Mail (Yosemite): Delete messages

In the main Mail window: Move the pointer over the message header, then click the Delete button that appears. Or select a message in the list, then click the Delete button in the Mail toolbar.

In a Mail notification: Move the pointer over the notification, then click Trash when it appears.

Select messages or conversations in the message list (hold down the Command key as you click each item), then click the Delete button in the Mail toolbar or press the Delete key. If you select a conversation, all of the messages in the conversation are deleted.

Search for a set of messages to delete. For example, search for messages dated August 1 through September 5 2014 by entering “date:8/01/14-9/05/14” in the Mail search field. Or search for messages from a specific person. Then select and delete the found messages.

Delete a mailbox, which deletes all the messages it contains.

If your settings move deleted messages to the Trash mailbox: You can view the messages in the Trash mailbox until they’re permanently erased. To retrieve a deleted message before it’s erased, drag it from the Trash mailbox to another mailbox.

If your settings don’t move deleted messages to the Trash mailbox: The messages may temporarily remain in their original location, but are dimmed or hidden. To show or hide them, if available, choose View > Show Deleted Messages or View > Hide Deleted Messages.

Automatically erase messages: Choose Mail > Preferences, click Accounts, then select an account. Click Mailbox Behaviors, then in the Trash section choose when you want Mail to permanently erase deleted messages.

If you have an IMAP account whose server is set up to delete older messages, they are erased regardless of your settings.

Manually erase messages at any time: Choose Mailbox > Erase Deleted Items, then choose an account.