---
name: "cyrus-unexpunge"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "cyrus-common"
version: "3.10.2-1+deb13u2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cyrus-unexpunge"
---

# cyrus-unexpunge(8)

Cyrus IMAP documentation Recover messages the user has (accidentally) deleted.

## NAME

unexpunge - Cyrus IMAP documentation

Recover messages the user has (accidentally) deleted.

## SYNOPSIS

```
unexpunge [ -C config-file ] -l mailbox [ uid... ]
unexpunge [ -C config-file ] -t time-interval [ -d ] [ -v ] [ -f flagname ] mailbox
unexpunge [ -C config-file ] -a [ -d ] [ -v ] [ -f flagname ] mailbox
unexpunge [ -C config-file ] -u [ -d ] [ -v ] [ -f flagname ] mailbox uid...
```

## DESCRIPTION

*The* **unexpunge** *program is used to list or restore messages which have* *been deleted from a mailbox, but still reside in the Cyrus IMAP mail* *spool.*

*This utility is only useful when the server is configured with* **expunge\_mode** *set to* **delayed** *in its configuration file.*

**unexpunge** *reads its configuration options out of the [imapd.conf(5)](/imapd.conf/5.md) file unless specified otherwise by* **-C***.*

## OPTIONS

- **-C config-file**

  *Use the specified configuration file config-file rather than the default [imapd.conf(5)](/imapd.conf/5.md).*

- **-l, --list**

  *List the expunged messages in the specified mailbox which are* *available for restoration.* *Optionally, only list the messages in the mailbox matching the* *UIDs in the space-separated list at the end of the command invocation.*

- **-t time-interval, --within-time-interval=time-interval**

  *Unexpunge messages which were expunged within the last* **time-interval** *seconds.* *Use one of the trailing modifiers --* **m** *(minutes),* **h** *(hours),* **d** *(days) or* **w** *(weeks) -- to specify a different time unit.*

- **-a, --all**

  *Restore* **all** *of the expunged messages in the specified mailbox.*

- **-u, --uids**

  *Restore only messages matching the UIDs, in a space-separated list* *at the end of the command invocation, in the specified mailbox.*

- **-d, --unset-deleted**

  *Unset the \\Deleted flag on any restored messages.*

- **-f flagname, --set-flag=flagname**

  *Set the user flag \\flagname on the messages restored, making it* *easier for the user(s) to find the restored messages and operate on* *them (in a batch).*

- **-v, --verbose**

  *Enable verbose output/logging.*

## EXAMPLES

```
unexpunge -l user/john@example.org
```

*List the messages that are expunged and could be restored for mailbox* *user/john@example.org.*

```
unexpunge -u user/john@example.org 278787 278788
```

*Unexpunge two of these messages.*

```
mbexamine user/john@example.org
```

*Examine the mailbox for the two restored messages.*

```
unexpunge -u -d user.johnsmith 46908
```

*Unexpunge a select message based on its UID, clearing the* *\\Deleted flag.*

```
unexpunge -a user.johnsmit.Trash
```

*Unexpunge all messages in a user's Trash, but leave them* *flagged \\Deleted.*

```
unexpunge -a -f Flagged user.johnsmith.Trash
```

*The same, but setting user flag \\Flagged to facilitate later* *bulk operations.*

```
unexpunge -t 24h -d -f Flagged user.johnsmith
```

*Unexpunge messages matching only a given time period.*

```
unexpunge -t 24h -d -f Flagged user/johnsmith
```

*The same command, supporting the* **unixhierarchysep: yes** *option in [imapd.conf(5)](/imapd.conf/5.md).*

## FILES

*/etc/imapd.conf*

## SEE ALSO

*[imapd.conf(5)](/imapd.conf/5.md)*

## AUTHOR

*The Cyrus Team, Nic Bernstein (Onlight), Jeroen van Meeuwen (Kolab Systems)*

## COPYRIGHT

*1993–2025, The Cyrus Team*