deleted message keeps reappearing10-20-more times

[PhilBurton]

Operating system::    windows 10 Pro
Outlook version:     Office 365
Email type or host:    IMAP

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A routine email message keeps reappearing in a mail folder, a subfolder of the Inbox. IMAP account with Xfinity. Office 365, Windows 10 Pro

This message is from a friend with two attachments (photos) plus a link to flickr. I have deleted this message at least four times now but it keeps coming back many times each time it reappears. Reminds me of the multiplying broom in the Disney cartoon, The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Sorcerer's Apprentice - Fantasia

 

[octetdesignstudio]

A routine email message keeps reappearing in a mail folder, a subfolder of the Inbox. IMAP account with Xfinity. Office 365, Windows 10 Pro

This message is from a friend with two attachments (photos) plus a link to flickr. I have deleted this message at least four times now but it keeps coming back many times each time it reappears. Reminds me of the multiplying broom in the Disney cartoon, The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Sorcerer's Apprentice - Fantasia

It definitely sounds like you’ve got your very own version of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice — only instead of a multiplying broom, it’s a ghost email that won’t quit!
Since you're using an IMAP account with Xfinity, the issue is probably on the server-side sync. When you delete the email in Outlook, it tells the Xfinity server to delete it — but if that server doesn’t register the deletion properly, Outlook will re-download the message as if it’s new.

What you can try:​

1. Log in via Xfinity Webmail and delete the message there. If it’s removed directly from the server, Outlook won’t keep seeing it.
2. Purge deleted messages (in Outlook: Folder > Purge > Purge Marked Items in "All Accounts")
3. If it keeps returning, delete and recreate the IMAP account profile — it’s tedious but often solves persistent sync loops.
4. Run ScanPST or rebuild the .ost file just to ensure it’s not a local caching issue.

 

[PhilBurton]

Thanks. I'll try this solution. Also now my wife's email account is affected. (See reply to Diane P.)

 

[PhilBurton]

It definitely sounds like you’ve got your very own version of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice — only instead of a multiplying broom, it’s a ghost email that won’t quit!
Since you're using an IMAP account with Xfinity, the issue is probably on the server-side sync. When you delete the email in Outlook, it tells the Xfinity server to delete it — but if that server doesn’t register the deletion properly, Outlook will re-download the message as if it’s new.

What you can try:​

1. Log in via Xfinity Webmail and delete the message there. If it’s removed directly from the server, Outlook won’t keep seeing it.

I've done that.

1. Purge deleted messages (in Outlook: Folder > Purge > Purge Marked Items in "All Accounts")

Do you mean I need to select the folder with the problem messages?

1. If it keeps returning, delete and recreate the IMAP account profile — it’s tedious but often solves persistent sync loops.

That sounds like a nuclear option.

1. Run ScanPST or rebuild the .ost file just to ensure it’s not a local caching issue.

In my case, I would rebuild the OST files. I think that's easier than recreating the IMAP account profiles.