How to Change Thunderbird From an IMAP to POP Server
Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open-source email client application. Thunderbird retrieves messages from an email server following either the Post Office Protocol or the Internet Message Access Protocol. POP involves a one-way interaction: A client downloads all new messages, and then the server erases its local copies. The server does not remain in sync later as the client opens, classifies and deletes messages. IMAP, on the other hand, involves multiple two-way interactions to keep server and client synchronized. The choice between the two protocols usually depends on which one the email server supports. You can configure Thunderbird to switch from IMAP to POP.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Obtain the connection details for the POP server you want to use from your network administrator or POP service provider. You need to know the email address you will have at the POP server, your POP password, and the host name of the POP server.
-
2
Launch Thunderbird by double-clicking on its desktop icon. Click on "Tools," then on "Account settings." Select "Email account" on the wizard window, then click "Next." Enter your name and your email address at the POP server, then click "Next," then select "POP." Enter the host name of the POP server in the "Incoming server" field, then click "Next." Enter your email address at the POP server as both the "Incoming" and "Outgoing" user names, then click "Next," then click "Finish."
-
-
3
Right-click on the old IMAP account, under the "Folders" header in the left sidebar of the main Thunderbird window. Select "Remove account," then click "OK." At this point, the IMAP configuration will have been discarded, and the POP configuration will be ready to use. Thunderbird will prompt you for your POP password when you open the new POP account.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Chad Baker/Photodisc/Getty Images
