---
title: "Empty mailbox"
date: "2014-11-13"
category: "email"
slug: "empty-mailbox"
---

## Overview

An e-mail client may report zero messages despite the mailbox actually containing mail. This typically occurs when a user exceeds their storage quota.

## Cause

The mail server (Dovecot) uses cache files to speed up mailbox access. When storage is full, these caches can become corrupted, causing Dovecot to return incomplete information and the mailbox to appear empty.

## Solution

1. Log into the [[logging-into-the-control-panel]]
2. Ensure the user has sufficient storage via **User** > **Manage Users**
    - If not, increase the storage limit using the **Edit** action under _Actions_
3. Go to **Files** > **File Manager** and navigate to `/home/<user>/` (where `<user>` is the affected user)
4. Open the `Mail/` folder
5. Delete the following files: `dovecot.index`, `dovecot.index.log`, and `dovecot.index.cache`
6. Access e-mail again -- the mailbox should now display correctly
