20/07/2025
Weird how things happen. Sometimes you get nothing then it's like a no 9 bus (2 come together).
Twice this weekend an issue with 2 students with emails.
I'm going to head this has:
Pop3 SMTP Email account, Vs IMAP account.
Do you know the Difference and the benefits?
IMAP and POP3 are protocols used for accessing email, but they differ in how they manage emails.
🙏 A POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) email account works by downloading emails from a server to a single computer or device, and then typically deleting them from the server. This means that after downloading, the emails are only accessible on that device, and not on any other devices that might access the same email address.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Connection:
When you check for new emails using a POP3 email client (like Outlook or Thunderbird), it connects to your email server.
2. Authentication:
The client provides your username and password to authenticate with the server.
3. Download:
The client then downloads all new emails from your inbox on the server.
4. Deletion (usually):
By default, POP3 is set up to delete the downloaded emails from the server after they have been downloaded. This means the server no longer stores a copy of those emails.
5. Offline Access:
Because the emails are stored locally on your device, you can access and read them even when you don't have an internet connection.
6. Limited Synchronisation:
POP3 doesn't synchronise your email across multiple devices. If you download emails on your laptop, they won't be available on your phone unless you also download them there.
7. Sent Items:
Sent emails are usually stored locally on the device from which they were sent, not on the server.
In essence, POP3 is designed for a single user accessing emails on a single device, with emails being downloaded and potentially removed from the server after download. Modern email services often prefer IMAP, which allows for synchronisation across multiple devices and keeps emails on the server until explicitly deleted.
🙏 IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is a protocol used for accessing email messages stored on a mail server. Unlike POP3, which downloads messages to a single device and often deletes them from the server, IMAP allows multiple devices to access the same emails on the server simultaneously, and changes made on one device are reflected across all connected devices. This means you can read, reply to, and manage emails from your laptop, phone, or any other device, and the changes will be synced.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
1, Accessing emails from multiple devices:
IMAP allows you to access your email from various devices (computers, smartphones, tablets) without needing to download the emails locally. This means you can see your inbox, sent items, and other folders as they exist on the server, regardless of which device you're using.
2, Synchronization:
When you read, delete, or move an email using IMAP, these actions are reflected on the server and all other devices connected to the same email account. This ensures consistent email management across all your devices.
3, Server-side storage:
With IMAP, emails are primarily stored on the email server. When you access your email, you're viewing and interacting with the messages stored on the server, rather than having them downloaded and stored locally on your device.
4, No automatic deletion:
Unlike POP, IMAP doesn't automatically delete emails from the server after they've been downloaded. This allows for access from multiple devices and keeps a copy on the server for backup purposes.
5, Real-time updates:
IMAP provides real-time updates, so when you make changes to your email on one device, the changes are reflected almost instantly on other devices connected to the same account.
6, Example:
If you read an email on your laptop using IMAP, it will also be marked as read on your phone and other devices. If you delete an email from your phone, it will be deleted from your laptop and the server as well.
I've always personally used IMAP. I have several IMAP email accounts covering
• Reiki Tradition
• The Therapy Rooms
• FHT Local Support Group
• Pawsome World
• etc
With over 100 emails coming in per day across these accounts. I need a system where it's easy, manageable and clears and cleans the server. IMAP has always been my choice for a Business user.
Hope this helps, and again if you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me where I'll be pleased to offer my assistance thank you.
