IMAP Email account change

pistonvalve

Hi my email account is set up foo 'IMAP' which has proved problematical when using BT Yahoo mail.


How can I change back to a 'POP3' account but still retain my email address and pass word/user name?


Experienced no problems using BT Yahoo mail with a POP3 account. Only changed to an 'IMAP' account when BT said I should change - more duff info from BT!!!


Mike.

agrinnall

I can't see why changing from IMAP to POP3 should impact either your email address or your login details. But I didn't use a BT address even when I was unfortunate enough to have them as my ISP so I can't be sure it won't be an issue.

A better option would be to ditch BT as your email provider and choose one that is independent of your ISP. I pay for my primary address but also have gmail, gmx and ymail ones, I'm not sure what their IMAP offerings are like though.

pmartin86

What problems are you experiencing? IMAP is generally more suitable for today's always on, multiple device world (with exceptions of course, as always!) so not necessarily duff advice, but maybe not suited to your current setup or way of working.

As for changing between the 2, its simple a way of accessing the emails, so just reconfigure you email client and you're good to go.

esuhl

Your email account isn't IMAP or POP3 -- those are protocols for accessing your email account. So long as the mail server supports both POP3 and IMAP, you can use whichever you prefer. Your username and password will remain unchanged.

IMAP is generally preferable, however. What problems have you had when using it?

pistonvalve

Thank you all,


My ISP is BT Broadband, I use Windows Live Mail to receive mail from BT Yahoo Mail so I am not sure who is providing what!! The problems I have are error messages asking for passwords all the time, on the odd occasion it allows transmission I get a 'time out' message.


The email worked fine up till changing to IMAP protocol. The account is set up correctly and does work occasionally!! Windows7


Mike.

debitcardmayhem

Try thunderbird ?
https://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/thunderbird/

grumpycrab

To change to POP3.
a. write down exisiting settings and your password which you must know for obvious reasons
b. rather than delete the existing settings just DISABLE mail syncronisation/send/receive with your current Windows Live Mail btinternet account

e.g. will vary depending on version but something like this
1. Sign in to your Windows Live Mail.
2. On your left pane, right-click on your account. (eg. [EMAIL="you@btinternet.com"]you@btinternet.com[/EMAIL] below the Quick Views.
3. On the drop down menu, choose Properties.
4. On General tab, uncheck the check box beside Include this account when receiving mail or synchronizing.
5. Click on Apply and OK.

c. Now you can add your POP3 account using settings here
http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/44917/related/1
The settings are very similar with both accounts. I just hope you remembered your password correctly.

d. When done wait half an hour as all your mail is downloaded from BT (**if you want to keep it at BT you should really tick the box which says "keep mail on server" but as you don't like IMAP this probably isn't important to you)

Le_Kirk

pistonvalve wrote: »

The problems I have are error messages asking for passwords all the time, on the odd occasion it allows transmission I get a 'time out' message.

I use an @btinternet address on an IMAP setting with Outlook and I still get this phenomenon but not often. When I do, I usually re-enter the password and all is OK for a while. I have searched Uncle Google for solutions but none forthcoming.

Mr_Toad

Le_Kirk wrote: »

I use an @btinternet address on an IMAP setting with Outlook and I still get this phenomenon but not often. When I do, I usually re-enter the password and all is OK for a while. I have searched Uncle Google for solutions but none forthcoming.

I have btconnect email addresses and used to get the same thing. Since moving to Linux and OS X I've never experienced it.

I suspect Windows occasionally 'forgets' your password even when you've told it to remember it.

Or it could just be a coincidence............

esuhl

pistonvalve wrote: »

The problems I have are error messages asking for passwords all the time, on the odd occasion it allows transmission I get a 'time out' message.

Strange. Windows Live Mail can create a log file that should provide more details as to what's going on.

http://www.randomsupport.com/rs/blogs/index.php?title=windows-live-mail-log-file&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Also, as suggested above, you could try Thunderbird (an email client similar to Windows Live Mail) to see if you have the same problems at the same time.

Le_Kirk

Mr_Toad wrote: »

I have btconnect email addresses and used to get the same thing. Since moving to Linux and OS X I've never experienced it.

I suspect Windows occasionally 'forgets' your password even when you've told it to remember it.

The weird thing is when the dialogue box pops up it has the user name (i.e. e-mail address) and password (as asterisks) already entered so it doesn't forget it and I believe it is a BT or Yahoo problem.