We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Trying to change existing Thunderbird and GMail account to use IMAP instead of POP3

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 26 views
  • Last reply by Richard

Richard
Richard
more options

Got my first smartphone (Android) and now check Gmail with the smartphone AS WELL AS with Thunderbird on my PC. I understand that POP is only suitable for accessing Gmail with one device. So, I understand that I should switch to IMAP for incoming messages. I made the instructed changes to my Gmail settings, but when I go to the Thunderbird settings, there seems to be no way to change the POP3 label in that section of the settings, and I am getting an error message when I try to use Thunderbird (on my PC) to download my messages from Gmail:

An error occurred with the POP3 mail server. Mail server imap.gmail.com responded:

(That is the whole error message -- there is nothing after the colon.)

Thanks for reading and for any suggestions. I like Thunderbird and would like to continue using it.

Got my first smartphone (Android) and now check Gmail with the smartphone AS WELL AS with Thunderbird on my PC. I understand that POP is only suitable for accessing Gmail with one device. So, I understand that I should switch to IMAP for incoming messages. I made the instructed changes to my Gmail settings, but when I go to the Thunderbird settings, there seems to be no way to change the POP3 label in that section of the settings, and I am getting an error message when I try to use Thunderbird (on my PC) to download my messages from Gmail: An error occurred with the POP3 mail server. Mail server imap.gmail.com responded: (That is the whole error message -- there is nothing after the colon.) Thanks for reading and for any suggestions. I like Thunderbird and would like to continue using it.

Chosen solution

You can't change from POP to IMAP just by changing the settings - you have to add the account as IMAP. First, copy the existing POP mail to subfolders of Local Folders, then remove the POP account, then add it as IMAP.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Convert_a_POP_account_to_a_IMAP_account

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (2)

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

You can't change from POP to IMAP just by changing the settings - you have to add the account as IMAP. First, copy the existing POP mail to subfolders of Local Folders, then remove the POP account, then add it as IMAP.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Convert_a_POP_account_to_a_IMAP_account

Richard
Richard Question owner
more options

Thanks - seems to have done the trick. I appreciate the help.