iredmail-doc/en_US/faq/1-why.append.timestamp.in.maildir.path.md

Why append timestamp in maildir path

iRedMail appends a timestamp to user's maildir path by default, people asked many times why we do this, and here's why. :)

Think about this situation:

• Employee Michael Jordan has email address mj@domain.ltd. Without timestamp in maildir path, his maildir path should be /var/vmail/vmail1/domain.ltd/mj/.

• Michael left company someday, your company removed his mail account, and scheduled to remove his mailbox in certain years (either according to local law to keep it, or you just want to save a backup copy).

• A new talent, Mike Jackson, joined your company, and he wants to use mj@domain.ltd since it is not used by anyone else right now. You created it for him. Without timestamp in maildir path, his maildir path will be same as Michael Jordan's which is /var/vmail/vmail1/domain.ltd/mj/. In this case, Mike Jackson will see all old emails left in Michael Jordan's mailbox.

To avoid this issue, iRedMail appends a timestamp in maildir path to make sure all users have their own unique maildir paths.

!!! attention

If you create mail user with iRedAdmin or iRedAdmin-Pro, it's tuneable:

- [Customize maildir path](https://docs.iredmail.org/iredadmin-pro.customize.maildir.path.html)