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after changing from POP3 to IMAP, I cannot access either account settings

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  • Last reply by christ1

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I have used att email account, identified as primary by them, as POP3. I followed the directions to migrate to IMAP, omitting disabling the automatic check for messages on the POP3 account settings before setting up the IMAP. The email address is identical on both accounts, and Thunderbird apparently only uses that to identify the account. So now there are two accounts, one POP3, one IMAP, with the same email address. I cannot access settings on either: I get the message "An account with this name already exists. Please enter a different account name." All of my existing email has shown up on the IMAP download, and the POP3 doesn't appear to be checking for mail, since no new has shown there but new has shown on the IMAP. (I left the email on the server under POP3 to be able to access it from multiple devices, and I made this change when I got the message that att was no longer supporting the protocols to do this.) Three questions: 1) How do I get Thunderbird to let me access settings for either account? 2) Should I send my POP3 downloaded email to my current ISP provided email account to ensure that I don't lose anything when I delete the POP3 account? 3) I fear that if I tell Thunderbird to delete my POP3 account, I might just lose both. How do I avoid this?

I have used att email account, identified as primary by them, as POP3. I followed the directions to migrate to IMAP, omitting disabling the automatic check for messages on the POP3 account settings before setting up the IMAP. The email address is identical on both accounts, and Thunderbird apparently only uses that to identify the account. So now there are two accounts, one POP3, one IMAP, with the same email address. I cannot access settings on either: I get the message "An account with this name already exists. Please enter a different account name." All of my existing email has shown up on the IMAP download, and the POP3 doesn't appear to be checking for mail, since no new has shown there but new has shown on the IMAP. (I left the email on the server under POP3 to be able to access it from multiple devices, and I made this change when I got the message that att was no longer supporting the protocols to do this.) Three questions: 1) How do I get Thunderbird to let me access settings for either account? 2) Should I send my POP3 downloaded email to my current ISP provided email account to ensure that I don't lose anything when I delete the POP3 account? 3) I fear that if I tell Thunderbird to delete my POP3 account, I might just lose both. How do I avoid this?

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Hi

Check you check this article perhaps it usefull for you

  • support dot mozilla dor org en-US kb faq-changing-imap-pop


About of 3 question, If you right set up TH with IMAP, you don't lose your count but you can check with your ISP provided is better option with this you're secure.

Regards,

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How do I get Thunderbird to let me access settings for either account?

Each account must have a unique name. So change the account name of the IMAP account to something different than the POP account.

Should I send my POP3 downloaded email to my current ISP provided email account to ensure that I don't lose anything when I delete the POP3 account?

Since all messages are still on the server you wouldn't lose anything when deleting the POP account. However, as a backup, I'd copy the messages from the POP account to your Local Folders account.

I fear that if I tell Thunderbird to delete my POP3 account, I might just lose both.

You won't.
Having said that, it's always recommended to create a backup of the Thunderbird profile on a regular basis.