Prior to configuring your Email Client with the new cofiguration settings, you will first need to enable POP or IMAP in your Webmail Interface. By default POP and IMAP are disabled for your account. To learn what POP and IMAP is please click here.

Do you know what the difference between POP and IMAP is? If you would like to find out what the differences are, please review the "What is IMAP, and what's the difference between IMAP and POP?" article by clicking here.

Once you have determined which method (POP or IMAP) you would like to use for sending/receiving emails using your email client, please follow the steps below*:

Step 1: Enabling POP or IMAP in your Webmail Interface (do one of the following):

A. Enable POP - How do I enable POP?
B. Enable IMAP - How do I enable IMAP?

Once you've configured POP or IMAP via your Webmail Interface, you will then want to configure your email client. Please continue to Step 2.

Step 2: Configure your Email Client for POP or IMAP (do one of the following):

A. Configure POP in your Email Client - POP Instructions
B. Configure IMAP in your Email Client - IMAP Instructions

*Note: If you are using the Webmail Interface to send/receive emails you do not need to configure any settings on your computer.

Did you know?

Did you know that can use the Webmail Interface for all of your email needs? You have so much space alloted, why download those emails to your computer? Center State Communications recommends using the Webmail Interface for your email needs.

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What is POP & IMAP

POP

POP, or Post Office Protocol, lets you download messages from Gmail's servers onto your computer so you can access your mail with a program like Microsoft Outlook Express or Netscape Mail, even when you aren't connected to the Internet.

POP access is free for all Gmail users, and we have no plans to charge for it in the future. If you're thinking about using POP, however, we encourage you to consider IMAP, which offers all the benefits listed above plus two-way communication between your web Gmail and your email client.

IMAP

IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol, lets you download messages from Gmail's servers onto your computer so you can access your mail with a program like Microsoft Outlook Express or Apple Mail, even when you aren't connected to the Internet.

IMAP creates a constant connection between mail clients (desktop and/or mobile) and Gmail.

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What's the difference between IMAP and POP?

Unlike POP, IMAP offers two-way communication between your web Gmail and your email client(s). This means when you log in to Gmail using a web browser, actions you perform on email clients and mobile devices (ex: putting mail in a 'work' folder) will instantly and automatically appear in Gmail (ex: it will already have a 'work' label on that email).

In addition, IMAP provides a better method to access your mail from multiple devices. If you check your email at work, on your mobile phone, and again at home, IMAP ensures that new mail is accessible from any device at any given time.

Finally, IMAP offers a more stable experience overall. Whereas POP is prone to losing messages or downloading the same messages multiple times, IMAP avoids this through its two-way syncing capabilities between your mail clients and your web Gmail.

If you're trying to decide between using POP and using IMAP with your Gmail account, we recommend IMAP.

I have more questions about IMAP...

If you have further questions regarding IMAP, please take a minute to review the "Getting started with IMAP for Gmail" article.

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