Hello everybody! Faced with some trouble - need to permanently delete old messages (older than 30 days) from mailbox. So my steps were:

1) I created new retention policy tag: Name "Delete_30_days", Type "All other folders in the mailbox", Action "Permanently Delete", Age Limit "30";

2) I created new retention policy: "Info_Delete" with tag "Delete_30_days";

3) I attached this new retention policy to one of my mailboxes: Recipient configuration->mailbox->mailbox settings->messaging records management->Apply retention policy "Info_Delete"

So I think this is OK. But: if I open this mailbox - there are no any reminders about 30-days age of inbox messages. Seems to me retention policy is not active. How can I check it? Thanks for answers.

• Edited by 20 hours 21 minutes ago

Retention policy will work if the mailbox size is above 10MB. If the mailbox size is below 10MB, retention policy will just mark the older emails for deletion and when the mailbox size crossed 10MB it will delete the items.

Hi,

You can check it through the command: Get-Mailbox -Identity "EmailAddress" | fl *retentionpolicy

However, you can check the policy by applying the same to any mailbox which have items which are more than 30 days old. If after applying the policy, the items get deleted, then it is definitely working, otherwise, you need to check the policy.

Yes, it's correct:

Get-Mailbox -Identity "info@company.com" | fl *retentionpolicy

RetentionPolicy : Info_Delete

But still no effect. Mailbox size is more than 10 Mb. Should I restart Exchange server?

The issue occurs because the retention policy runs automatically one time every 7 days for mailboxes that are larger than 10 MB. However, the retention policy does not automatically run for mailboxes that are smaller than 10 MB or within 7 days work cycle.

To resolve the issue, manually run Start-ManagedFolderAssistant Identity <mailbox> cmdlet to force Managed Folder Assistant to process the specific mailbox

• Edited by Johnpaul J 20 hours 25 minutes ago

Hi,

Can you please confirm how are you so sure about the non working of the policy, i.e, do you have any previous item (1 Month Old) which is still there existing ? 

No, I don't have such items cause mailbox has been created 2 weeks ago. But I still don't see message "This item will expire in 30 days. To keep the item longer, apply a different retention policy". It should be on each inbox message as far as I know.

CIC Admin,

If you look at a message in Outlook 2010 or higher, it should show the expiration policy and date just under the header. See the following:

You can also check retention settings using MFCMapi.  Open the mailbox, then open the store.  Once here, open the Inbox folder of the mailbox to display the items in the folder.  Select any item in the list and scan down to the "PR_RETENTION_DATE, PidTagRetentionDate, ptagRetentionDate" property.  If this exists at all, the retention policy is being properly applied to the mailbox.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/hot/archive/2012/06/26/retention-policy-does-not-work-automatically-in-exchange-online-for-office-365.aspx

could you please check this ? this was worked for me on exchange on-prem also

Hi,

Additional for above suggestion, please pay attention to "How retention age is calculated":
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb430780(v=exchg.150).aspx

Also, here's an similar thread about your question:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/exchange/en-US/1a06776e-186c-4aa2-ae18-fb57a9f3b719/retention-policy-not-working?forum=exchange2010