How to move from POP3 to IMAP in Outlook

There are two ways to connect and retrieve your emails from your email server; POP3 and IMAP.

POP3 was introduced in 1988 and does not work as effectively with today's devices and technology.
We recommend you set up your email software using IMAP.

Here's how to change your email connectivity from POP to IMAP using Microsoft Outlook.

Step 1
Make sure you have all the settings you need to connect to your email account.
  • Account name
  • Email address
  • Password
  • Incoming mail server
  • Outgoing mail server
  • SSL/TLS configuration and ports.
All these items can be found in your cPanel settings under your email accounts.

Step 2
Export your email account.
  • In Outlook go to File, Open and Export
  • Click on Import/Export
  • Select Export to a file, click Next
  • Select Outlook data file (.pst), click Next
  • Select your email address (not just the inbox), and make sure Include Subfolders is checked, click Next
  • Click Browse to save your file at the destination of your choice, click Finish
  • At the option to enter a password, click OK
Files will not be exported, wait until all notifications of the export are finished. Depending on the size of your email mailbox this may take some time.

Step 3
Create a new Outlook profile
  • Go to Control Panel and make sure the view is Large Icons
  • Select Mail (Microsoft Outlook)
  • Click on Show Profiles
  • Click on Add, and enter a profile name
  • Select Manual setup and make sure that IMAP is selected for the type
  • Complete your account information and test the account settings
  • Click the More Settings button
  • Under the Outgoing Server tab click Outgoing server requires authentication
  • Under the Advanced tab select SSL and enter the correct IMAP ports as per your account
  • Click OK and Next until finished

Step 4
Import your saved email back to Outlook
  • In Outlook go to File, Open and Export
  • Click on Import/Export
  • Select Import from another program or file, click Next
  • Select Outlook data file (.pst), click Next
  • Click Browse to select the file from the location you designated in Step 2
  • Make sure the email account shown is correct
  • Select Import items into the same folder in: and select your email address
  • Make sure include Subfolders is checked
  • Click Finish
Depending on the size of your email account file this may take some time.

Once files are imported they will now need to be sync'd up to the server. If possible allow this to run uninterrupted overnight.

You're finished!
  • POP, IMAP, email, Outlook
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