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In an email client, you can add an email account using different protocols. The two most common are POP and IMAP. Below is a brief explanation of each.
POP (Post Office Protocol) and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) are two different ways of retrieving and managing your email messages.
- POP:
- When you use POP, your emails are downloaded to your device (computer, phone) and are usually removed from the server after a set number of days (this can be configured on your device).
- All emails are stored locally on your device.
- Advantages: Good if you only need your emails on a single device.
- Disadvantages: You cannot access your emails from multiple devices at the same time, and if you delete a message on your device it is also removed from the server. It is important to keep your own backup if you choose POP.
- IMAP:
- With IMAP, your emails remain on the server and your device synchronises with it.
- It is like having a web-based mailbox that you can access from anywhere.
- Advantages: You can access your emails from multiple devices at the same time, and your messages are always available on the server.
- Disadvantages: It may use more storage in your email account, though this is generally not an issue unless you have very large volumes of email.
Which should I choose?
- Choose POP if: You want full control over where your emails are stored and only need to access them from one device.
- Choose IMAP if: You want access to your emails from multiple devices and would like to organise your messages in a more flexible way.
IMAP is the best choice for most users, as it offers greater flexibility and keeps your email secure and accessible.