SmartXHosting webmail exposes every folder in your mailbox — the standard folders the mail server creates automatically and any custom folders you add for your own filing. This tutorial covers the navigation panel, the full folder list, folder creation, and a few conventions that keep UK business mailboxes organised.
Every mailbox on SmartXHosting's Axigen platform has a hierarchy of folders. A folder holds messages — the Inbox holds new incoming mail, the Sent folder holds outgoing mail, and so on. You can move messages between folders, create custom folders for projects or clients, and share folders with colleagues when you need shared visibility on a conversation.
Folders you create on webmail are also visible in IMAP clients (eM Client, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Outlook) because the folder state lives on the server, not on any single device. Rename a folder on your phone and it renames everywhere.
When your mailbox is provisioned, the server creates a standard set of folders:
You cannot delete standard folders. You can rename the custom folders you create, but not the standard ones — Axigen keeps their internal references stable so clients know where to file sent mail and draft copies.
On mobile webmail, folders live in a side panel you open from the top-left:
On desktop webmail the folder tree is always visible in the left pane. Click any folder name to open it; click the expand arrow to show sub-folders.
Tapping All email folders opens the Choose Folder page. This page lists every folder in your mailbox, including:
Next to each folder, a gear icon opens sharing and permission settings for that folder — see the separate tutorial on folder permissions. At the bottom of the page, a link labelled Open Other User's Folders lets you browse folders explicitly shared with you by colleagues.
You can change the sort order per folder — by sender, subject or size — using the sort controls above the message list. The choice is remembered per folder across sessions.
Custom folders help organise mail by project, client, financial year, or any other dimension that suits how you work.
Axigen supports granular folder sharing — useful for a shared Inbox like support@ or info@, or for letting a line manager see a direct report's Sent folder during handover.
The owner of a folder grants access through the gear icon next to the folder name on the Choose Folder page. Permission levels range from read-only to full manager (read, write, delete, permissions). See the folder permissions tutorial for the full matrix and the exact steps.
Once granted access, the other user opens the folder via Open Other User's Folders at the bottom of their Choose Folder page.
A few conventions that keep UK business mailboxes easy to search and audit:
Clients / Acme Ltd. Matches how working papers are typically organised in practice management tools.VAT / Q1 2026 / Q2 2026 sub-folders to separate supplier invoices and HMRC correspondence by filing period.Clients / Acme Ltd / 2026). Deeper hierarchies slow navigation and confuse new staff.Q: Is there a limit on the number of folders I can create?
A: No practical limit. Axigen handles thousands of folders per mailbox. Mailbox quota limits total storage, not folder count.
Q: Can I drag a message between folders in webmail?
A: Yes in desktop webmail (drag-and-drop works like a desktop client). In mobile webmail, use the message Options menu and select Move to folder.
Q: Why does my Trash folder empty itself?
A: An auto-purge rule removes items older than 30 days by default. You can disable auto-purge in webmail Settings if you prefer manual control.
Q: Can I share a folder with someone outside the organisation?
A: Sharing works between users on the same Axigen server/domain. Cross-organisation sharing is not supported directly — use forwarding or a dedicated shared mailbox instead.
Q: Do my folder changes sync to Outlook and eM Client?
A: Yes. All folder operations happen on the server. Any IMAP client (Outlook, eM Client, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Gmail app with IMAP) sees the same folder structure in real time.