user-nochat@example.org`. And then created a Sieve rule:

```auto
require ["envelope", "fileinto"];
if allof (
  envelope :is "to" "user-nochat@example.org",
  header :is "X-Original-To" "user-chat@example.org"
) {
    fileinto "DeltaChat"; stop;
}

```

Logged in with address “[user-chat@example.org](mailto:user-chat@example.org)” so this is what goes into the From field, but using “[user-nochat@example.org](mailto:user-nochat@example.org)” as the login. Mailcow seems to recognize that because alias exist, I can use “[user-chat@example.org](mailto:user-chat@example.org)” in the From field.

Envelope condition is not necessary, it is only to demonstrate that envelope “TO” is pointing to the non-alias address and alias address goes into X-Original-To because of how Postfix does this.

Not encouraging anyone to make such setup, just want to see how unconfiguring such setup will work so I can test whatever instructions we give users.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dcuser](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@dcuser](https://forum.delta.chat/u/dcuser)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 7:50am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/38 "2026-03-19T07:50:20Z")

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As per:

> [@Using Delta Chat in 'white list' situation \[oppressive government, how are attachments stored\]](https://support.delta.chat/t/using-delta-chat-in-white-list-situation-oppressive-government-how-are-attachments-stored/4910):
>
> Hi! My family and friends live in country with goverment repressions and total internet control. We are looking for the new ways to communicate constantly. What appealed to me in Delta Chat is that I can set it up with ‘white listed’ email service. And it already works great. So my question is - Is it secure in the sense of govermental forces reading my emails? I see them as empty emails with 2 attachments, so nothing to read here without a key. And 2nd question is where are attachments stored…

There are only a couple of email service providers and each one requires a phone number to have an account. So now you’re required to either: buy another phone number, or make an email account with a different service. The second one is obvious and simple enough, but still a hurdle as opposed to “just use your existing email” (even though you still have to setup the app access). And one might not want to overshare their phone number.

So please keep the option to use the DC folder, keeping the inbox lean and clean.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ian](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/ian/32/3164_2.png) [@ian](https://forum.delta.chat/u/ian)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 9:25am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/39 "2026-03-19T09:25:45Z")

</div>

By the way, are you from Russia? You can find hundreds of email providers globally who do not ask for a phone number.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dcuser](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@dcuser](https://forum.delta.chat/u/dcuser)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 9:46am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/it-may-be-unobvious-that-the-deltachat-folder-use-case-is-going-away-update-is-apparently-still-being-looked-into/4495/40 "2026-03-19T09:46:01Z")

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The issue is with the whitelists. These providers just won’t be available to connect to.

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