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Difference between POP and IMAP protocol for mail

Hansen
Email General

Difference between POP and IMAP protocol for mail Accounts

POP and IMAP are two protocols that mail programs use to access mail stored on remote computers.

How do I know if I normally use IMAP or POP to check my mail?

The vast majority of users access their mail using POP. So if you dont know which you use, you can safely assume its POP.

Whats the difference between IMAP and POP?

IMAP works by keeping mail on the server. POP works by downloading your mail to your computer.

What does this mean to me?

If you usually use POP to check mail, then when you use the Webmail interface you all only have access to new mail — none of your folders will be available. Likewise, if you create folders via Webmail and move mail to them, that mail will not be available the next time you check your mail via POP.

Also, IMAP will insert a message into your INBOX to keep track of certain things. This message will only be visible when you check your mail using POP. Despite what the message says, it is safe to delete it.

If you normally use IMAP to check your mail, then all of your folders will be accessible using the Webmail interface.

POP (Post Office Protocol) and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) are two different protocols used for retrieving email from a mail server. Here are the main differences between them:

Difference between POP and IMAP is as follow,

Difference between POP and IMAP

POP (Post Office Protocol)

  1. Email Retrieval and Storage:
    • POP downloads email from the server to the local device, and the email is typically deleted from the server after download (though some configurations allow emails to be left on the server for a specified period).
    • Emails are stored on the user’s device, which means that they are not accessible from other devices once downloaded.
  2. Synchronization:
    • Limited synchronization capabilities. Once an email is downloaded to one device, it is not synchronized with other devices.
    • Changes made on one device (such as moving or deleting emails) are not reflected on the server or other devices.
  3. Usage:
    • Suitable for users who primarily access their email from a single device.
    • Useful for reducing server storage usage since emails are stored locally.
  4. Offline Access:

Provides better offline access since emails are stored locally on the device.

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)

  1. Email Retrieval and Storage:
    • IMAP allows you to view and manage emails directly on the mail server without downloading them to the local device. Emails remain on the server unless explicitly deleted.
    • Emails and folders are stored on the server, making them accessible from multiple devices.
  2. Synchronization:
    • Full synchronization capabilities. Changes made on one device (such as reading, moving, or deleting emails) are reflected on the server and all other devices.
    • Emails and folder structures are consistently maintained across all devices.
  3. Usage:
    • Ideal for users who need to access their email from multiple devices (e.g., desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone).
    • Beneficial for those who need real-time access and updates to their emails from different locations and devices.
  4. Offline Access:
    • Limited offline access. While some email clients cache a copy of emails for offline access, the primary storage remains on the server.

I believe from the above you came to know Difference between POP and IMAP.

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