Some email services (Spectrum/TWC/Road Runner, Yahoo!, etc.) allow forwarding but not automatic deletion of forwarded email, leading to potential quota exceedance over time.
This Python script* can be scheduled or run manually to batch delete all messages in the Inbox:
#!/usr/bin/env python
import imaplib
M = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL("imap.example.com")
M.login("[email protected]","password")
M.select("Inbox")
typ, data = M.search(None, 'ALL')
for num in data[0].split():
M.store(num, '+FLAGS', '\\Deleted')
M.expunge()
M.close()
M.logout()Under iOS, use a-Shell (App Store | GitHub) to edit and save the script (e.g., "emptyinbox") in vim, then set as executable (chmod +x emptyinbox). Run simply as emptyinbox or pair with Shortcuts (specifying the full path, /private/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/long-string/Documents/emptyinbox) and add an icon to the Home screen via the Action icon.
See also Batch delete all email from POP server via Python.
* H/T codersofthedark, the imaplib documentation, and the participants in this discussion.
/misc | Jul 03, 2020