You tap the Delete button to remove your email in Mail application and then empty the Trash folder. You think everything goes fine. The email should be completely deleted and no one can recover it. Take note if you’re using iPhone 3.0!

Cult of Mac has reported that on iPhone 3.0, the email you have deleted is not actually removed but keep somewhere inside iPhone. When you search for keywords of the deleted email via Spotlight search, the search result displays that deleted email and you can even open it.

Obviously, it is a bug of iPhone 3.0. To learn more about it, the video below demonstrates the flaw on a second-generation iPod touch using 3.0 OS:

Basically, if you want to test it out, simply try the following procedures:

1. In Mail application, delete one of your email. (I suggest you find one with easy-to-remember subject)
2. After deletion, go to the Trash folder and remove the email from Trash to ensure it’s completely deleted.
3. Click Home button to go back to home screen and click the button again to launch Spotlight. Then search the subject line of your deleted email
4. Oh! You’ll find the deleted email is shown up

I have tested the above and can replicate the bug. The email is still kept somewhere inside iPhone after removal. It’s not completely removed and accessible via Spotlight.

The video submitter also pointed out he could find emails that are over 3 and 4 months old. From what I have tested, however, I didn’t locate any emails that were removed for quite a long time.

On the other hand, what I found is that the deleted email is completed removed in one or two minutes after you remove it from Trash folder. I’m not sure if there is any difference between iPod Touch and iPhone 3GS for this flaw. Anyway, Apple should definitely look into this flaw and offers a fix in the upcoming 3.1 OS.

You can also try out this flaw on your iPhone and report the result back. Feel free to leave us comment and share your findings.

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Tagged as: Email, iPhone