Share via Email
This article will guide you on how to change your mail server setting from POP to IMAP.
The Messaging Company recommends using IMAP
POP (Post Office Protocol) has many limitations compared to IMAP, including but not limited to:
- Limited access to email
- Depending on configuration, emails may only download to single device
- Backup responsibility
- Removing email from our server using POP means we are unable to assist if you lose access to your data. Backup of downloaded data is your responsibility
- Folder synchronisation
- POP only downloads the Inbox and does not sync other folders associated with your email account
Note
Back up your email data before changing your POP account to IMAP account. As our team is only able to provide limited support for POP accounts, we will be unable to assist with any data loss incurred.
Back up your email data before changing your POP account to IMAP account. As our team is only able to provide limited support for POP accounts, we will be unable to assist with any data loss incurred.
IMPORTANT
Before starting the backup, sign in to your webmail and check for any important emails that it also shows in your Thunderbird. This ensures all important emails are included in the backup.
Before starting the backup, sign in to your webmail and check for any important emails that it also shows in your Thunderbird. This ensures all important emails are included in the backup.
1. Back up your existing POP account
- Open Thunderbird application on your computer
- Select Tools, then Export...
- Select Export, then select a folder to save your back up
- Set the file name to Email Back up, then select Save
- Select Finish once done
2. Add an IMAP account
- Select Tools, then Account Settings
- Select + New Account, then Mail Account...
- Enter your Full Name, Email Address and Password
- Select Configure Manually
- Enter the following information below:
- INCOMING SERVER
- Protocol: IMAP
- Hostname: imap.themessagingco.com.au
- Port: 993
- Connection security: SSL/TLS
- Authentication method: Normal Password
- Username: Enter your email address
- OUTGOING SERVER
- Hostname: smtp.themessagingco.com.au
- Port: 465
- Connection security: SSL/TLS
- Authentication method: Normal Password
- Username: Enter your email address
- Select Done
- Select Finish
3. Copy the emails from POP account to the new IMAP account
Warning
Do not close Thunderbird during the copying process.
Do not close Thunderbird during the copying process.
- Select Tools, then Account Settings
- In your POP account, select Server Settings
- Untick the following options:
- Check for new messages at startup
- Check for new messages every X minutes
- Automatically download new messages
- Close the Account Settings tab
- In your POP account, select the Inbox folder
- Select Edit, then Select, then All
- Right - click on any selected emails, select Copy to, select the IMAP account, then select Inbox
- Large mailboxes may take time to copy. Please wait until all activity has finished before proceeding
- Repeat the same steps for other folders e.g. Sent, Drafts, Trash, Archive, and Local Folders. (Ensure emails are copied to the correct IMAP folders (e.g. Sent → Sent Items if applicable))
- After copying the emails, sign in to your webmail and check if the emails have synced successfully
4. Set IMAP as default
- Select Tools, then Account Settings
- Select the IMAP account on the left side, then select Set as Default
5. Remove the POP account
Warning
Before removing your POP account, please check all email data have been copied successfully.
Before removing your POP account, please check all email data have been copied successfully.
Note
Please keep the email back up on your computer for future reference.
Please keep the email back up on your computer for future reference.
- Select Tools, then Account Settings
- Select the POP account, then select Delete
- Select Remove message data, then select Remove
- Select OK