Convert POP3 account to an IMAP account Print

Microsoft Outlook will allow you to convert your POP3 to an IMAP account following these steps.

1. Open Outlook, bringing you to a screen similar to below.
   


2. In order to ensure there's no emails left on the server, open Account Settings by going into File.
   


3. When in Account Settings, click Change.
   


4. Click More Settings.


5. Open the Advanced tab, and uncheck Leave a copy of messages on the server. When done, click OK, and click Next.
   


6. A settings test should occur, once done click Close. In the case a certificate error comes up, click Yes, then Close. Once the next screen opens up, click Finish.
   


7. You'll be brought back to the Account settings, click Close.
   


8. Click Send/Receive All Folders to download all items of mail to your device. Depending on your internet speed, or how many items of mail are left on the server, the time of which this takes can vary. Allow time for this to complete.
   


9. Once all the mail has been downloaded, go back into File, click Open & Export, and then click on Import/Export.
   


10. The Import/Export Wizard will open, select Export to a file and click Next.
    


11. Select Outlook Data File (.pst), and click Next.
    


12. Select the root of the tree; in this example yourname@exampledomain.com.au. Make sure Include subfolders is checked and click Next.
    


13. Click Browse, and navigate to where you want to put the exported data file. Ensure that this file will be located somewhere you know, and somewhere easily accessible. Check Allow duplicate items to be created. When done, click Finish.
    


14. If you wish to add a password, enter one in the fields provided and click OK. If not, just click OK.
    


15. Now, you'll want to set up your IMAP account. Click File, and then click Add Account.


16. Select POP or IMAP for service type, and click next.
    


17. Select IMAP under Account Type and fill out the incoming/outgoing mail server option, replacing exampledomain.com.au with your own domain name. Ensure that your username under the Logon Information subheading has the domain name at the end. When this is all filled out, click More Settings.
    


18. In More Settings, open the Outgoing Server tab and check My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication, and select Use same settings as my incoming mail server. Proceed to open the Advanced tab.
    


19. When in the Advanced tab, select Auto under Use the following type of encrypted connection, and then proceed to change the Outgoing server port from 25 to 587. Click Ok, and then click Next.
    


20. Provided everything is done correctly, you'll be prompted with a screen that looks similar to below, click Yes when the certificate error appears, and then click Close when both tests have completed successfully.
    


21. When the tests have completed, you'll be presented with a screen as pictured below, and your IMAP account will now be ready to be used.
    


22. Now that your IMAP account is set up, you're safe to delete the POP3 account. As it is set up to delete files from the server as new emails come in, it is heavily advised to remove it now. Go back into Account Settings by going into File.
    


23. Set the new IMAP account as the default by clicking on it, and then pressing Set as Default along the top bar.
    


24. Now that the IMAP Account is the default account, remove the old POP account by selecting it, and then clicking Remove along the top bar.
    


25. A warning will come up, click Yes as all the files are already backed up.
    


26. Open the Data Files tab and select the new data file; generally having the suffix of (1), and set it as default.
    


27. A warning message will come up similar to that pictured below. Click OK.
    


28. Close out of Outlook completely and reopen it. Proceed back to Account Settings.
    


29. Open the Data Files tab again, select the old data file, and click Remove.
    


30. Close out of Account Settings. Go into File, click Open & Export, and click Import/Export.
    


31. The Import and Export Wizard will open again. This time, select Import from another program or file.
    


32. Select Outlook Data File (.pst), and click Next.
    


33. Click Browse and navigate to the file where you exported your emails to. Under the Options subheading, select Replace duplicates with items imported. Click Next.
    


34. Select Import items into the same folder in..., ensuring that Include subfolders is selected. Click Finish.
    


35. Open one of the imported emails to begin synchronising the emails to the server. Synchronisation; depending on the amount of emails, may take a while. Allow time for this to complete.
    

Your POP email account will now be converted to IMAP, and working with Outlook.

Thunderbird will allow for you to convert your POP3 account to an IMAP account with ease. Follow the steps below in order to do so.

1. Open Thunderbird, bringing you to a screen similar to below.
   


2. Right-click on the account and click Settings.
   


3. When in Account Settings, open the Server Settings subheading. Uncheck Leave messages on server and click OK.
   


4. Click Get Messages.
   


5. Now we want to add the IMAP account to migrate all mail messages. Go into Tools and then select Account Settings in the Menu bar, accessed by pressing the Alt key.
   


6. Click Account Actions and Add Mail Account.
   


7. Fill out your details in the window provided.
   


8. After clicking next, Thunderbird will by default attempt to test commonly known mail servers, click Manual config.
   


9. Fill out the settings below, ensuring Username has the domain name at the end of the username. Replace exampledomain.com.au with your domain name. When completed, press Re-test and confirm your settings. Once the test is completed, press done.
   


10. After pressing done, you'll be brought back to Thunderbird's inbox page.
    


11. We'll now want to re-enable leaving a copy of mail on the server for the POP3 account. Right-click on the POP3 account and click Settings.
    


12. When in Account Settings, go to the POP3 account's Server Settings and enable Leave messages on server. Once done, click OK.
    


13. Select all mail messages in the POP3 Inbox by pressing Control-A (or Command-A on Mac), Right-click on a message, and under Move to, select the IMAP account's Inbox. Allow time for this step.
    
• In the situation you want to keep your folder layout, click and drag the folder over to the IMAP folder's Inbox. This will simultaneously move all mail items with it.
  


14. Once all copied over, you can proceed to delete the POP3 account. Go into Account Settings by right-clicking on the POP3 account and clicking Settings.
    


15. Select the POP3 account and click Account Actions at the bottom of the screen, then click Remove Account. Once done, click OK.
    


16. Click Get Messages to synchronise your account. Allow time for this step.
    

Your POP email account will now be converted to IMAP, and working with Thunderbird.

1. Right click on the POP mailbox, and click Edit "POP", where POP is your account name. To get this side-view open, click Mailboxes on the top left-hand side.
   


2. When in the Accounts screen, click on Advanced. Click the checkbox Remove message from server after retrieving a message and change the dropdown from When moved from Inbox to Immediately. Proceed to click Remove now to fetch all mail.
   


3. Click the + button to begin adding a new account, and select Other Mail Account for the account type.
   


4. Fill in your details, and click Sign In.
   


5. You'll be brought to the next screen, select IMAP for the account type, and fill in your incoming and outgoing mail servers, replacing exampledomain.com.au with your own domain name. Once all details are filled in correctly, click Sign In.
   


6. Select which apps you wish to use with this account and click Done.
   


7. Click back on the POP account, and go back into the Advanced tab. Disable the account from removing copies of mail from the server by unchecking Remove copy from server after retrieving a message. Once done, close out of Accounts.
   


8. It will ask if you want to save changes, click Save.
   


9. Select all items of mail by pressing Command-A, then proceed to right-click on the group. Highlight over Move To and proceed to move them to the new mailbox, generally being the lowest one on the list. Allow time for this step. Depending on both your computer speed and your internet speed, this may take a while.
   


10. Right-click on the POP mailbox and click Edit POP, where POP is your account name.
    


11. Click the -, removing the account.
    


12. It will confirm with you that you want to remove the account. Click Remove.
    

Your POP account on your Mac will now be converted to an IMAP account and will be ready for use on multiple different devices, with no discrepancies.