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

Add Your Yahoo Account to Apple mail Using IMAP

To set up your Apple mail client to work with Yahoo:

• First, Select Mail > Preferences

• Then go to Accounts tab

• Click "+" symbol to add a new account
• Type your full name Email address and password
• Click Continue

• Fill in all necessary fields to include the following information:

Incoming Mail Server

Account Type : IMAP

Description : You can type a description for your mail

Incoming Mail Server : imap.mail.yahoo.com

User Name : Enter your Yahoo username

Password : Enter your Yahoo password

• Click Continue

Outgoing Mail Server

Description : You can type a description for your mail

Outgoing Mail Server : smtp.mail.yahoo.com

User name : Enter your Yahoo username

Password : Enter your Yahoo password

• Click Continue

• Check the Account Summary
• Click Create

• Now you can check your Yahoo mails from Apple mail

Import your old POP  account into the newly created IMAP  account

If you currently keep a copy of your mail on the server, then you're done! But if you delete them from the server, then you have to import your old POP mail into your IMAP. Here's how to do it

• On the File menu, click Import Mailboxes

• Check the box next to Mail for Mac OS X

• Browse, your backup (.mbox) file to import
• Default path /Users/username/Libarary/Mail/Mailboxes
• Click Choose

• Click Done

• You can check your back up data on Apple mail

• And the very important thing is you have to disable your old POP account from the apple mail, Otherwise they will continue to receive email in the old POP account.
• Go to settings Edit mail

• In accounts tab uncheck Enable this account and Save

• Now you can continue with the IMAP account.

Setting up your Sent folder properly

• Open your Apple mail and go to: Preferences > Accounts > Mailbox Behaviors.


• Then check box Store sent messages on the server

• Restart the apple mail