POP3 vs IMAP, which one should you choose?
This FAQ will teach you about the Pop3 and IMAP email protocols
IMAP is a faster, safer, more convenient way of receiving email. Learn how to check that you’re using IMAP, and how to update if you aren’t.
Title: Pop3 vs. IMAP | Which one should you use?
Hi there, in this video we will demonstrate the differences between Pop3 and IMAP email protocols and help you decide which one to use.
So how do they work?:
To start, let’s learn exactly what Pop3 and IMAP are.
Pop3 and IMAP are protocols used to connect your mailbox server to an email client.
These clients include Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird, a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet or an online webmail interface such as Gmail, Outlook.com or 123-mail.
Pop3 definition and explanation:
Pop3 stands for Post Office Protocol and has been around for many years.
Pop3 downloads your mail as you view it on your email client. It’s great for users who only want to access their mail from one client.
However, some email clients do allow the option to keep a copy of emails on the server.
Please note that this is an advanced feature of Pop3 and does not mean that your emails are synced.
If you delete an email from one client it may not be deleted in an alternative client. You may have to do this manually.
IMAP definition and explanation:
So what is IMAP then?
Well IMAP stands for Internet message access protocol.
IMAP simply connects to the mailbox and allows you to view your email rather than downloading it.
It is a more modern email protocol and is designed to support our lifestyles by allowing you to easily view email from multiple locations. Unlike Pop3, your emails will be synced, so if you delete an email in one client and then check it on an alternate client it will also be deleted.
So for example…
You go to bed and overnight a stack of emails start to build upon your mail server.
When you wake up and access your mail from your phone…
Pop3 directly downloads the emails to your phone for you to view, which completely removes them from the mail server.
Whereas using IMAP would mean you receive a copy of the emails while the original emails stay on your mail server.
Later on in the day, you want to check your emails on your computer.
Using Pop3 to connect to your mail server means that you can only download new emails which have been received since you last checked your phone in the morning. If you have configured your mail server with IMAP then…
A copy of your recent emails as well as any previous emails will be available to view on your computer while the original emails still stay on the mail server.
Now we know the basics of Pop3 and IMAP let’s have a look at the differences to help you decide which one to use.
Which protocol you use is dependent on your lifestyle and how you want to access your emails.
IMAP is best if you want to access your emails from multiple locations, clients and devices, as it doesn’t require downloading your email content.
Because of this, if anything were to happen to your computer or mobile device you would be able to easily connect to your emails.
Pop3 is a simple choice which allows you to download all of your mail to one location managed by you.
However if your device breaks down you will not be provided with back-up unless you have already manually backed-up your emails or were given the option to leave a copy of the emails on the server.
Recommendation:
We therefore recommend using IMAP as it gives you the ability to manage your email from a client or device whilst providing peace of mind that should anything go wrong with your device you can still access your emails.
Tip: IMAP allows you to check your email from multiple devices and always see the same messages, as these stay on the server.
Please note: We recommend that you always use IMAP where possible. IMAP is specifically designed to be used in this way. Other mail protocols run the risk or reduced performance and loss of service.
Ready to update to IMAP? Click here to see how!
Pop3 and IMAP are protocols used to connect your mailbox server to an email client, including Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird, mobile devices such as iPhones and Andriod devices, tablets and online webmail interface such as Gmail, Outlook.com or 123-mail.
Pop3 stands for Post Office Protocol and has been around for many years. Pop3 downloads your mail as you view it on your email client. It was great for users who only want to access their mail from one client.
It is now out-of-date and impractical. Where possible, you should always use IMAP.
IMAP stands for Internet message access protocol and simply connects to the mailbox and allows you to view your email rather than downloading it. It is a more modern email protocol and is designed to support our lifestyles by allowing you to easily view email from multiple locations. Unlike Pop3, your emails will be synced, so if you delete an email in one client and then check it on an alternate client it will also be deleted.
What settings am I using? Pop or IMAP?
When you first set up your email with your email client or device you will have been asked to enter incoming server details, this will have either been pop.123-reg.co.uk or imap.123-reg.co.uk. As the names suggest, using pop.123 Reg will mean that you are using the Pop protocol, whereas imap.123 Reg means you are using IMAP.
You may also be able to see this setting in the account information section of your chosen client.
Should I still be using Pop?
No. Pop is an out-of-date service that is no longer supported by many mail clients and services.
Continuing to use it may cause issues with your email service.
This is because the Pop email protocol was never designed to be used in this manner. We recommend that you update to IMAP as soon as possible.
Simply put, IMAP was designed to enable users with multiple devices and clients to access their email across different locations, using the email directly from the server; a far easier and efficient was to serve email. Not only will this speed up you email and reduce the risk of losing important messages, but you will be able to access your email on any device from any location.
How do I change to IMAP?
Changing to IMAP is a very easy process and should be done as soon as possible to ensure that your email continues to work correctly. We ask that you set up your email again for your email client and mobile devices using the IMAP protocols, which means setting your incoming server address to imap.123-reg.co.uk.
We have the full instructions to help you set up your email on the most popular email clients, and the most popular mobile devices.
Once you have set up using the IMAP protocol, please ensure you delete your Pop email connection.
Please note that with Pop, email is stored on your email client so will be stored locally on your computer. This means that you will not lose any email by deleting your Pop connection.