Switching from IMAP to POP?

[edmiller]

Hi,
I'd like to switch my IMAP accounts to POP3.
Can I create new accounts as POP, move the IMAP emaisl to their respective POP folders, and, once everything works, remove the IMAP accounts or is that a harebrained idea?
Thanks,
Ed

[DanRaisch]

No, that's pretty much it. But see this article for more information -- https://support.mozilla.org/t5/Troubles ... ta-p/13846

[edmiller]

Thanks Dan,
This is very helpful.
I really appreciate your patience with me.
Cheers,

Ed

[DanRaisch]

You're welcome.

[mgagnonlv]

First of all, why would you want to switch to POP3. Usually, people do it the other way around, as IMAP allows to read messages from more than one platform. Please also see at the bottom for other possibilities.

Still, if you want to convert, one problem I see with the procedure you suggest is that IMAP only lists messages that are on the server while POP dowloads all messages that appear as "new" on your local version of the account. I am afraid that there would be conflicts and messages would be deleted in IMAP before they are downloaded completely as POP. I would suggest you use the local folders as a middle point in the process.

0. Do a copy of your profile

1. In your current IMAP profile, make sure that everything is downloaded.
– Under Account Parameters, check for your account "Synchronization and disk space"
– Make sure that all saving options are on : Save all messages of this account on this computer... without any limit, and "Never suppress any message"
– Click on "Advanced" and make sure you subscribe to ALL folders you have.

If that wasn't the case, correct the issue and wait until Thunderbird has enough time to work in the background to synchronize everything.

2. Under "Local Folders" (at the bottom of the accounts list), create a set of folders that mimic the current hierarchy for your IMAP account
– Right-click on "Local Folders" and create a folder called (for example) "CopyOfAccount"
– Right-click on "CopyOfAccount" and create sub-folders for Inbox, Sent, and whatever other folders you have in your IMAP account.

3. Copy all messages from your IMAP account to the folders you just created
– Go into the folder: IMAP account –> Inbox, select all messages, right-click and "copy to –> Local folders –> CopyOfAccount –> CopyOfInbox"
(if you have thousands of messages or huge huge ones, you might be better to move them in chunks).
– Repeat the process for each folder you have.
Don't worry if the process takes time, especially if you have lots of messages and/or huge attachments.

4. Configure your IMAP account to not receive any messages
Under Account Parameters –> your IMAP account –> Server parameters, uncheck everything related to server checks (second block of that window).

5. Create your new POP3 account
... and let it download everything.
If you had any, you will have to redo your message filter rules.

Depending on how your server works, Thunderbird may download everything that currently sits in the "inbox" folder, or it may download only new messages starting from that point on. But in any case, it won't download messages that are in the Sent folder and other IMAP folders you had created. Give time for everything to be downloaded, including attachments.

6. Reorganize Thunderbird
This is entirely optional, but once the POP3 pickup is over, you may move messages between the local "CopyOfIMAP" series of folder and your new POP3 account series of folders. You need to move stuff one folder at a time, but it should be quick because it's a local move.

Remove the IMAP account from Thunderbird.

7. Clear up your server
Again, an optional step. Log on on the server using the webmail and delete the content of your Sent folder, as well as other folders you had created when living in IMAP.

************************************

OTHER OPTIONS

This raises the question "Why the switch?" If you want to solve specific issues, there might be better ways to do so.

1. You want to be able to use Thunderbird when you are offline
YOu can do so while still keeping IMAP".
– Go under: "Account Parameters –> YourIMAPaccount –> Synchronization and disk space"
– Make sure that you have checked "Save messages of this account on thiis computer", "synchronize all messages regardless of age", "never delete".
That way, you will be able to read messages and reply while offline. Replies will obviously only be sent when you are connected again.

2. You find that connecting to your account via your phone is slow
This may happen when the INBOX and Sent Items folders are way too loaded.
– Still in IMAP' create new folders called "Inbox Archive" and "Sent Items Archive". Move into it, say, messages that are more than 1 year old. You will have a slimmer Inbox and Sent Items folders that will improve the speed of Thunderbird and especially of your phone.

2. Your ISP complains that your mailbox is full
Basically, do steps 1 to 3 above (except Move rather than Copy messages.
Essentially, if you move, say, messages that are more than 1 year old into your "Local Folders" archive, you will still have a useful IMAP platform on all computers, phones, etc., and yet you will have a much slimmer mailbox.

[edmiller]

Michel,
Thanks for the exhaustive details.
The main reason to switch to POP is being independent of 3 different mail servers for 3 accounts.
We live out in the boondocks and our Internet is really iffy. Practically every single day one of the accounts in the left pane has completely disappeared, only to show up again a day or two later. In the meantime that account cannot be used at all.
For a real estate business this is not acceptable.
Ed