With the help of IMAP protocol, you can make messages available on your desktop or laptop but remain on the Gmail server. Receive, send, read and edit your Gmail email in your PC email client: Microsoft Outlook, The Bat!, Mozilla Thunderbird, or others.
Why Use IMAP Instead Of POP?
Consider the differences between the IMAP and POP protocols.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) works with e-mail directly on the server where the messages reside. In the case of Gmail IMAP settings, these are Google’s Gmail servers. POP (Post Office Protocol) downloads email to your device and you are working with it locally.
If you use multiple devices to access your email, including a desktop PC, laptop, iPhone, iPad, Android tablet, or phone, then IMAP is the preferred protocol.
Email is stored on the server and you can open it using any device. Therefore, IMAP is a more commonly used protocol than POP.
Setting up IMAP in your Mac, Windows, or Linux PC email application is the best way to use your Gmail inbox from multiple devices.
Allow IMAP Access in Gmail
- Sign in to your Gmail account in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or another web browser.
- Click the Settings icon, which looks like a gear. By default, the Quick Settings panel will open.
- Click See all settings.
- In the Gmail account settings window, go to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
- Scroll down to the IMAP access (access Gmail from other clients using IMAP) section. Activate the Enable IMAP option.
- Scroll down. Click the Save changes button.
- If you are using Gmail’s basic HTML interface, the settings screen looks different.
- Click the Settings link at the top right. Click the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. Activate the Enable IMAP option in the IMAP Access section. Click Save changes.
Gmail IMAP and SMTP Settings for Email Applications
Google IMAP settings are required to receive messages in the email application. To receive Gmail messages on other devices, enter the following options according to the instructions for specific apps:
IMAP server Gmail: imap.gmail.com
Username for Gmail IMAP: your full Gmail email address (example: example@gmail.com)
Gmail IMAP password: Your Gmail account password
Gmail IMAP port: 993
Gmail IMAP TLS/SSL: Yes
Gmail SMTP settings are for sending mail (SMTP is an email transfer protocol). SMTP settings for accessing Gmail using email clients:
Gmail SMTP server address: smtp.gmail.com
Gmail SMTP username: your full Gmail address (example: example@gmail.com)
Gmail SMTP Password: Your Gmail account password
Gmail SMTP port (TLS): 587
Gmail SMTP Port (SSL): 465
Gmail SMTP TLS/SSL required: Yes
Whether TLS or SSL is used depends on your email client. Check your email client documentation to determine if TLS or SSL is required.
Don’t share your Gmail account password with anyone. Read the documentation for your email application carefully.
