IMAP vs POP

IMAP vs POP - wondering what the difference is and which to use? We'll help explain some key points when deciding between IMAP and POP3 protocols.

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IMAP vs POP
IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol and POP stands for Post Office Protocol. Both of these protocols are used for email retrieval purposes -- specifically, they process the transfer of email messages from the server to an email client.
The POP email Retrieval Process goes like this
When you click the "receive" option in your email client, it will connect to your remote email server. It will retrieve all mail and store it locally as new mail, and it will also it will delete those emails from the server. The exception to this is if the email client is configured to "keep mail on server", in which case the client will just disconnect.
The IMAP email Retrieval Process goes like this
The IMAP protocol operates differently. First, when you click the "receive" option, the email will connect to the remote email server. It then pulls the user-requested content and caches it locally. Then it will process user edit processes, such marking emails as read or deleting emails and so on. Finally it disconnects from the server.
IMAP vs POP -- The Differences Between Them
The two protocols generally operate on different ports. Essentially, POP is a one-way communication path, whereas IMAP offers two-way synchronization between server and client. POP is sufficient if you're accessing your email using only one device such as your PC.
IMAP is the protocol of choice if you need to access your email from multiple locations -- for example, both your office workstation and your notebook or tablet.
IMAP vs POP -- What are the Pros and Cons?
The Advantages of POP
POP will download emails without leaving copies of them on the server. This keeps the space used on the email server low. The other advantage is that mails are stored locally and are always accessible even without an internet connection. A connection will only be needed when sending and receiving email.
The Disadvantages of POP
Since there is no remote server copy, if data is lost from the location where the email are downloaded, no email recovery option will be available and all your email will be gone.
If you intend to use a single email account configured with POP, but want to use multiple email clients on multiple devices, some emails will be missed, since there is no synchronization between server and the devices/clients.

The Advantages of IMAP
IMAP is often preferred in many use-cases. In the IMAP protocol, emails are stored on the remote server and are therefore accessible from multiple different locations.
IMAP can take a little time to download and synchronize emails from some remote servers, but it's a flexible, more reliable, and more complete email retrieval method compared to POP.

If a user adds an account to Outlook or another email client. How do they decide between POP vs IMAP?

Choose IMAP if you require the following:
(1) Access to your emails, both old and new, at multiple locations.
(2) Emails kept on the server rather than stored offline in your personal storage -- perhaps due to limited personal storage space on your device
(3) Real time email synchronization across all of your devices and the server.

Choose POP if you need:
(1) To access your email from a single location.
(2) Webmail for when you need to check new email remotely.
(3) To have your own regular backups of your email messages.
(4) Constant access to your email, regardless of internet availability.
(5) To minimize use of storage space your server, perhaps due to a quota-based limitation.

Let's look at how to change Microsoft Outlook Settings to Keep Emails on the Server While Using POP
This can be done when you first configure your email client the first time, or by editing settings later. we just need to edit Account Settings to change email storage on the server.
First we need to double click on the email highlighted in the E-mail tab:



It is for a POP account. Click on "More Settings".

Then navigate to the "Advanced" tab. In the delivery section, tick "Leave a copy of message on the server" and select your desired length of time.

If you choose a large time frame, your server Inbox may fill with emails, which could push you towards your storage quota.