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IMAP and POP3 are methods used by your computer to access e-mail messages from a remote server. You will often see these two options in your e-mail settings. But what is the difference between the two?

IMAP

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is an advanced protocol for receiving e-mail. It is a method of accessing e-mail messages which are stored on a mail server.

The main advantage of IMAP over POP3 is the ability to keep the original e-mail stored on the mail server and the ability to access the same account from multiple locations. Unlike POP3 where e-mail is downloaded to the computer or device checking for mail and completely removed from the mail server, IMAP simply downloads a copy of the e-mail. This is much more convenient as the e-mail account can be set up on multiple computers and devices using IMAP and the original e-mail will always remain on the mail server.

In cases where a mobile phone or personal computer was configured to be the primary means of checking e-mail and malfunctions, is lost, stolen, or totally inoperable, the e-mails will not be lost. Set up the account using IMAP on another computer, device and find that all e-mails are still intact!

POP3

POP3 stands for Post Office Protocol version 3. When an e-mail is sent to your address, it is stored on the mail server until it is downloaded via your e-mail client (Outlook, Netscape mail, your mobile, etc.) using POP3. After the e-mail has been downloaded to your client, it is removed from the server altogether (NOTE: Many mail clients now allow you to specify when to delete the messages from the server when you use POP3).

Simply, this means if one were to set up an e-mail account on a mobile phone as POP3, the phone would download all e-mails, removing them from the server. If one were to then check the webmail or home computer for the same e-mail account, there would be no mails viewable as they have already been download by the mobile phone.

This article was slightly adapted from 1&1.com's Help Center.