diff --git a/inbox/actions/backends/generic.py b/inbox/actions/backends/generic.py
index caa962789..a9f1541c2 100644
--- a/inbox/actions/backends/generic.py
+++ b/inbox/actions/backends/generic.py
@@ -111,8 +111,12 @@ def remote_move(  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
 
     for folder_name, uids in uids_for_message.items():
         crispin_client.select_folder_if_necessary(folder_name, uidvalidity_cb)
-        crispin_client.conn.copy(uids, destination)
-        crispin_client.delete_uids(uids)
+
+        if crispin_client.move_supported():
+            crispin_client.conn.move(uids, destination)
+        else:
+            crispin_client.conn.copy(uids, destination)
+            crispin_client.delete_uids(uids)
 
 
 def remote_create_folder(  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
diff --git a/inbox/crispin.py b/inbox/crispin.py
index 89c41e29a..c9bd94534 100644
--- a/inbox/crispin.py
+++ b/inbox/crispin.py
@@ -874,6 +874,10 @@ def idle_supported(self) -> bool:
 
         return b"IDLE" in self.conn.capabilities()
 
+    def move_supported(self) -> bool:
+        interruptible_threading.check_interrupted()
+        return b"MOVE" in self.conn.capabilities()
+
     def search_uids(self, criteria: list[str]) -> Iterable[int]:
         """
         Find UIDs in this folder matching the criteria. See
diff --git a/inbox/util/testutils.py b/inbox/util/testutils.py
index c04016958..8b6849ca1 100644
--- a/inbox/util/testutils.py
+++ b/inbox/util/testutils.py
@@ -263,8 +263,19 @@ def copy(  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
         self, matching_uids, folder_name
     ) -> None:
         """
-        Note: _moves_ one or more messages from the currently selected folder
-        to folder_name
+        Copy one or more messages from the currently selected folder.
+
+        Note: Also deletes from source to simulate existing test expectations.
+        """
+        for u in matching_uids:
+            self._data[folder_name][u] = self._data[self.selected_folder][u]
+        self.delete_messages(matching_uids)
+
+    def move(  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+        self, matching_uids, folder_name
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Atomically move one or more messages to folder_name (RFC 6851).
         """
         for u in matching_uids:
             self._data[folder_name][u] = self._data[self.selected_folder][u]
diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
index 5a2ea1d7e..2886d3a49 100644
--- a/pytest.ini
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 [pytest]
+testpaths = tests
 norecursedirs = inbox tests/imap/network tests/data
 timeout = 60
 
diff --git a/tests/imap/test_actions.py b/tests/imap/test_actions.py
index 064e4b527..9c0a4cf41 100644
--- a/tests/imap/test_actions.py
+++ b/tests/imap/test_actions.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     delete_label,
     mark_starred,
     mark_unread,
+    move,
     save_draft,
     update_draft,
     update_folder,
@@ -275,3 +276,58 @@ def test_failed_event_creation(
     assert all(a.status == "failed" for a in q)
 
     service.stop()
+
+
+def test_move_uses_imap_move_when_supported(
+    db, default_account, message, folder, mock_imapclient
+) -> None:
+    """Test that IMAP MOVE command is used when the server supports it."""
+    mock_imapclient.add_folder_data(folder.name, {})
+    mock_imapclient.add_folder_data("Archive", {})
+    mock_imapclient.capabilities = mock.Mock(
+        return_value=[b"IMAP4rev1", b"MOVE"]
+    )
+    mock_imapclient.move = mock.Mock()
+    mock_imapclient.copy = mock.Mock()
+    mock_imapclient.delete_messages = mock.Mock()
+    add_fake_imapuid(db.session, default_account.id, message, folder, 42)
+
+    with writable_connection_pool(default_account.id).get() as crispin_client:
+        move(
+            crispin_client,
+            default_account.id,
+            message.id,
+            {"destination": "Archive"},
+        )
+
+    mock_imapclient.move.assert_called_once_with([42], "Archive")
+    mock_imapclient.copy.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_move_falls_back_to_copy_delete_when_move_not_supported(
+    db, default_account, message, folder, mock_imapclient
+) -> None:
+    """Test fallback to COPY+DELETE when MOVE is not supported."""
+    mock_imapclient.add_folder_data(folder.name, {})
+    mock_imapclient.add_folder_data("Archive", {})
+    mock_imapclient.capabilities = mock.Mock(return_value=[b"IMAP4rev1"])
+    mock_imapclient.move = mock.Mock()
+    mock_imapclient.copy = mock.Mock()
+    mock_imapclient.delete_messages = mock.Mock()
+    mock_imapclient.expunge = mock.Mock()
+    add_fake_imapuid(db.session, default_account.id, message, folder, 42)
+
+    with writable_connection_pool(default_account.id).get() as crispin_client:
+        move(
+            crispin_client,
+            default_account.id,
+            message.id,
+            {"destination": "Archive"},
+        )
+
+    mock_imapclient.move.assert_not_called()
+    mock_imapclient.copy.assert_called_once_with([42], "Archive")
+    # delete_uids converts UIDs to strings before calling delete_messages
+    mock_imapclient.delete_messages.assert_called_once_with(
+        ["42"], silent=True
+    )