IMAP / POP / SMTP
What is IMAP / POP / SMTP?
The three protocols that make email work: SMTP sends email, IMAP syncs it across devices, and POP downloads it to one device only.
Why IMAP / POP / SMTP Matters
Using POP means your email lives on one computer — lose it, lose everything. IMAP keeps everything in sync. Most email problems come from using the wrong protocol.
Related Topics
Related Terms
Microsoft 365
Microsoft's subscription bundle of cloud productivity apps: Outlook email, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and more — available online in a browser and installed on your desktop. You pay per user per month or year and always have the latest version.
Microsoft 365Email Archiving
A separate, tamper-proof copy of every email sent and received — kept for compliance, legal discovery, and business continuity.
Microsoft 365Shared Mailbox
An email inbox that multiple people can access — like support@ or info@ — without needing a separate license for each user.
Microsoft 365DKIM / SPF / DMARC
Three email authentication protocols that prove an email really came from who it claims — stopping spoofers and phishers from impersonating your domain.
Microsoft 365