---
title: "Subscribe IMAP Email folders in Mac Mail"
description: "IMAP folders may need to be manually assigned to a Mac Mail account in order to synchronize properly. The assigning of these folders is also known as Subscribing to IMAP folders. The following..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/email/subscribe-imap-email/
date: 2013-03-07
modified: 2022-10-14
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["Email"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Subscribe IMAP Email folders in Mac Mail

IMAP folders may need to be manually assigned to a Mac Mail account in order to synchronize properly. The assigning of these folders is also known as **Subscribing to IMAP folders**. The following article explains how to find and configure this setting within the Mac Mail client.

NOTE: This article applies to Apple Mail used in OSX Mavericks (2013).

## How to Add Folders to the Subscription List in Mac Mail

1. Open your Mac Mail client.
2. In the top left corner, click on **MAIL **in the menu bar, then select **Preferences**.
3. Click on the Account Information![Mac mail illustrating mail account](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mac-mail_mac-mail-1.png)
4. Make sure that the first item is checked off. It should read: **Enable this account**.
5. Next, click on the **Advanced** tab and click on the checkbox that reads **Include when automatically checking for new messages**.
6. Close the **Accounts** window, then under the **MAILBOXES **column on the left-hand side control-click (or right-click) on the **INBOX** icon.![Account Info window](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mac-mail_subscribing-macmail-1.png)
7. Click on **GET ACCOUNT INFO**. You will see an **ACCOUNT INFO **window pop up like the one in the screenshot on right. Click on **SUBSCRIPTION LIST**. You will see the list of folders that are subscribed or not subscribed for synchronization with your IMAP account. You can select the folder and **SUBSCRIBE** or **UNSUBSCRIBE** with the buttons at the bottom left of the screen.
8. Close the **ACCOUNT INFO** window, then click on **MAILBOX** in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
9. Click on **Take All Accounts Offline**. Wait for it to go offline, then click on **Take All Accounts Online** to complete the changes.

If you are looking for information on setting up the Apple Mail Client, please go to [How to Set up Mac Mail](/support/email/set-up-mac-mail/). Also, for further information on email in general, check out our [Email Category page](/support/email/) in the Support center.

## Subscribing to IMAP Folders using Mac Mail

In order to use IMAP folders for the Mac email client, you will need to set the **IMAP Path Prefix** and select the **IMAP folders** that Apple Mail will use. The instructions for these steps are found below.

### How to Enter the IMAP Path Prefix

1. Choose **Preferences** in the Mail menu.
2. Click on **Accounts**.
3. Click on the **Advanced tab.**
4. Type in **INBOX** in the “IMAP Path Prefix” field.

### Selecting the IMAP folders for Sent, Drafts, Junk, and Trash

1. Select and then click on the **IMAP folder** you would like to use: **Sent**, **Drafts**, **Junk**, or **Trash**.
2. Click on the **Mailbox** menu.
3. Choose the corresponding mailbox that you would “Use This Mailbox For”.

Repeat these steps for any other folders you wish to store on the server.