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GMail opens up IMAP Support

This just in — Google Mail (GMail) is now officially supporting IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol. And people thought Google would not give in to the popular demand.


The GMail Help Center publishes a support page outlining usage of IMAP for GMail.

IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol, lets you download messages from Gmail’s servers onto your computer so you can access your mail with a program like Microsoft Outlook Express or Apple Mail, even when you aren’t connected to the Internet.

IMAP creates a constant connection between mail clients (desktop and/or mobile) and Gmail.

That’s on top of the POP service. Some speculated that Google would not support IMAP for GMail because it does not provide any avenue for subscribers to land on a Google web property or view and ad (which is basically their bread and butter).

Surprising so see IMAP support this soon. To enable IMAP in your Gmail account:

1. Log in to your Gmail account.
2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page.
3. Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
4. Select Enable IMAP.
5. Configure your IMAP client* and click Save Changes.

Here’s the configuration instruction if you want your GMail Account on IMAP with an email client like ThunderBird or Outlook. On IMAP, all custom labels on GMail will end up as a folder.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

15 Responses

  1. Avatar for augustine augustine says:

    Google Apps powered emails got this feature also….
    It’s there already, at least for my domain. :)

  2. Avatar for Glenn Glenn says:

    Set this one up yesterday and it works well. The Labels became folders though and I don’t see how you can archive the emails.

    Oh, Google Apps powered emails should also be getting this service also soon.

  3. Avatar for ordnacin ordnacin says:

    Anyone using this already ? Was able to set it up and outlook informs me I have new mail but for some reason I don’t see it in the inbox…

  4. Avatar for jeffrey jeffrey says:

    this is indeed a good news to everyone… been a big fan of gmail and this will surely boost their popularity more…

  5. Avatar for autocad autocad says:

    Great feature.I wonder how will they profit from that?

  6. Avatar for Dusty Dusty says:

    Nice … no …. Awesome!!!

  7. Avatar for Jaypee Jaypee says:

    It’s about time! :D

  8. Avatar for www.japanhotties.com www.japanhotties.com says:

    gmail and google will control the world!

    http://www.spymac.com/details/?2285189

  9. Avatar for Lhurey Lhurey says:

    hayyy….salamat naman

  10. Avatar for Eugene Eugene says:

    Although I’m using Thunderbird in our office intranet, I don’t think I’ll be using it for my GMail account soon. I’m quite happy with the web interface. :-)

  11. Avatar for Lonely Pinoy Lonely Pinoy says:

    at last!

  12. Avatar for Mikko Mikko says:

    Woah. I’ve never used IMAP before. All I have tried was POP3 but I think they are more or less similar, you still have to dig in on their technical aspects to differentiate them.

    ;D

  13. Avatar for herbert herbert says:

    Mabuti naman. Thought will be stucked in POP.

  14. Avatar for minor minor says:

    hay sa wakas naman

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