[Evolution-users] Archive location?

[Pete Biggs]

On Mon, 2026-02-02 at 10:30 -0600, larry via evolution-users wrote:
> Is it possible to set the archive folder to a folder on a different
> hard drive?
> 

You can set the archive folder to be any mail folder that Evolution has
access to.  So the easiest way is to setup a local mail folder
(probably maildir) on the drive and set the archive folder there.

i.e. on the filesystem on the "different hard drive" create directory
with a suitable name (e.g. 'ArchiveMail' or whatever) then create a new
account (give it a dummy email address and untick the "look up mail
server details") then select a server type of "Maildir-format mail
directories" and point the "Mail Directory" to the directory you've
just created. Set Sending Email to "None" and then give it a suitable
name.  Once the account appears in the left side bar, create a folder
to store the archive mail in and point your Archive folder to it. 

You can, of course, create multiple folders for different accounts and
they will all reside on the "different hard drive".

Some caveats: don't use a USB removable drive for this - if it's not
available it will confuse Evolution!  I would also advise to use a
proper Linux filesystem (XFS, EXT, etc.) and not some MS "standard"
format drive.  It will probably work on an NFS mount; it *should* work
on a SMB mount, but I couldn't guarantee it!  Basically keep the
archive folder local and if you want a copy on an external / remote
drive then setup a cron job to rsync it or use restic to back it up.

P.