Before you begin, it’s important to know that email applications cannot change POP3 to IMAP. Instead, you’ll remove the existing POP3 account from your email application and add it again using IMAP settings. 

If you back up any emails stored locally before making the change, the process is straightforward, and your mailbox will remain intact. 

This guide will help you change your email account from POP3 to IMAP using your 1-grid email hosting settings. 

By following the steps below, you’ll configure your email account to synchronise messages, folders and read status across all your devices. 

What This Means 

Email accounts can be configured using either POP3 or IMAP. 

POP3 

POP3 downloads emails directly to a single device. Messages are typically stored locally, and changes made on one device are not reflected on others. 

POP3 is best suited if you only access your email from one device and prefer local storage. 

IMAP 

IMAP stores your emails on the mail server and synchronises them across all connected devices. 

If you read an email on your phone, it will also appear as read on your laptop or tablet. Likewise, folders, sent items and deleted messages stay consistent everywhere you access your mailbox. 

IMAP is the recommended option for most users, particularly if you use multiple devices. 

Steps to Change a POP3 Account to IMAP

Step 1: Back Up Your Existing POP3 Emails 

Before removing your POP3 account: 

• Back up any important emails stored only on your device.  
• Confirm you know your email password.  
• Ensure you have access to your email hosting account.  

Remember: 

Removing the POP3 account from your email application does not delete your mailbox from the server. It only removes the account from that device. 

Step 2: Retrieve Your IMAP Settings 

1. Log in to your 1-grid Hosting Control Panel. 

• cPanel
• Plesk

Navigate to: 

Email → Email Accounts 

2. Locate the email account you want to update and select Connect Devices (or the equivalent email configuration option). 

Record the following information: 

• Incoming mail server (IMAP)  
• IMAP port number  
• Outgoing mail server (SMTP)  
• SMTP port number  
• Username (your full email address)  
• Encryption type (SSL/TLS)  

IMPORTANT: You’ll need these settings when configuring your email application. 

Step 3: Remove the Existing POP3 Account 

1. Open the email application currently using POP3. 

2. Locate the account settings. 

3. Select the POP3 account. 

Choose the option (depending on your email application) to: 

• Remove  
• Delete  
• Sign Out  

4. Confirm the removal. 

NOTE: Your mailbox remains active on the server. 

Step 4: Add the Email Account Again Using IMAP 

1. Open your email application. 

2. Select Add Account. 

Enter: 

• Email address  
• Password  

4. When prompted for the account type, choose: 

• IMAP 

5. Enter the IMAP and SMTP settings you recorded earlier. 

6. Complete the setup. 

Step 5: Allow Your Mailbox to Synchronise 

After setup, your mailbox will begin synchronising. 

Depending on mailbox size and internet speed: 

• Synchronisation may take several minutes.  
• Older emails may appear gradually.  
• Folder structures will rebuild automatically.  
• Read and unread status will synchronise across all devices.  

Once synchronisation completes, your account will be fully configured using IMAP. 

Important Things to Know 

• POP3 accounts cannot be converted directly to IMAP.  
• Removing the POP3 account from your device does not delete your mailbox.  
• Emails stored only on your device may not appear after switching unless they were backed up first.  
• IMAP requires an active internet connection to synchronise messages.  
• Mailbox storage is limited by your hosting plan.  
• Deleting an email on one IMAP-connected device removes it from all connected devices.  

Before You Move On 

Before using your newly configured mailbox: 

• Confirm new emails are arriving.  
• Verify you can send emails successfully.  
• Check that Sent Items are synchronising.  
• Confirm your folders appear correctly.  
• Verify SSL/TLS encryption is enabled.  
• Review your mailbox storage usage if you have a large mailbox.  

Common Mistakes to Avoid 

• Removing the POP3 account before backing up locally stored emails.  
• Selecting POP3 again instead of IMAP during setup.  
• Entering incorrect IMAP or SMTP server settings.  
• Forgetting to enable SSL/TLS encryption.  
• Assuming all locally stored POP3 emails will automatically upload to the server.  

If This Didn’t Work 

Before contacting 1-grid Support, please gather the following information: 

• Your domain name  
• Your email address  
• Any error message displayed  
• A screenshot of the error (if available)  
• The email application and version you’re using  
• The device and operating system  
• Confirmation that the account is configured as IMAP  

Having this information ready will help us resolve your issue more quickly. 

Related Articles 

• Viewing Your Email Settings via cPanel for Email Client Configuration
• Viewing Your Email Settings via Plesk for Email Client Configuration
• How to Set Up an IMAP Email Account  
• Understanding the Difference Between IMAP and POP3
• How to Configure Email on Mobile Devices  
• Troubleshooting Email Sending and Receiving Issues  

FAQs 

Can I change POP3 to IMAP without deleting my account? 

No. Email applications do not allow POP3 accounts to be converted directly. You’ll need to remove the account from the device and add it again using IMAP. 

Will deleting the POP3 account delete my emails? 

No. Removing the account only deletes the configuration from your device. Your mailbox remains on the server. 

Will I lose my old emails? 

Emails stored only on your local device may not appear after switching unless you back them up beforehand. 

Why should I use IMAP? 

IMAP keeps your mailbox synchronised across multiple devices, making it easier to manage your email wherever you access it. 

Why is synchronisation taking so long? 

Large mailboxes or slower internet connections can increase the time required for the initial synchronisation. 

Can I switch back to POP3 later? 

Yes. You can configure your mailbox using POP3 again if you prefer, although IMAP is generally recommended for most users. 

Empowering Insight 

Switching to IMAP gives you a more consistent email experience across all your devices. Taking a few minutes to back up your POP3 emails before making the change helps ensure a smooth migration without losing important messages. 

Need Additional Support? 

If you’re unable to complete the migration after following this guide, first review your email settings and ensure you’ve entered the correct IMAP configuration details. 

If you still need assistance, contact us with your domain name, email address and any error messages so we can help you get your mailbox working as quickly as possible.