IMAP vs POP3 - How to Email in the 21st Century

POP is bad. IMAP is good.

Gmail on iPhone

Add Your Gmail Account to iPhone Using IMAP

To set up your iPhone work with Gmail:

  • Enable IMAP in Gmail
  1. Sign in to Gmail.
  2. Click the gear icon in the upper-right and select Gmail settings at the top of any Gmail page.
  3. Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP
  4. Select Enable IMAP.
  5. Configure your IMAP client and click Save Changes.
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  • From the iPhone Home screen, choose Settings

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  • Tap on Mail, Contacts, Calendars

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  • In the Accounts section, tap Add Account

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  • Choose your email account type. For setting up email to work with IMAP choose other

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  • Select Add Mail Account under the Mail section

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  • Enter your information as below, Then tap Next

Name : Just give a name

Address : Gmail address

Password : Gmail password

Description : You can type a description for your mail

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  • Select IMAP

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  • On the next screen, enter your Incoming Mail Server tap Next

Host Name : imap.gmail.com

User Name : Gmail user name

Password : Gmail password

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  • Next screen, enter your Outgoing Mail Servertap Next

Host Name : smtp.gmail.com

User Name : Gmail user name (Optional)

Password : Gmail password (Optional)

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  • Then its Verifying your account

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  • Select both your Mail and Notes, tap Save

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  • Now you can check your Gmails from iPhone

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Setting up your Sent folder properly

  • Start at the home screen
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  • Go to Settings
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  • Choose Mail, Contacts, Calendar
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  • Select your IMAP account
  • Choose the Account (e.g., user@mail.com)
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  • Scroll to the very bottom and Choose Advanced
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  • Change each of the Mailbox Behaviors items as needed (e.g., Choose Sent Mailbox and check "Sent Items")
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  • Go back to Advanced (top left)
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  • Back to Account (top left)
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  • Done