information technology central services at the university of michigan
How to Tell If You Are Using IMAP or POP for Your E-Mail

S4322 • October 2004

When someone is helping you troubleshoot an e-mail problem, they will likely ask you whether you are using IMAP or POP. This document describes how you can tell for a variety of e-mail programs used at U-M.

NOTE: This document is also available in Adobe Acrobat PDF and Microsoft Word formats.

Table of Contents


What Are IMAP and POP?

IMAP and POP are protocols for retrieving e-mail messages.

  • IMAP (Interactive Message Access Protocol)
    If you are using IMAP, you connect to a central e-mail server and interact with your mail on that server. If you create folders for managing your mail, those folders are created on the central server. You can use different IMAP e-mail programs interchangeably.
  • POP (Post Office Protocol)
    If you are using POP, you connect to a central e-mail server and then download your e-mail to your own computer. If you create folders for managing your mail, those folders are created on your own computer.

Apple's Mail Application

Apple's Mail application can be configured for IMAP or POP. Here's how to tell which you are using.

  1. From the Apple Mail Application Mail menu, select Preferences.
  2. Click the Accounts button.
  3. In the list of accounts on the left side of the window, select the account for your ITCS e-mail.
  4. Look at the Account Type information to see if you are using IMAP or POP.
  5. Screen shot of Account Type where IMAP or POP is listed. apple graphic

Entourage

Entourage can be configured for IMAP or POP. Here's how to tell which you are using.

  1. From the Entourage Tools menu, select Accounts.
  2. In the Accounts box, select the account you wish to modify, then click the Edit icon.
  3. Under the Receiving mail header, look for the type of server listed to see whether you are using IMAP or POP.
  4. Screen shot of Receiving mail information where IMAP or POP is displayed.

Eudora

Eudora can be configured for IMAP or POP. Here's how to tell which you are using.

  1. Get to the Eudora Options/Settings window:

    Windows users: From the Tools menu, select Options.

    Macintosh users: From the Special menu, select Settings.

  2. In the Category list on the left, click Incoming Mail.
  3. Look at the Server configuration radio buttons and see whether POP or IMAP is selected.
  4. Screen shot of Server configuration information where POP or IMAP is displayed.

mail.umich.edu

ITCS's web-based e-mail program, uses IMAP.

Mozilla Thunderbird 0.7.3

Thunderbird can be configured for either IMAP or POP. Here's how to tell which you are using.

  1. From the Thunderbird Tools menu, select Account Settings.
  2. In the list on the left side of the window, select Server Settings.
  3. Look next to Server Type for IMAP or POP.
  4. Screen shot of Server Type information where IMAP or POP is displayed.

Mulberry

Mulberry can use used as either IMAP or POP. However, the Mulberry installer provided by ITCS configures Mulberry to use IMAP.

Netscape Mail

Netscape can be configured for IMAP or POP. Here's how to tell which you are using.

  1. From the Netscape Mail Edit menu, select Mail and Newsgroup Account Settings.
  2. In the left-hand pane of the Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings window, find your ITCS mail account. Click it so that it is highlighted.
  3. In the left-hand pane, click Server Settings.
  4. Look next to Server Type to see whether you are using POP or IMAP.
  5. Screen shot of Server Type information where POP or IMAP is displayed.

    Outlook

    Outlook can be configured for IMAP or POP. Here's how to tell which you are using.

    1. From the Outlook Tools menu, select E-mail Accounts.
    2. In the E-mail Accounts window, select View or change existing e-mail accounts, and click Next.
    3. In the list of e-mail accounts, find the name of your ITCS e-mail account.
    4. Look in the Type column next to your ITCS account to see whether you are using POP or IMAP.
    5. Screen shot of Type information where IMAP or POP is displayed.

    Outlook Express

    Outlook Express can be configured for IMAP or POP. Here's how to tell which you are using.

    1. From the Outlook Express Tools menu, select Accounts.
    2. In the Internet Accounts window, click the Mail tab.
    3. In the list of Accounts, click the name of the account you have used to get e-mail from ITCS's e-mail service so that it is highlighted.
    4. Click the Properties button.
    5. In the Properties window, click the Servers tab.
    6. Look at the My incoming mail server information to see whether you are using IMAP or POP.
    7. Screen shot of incoming server information where IMAP or POP is displayed.

    Pine

    Pine is an IMAP e-mail program.

    Additional Resources

    Visit ITCS's Information System to obtain ITCS computer documentation and other resources. A list of relevant documents follows:

    We welcome your comments; please send e-mail.

    ITCS's Online Help Desk provides a variety of computing help resources.

    For further help with e-mail, send e-mail or phone (734) 764-HELP.


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