{"id":2629,"date":"2019-09-29T20:52:07","date_gmt":"2019-09-29T19:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dpscomputing.com\/blog\/?p=2629"},"modified":"2021-03-01T21:37:03","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T21:37:03","slug":"imap-or-pop-which-one-should-i-choose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dpscomputing.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/29\/imap-or-pop-which-one-should-i-choose\/","title":{"rendered":"IMAP or POP? Which One Should I Choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"cPanel<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You just want to set up your e-mail so you can see what people are sending you and then your e-mail application of choice throws you a question: IMAP or POP?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, which one do I pick? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a common dilemma. There’s loads of technical jargon we could go into – and I’m sure we will another time on a geeky post. But for now, there’s a simple difference that will allow you to make an informed choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

POP = Download E-mail & Delete From Server<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A bit techy? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

OK, basically, at one time POP was the POPular option (see what I did there?). Hard disk space was expensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All e-mail gets sent to a server and sits there. Under POP, once your e-mail client (e.g. Outlook or Thunderbird) downloads the message to your computer it’s deleted from the server. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you share an e-mail address with someone, POP is a bad idea – only the first person to ‘ask’ for a message will ever see it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you use multiple devices to check your e-mail, POP is also a bad idea. You’ll have half your e-mails on your phone and the other half on your PC (for example). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your computer\/phone melts down\/resets etc all your previous e-mails are gone forever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

IMAP = Download E-mail & Keep On Server<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nothing gets deleted from the server unless you explicitly delete an e-mail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Device sharing and shared e-mail addresses present no issues – every device and person gets a copy of every e-mail received – as long as it’s not explicitly deleted by the other person or on the other device. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still Confused? TL\/DR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If in doubt, select IMAP. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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