Looking for a simple way to download emails from Gmail? Find out here what Gmail POP is, how to enable POP3 in Gmail settings and find out what the Gmail POP settings mean (and which configuration to use).
First, If You Have a Table, Do This
If you have a table, place a thick, big tablecloth over it, then put a smoldering charcoal grill underneath (or, perhaps, a steaming pot of chicken broth).
You have just built yourself a traditional “kotatsu”, the Japanese table, heating, bed and blanket combination now typically fired with electricity, of course.
Want to build yourself a traditional POP email account as well? Underneath the kotatsu or on it, do this (if you have Gmail):
What Is Gmail POP?
Gmail POP access lets you download emails from a Gmail account to an email program (or other email service, like an email archiving service) in the most straightforward manner.
Unlike Gmail IMAP access, POP only lets email programs download new and existing messages. Changes to these emails—such as deleting or archiving them—only happens in the email program itself, not in the Gmail account.
Note that POP access does not offer a maximum of security because it does rely solely on a password for access. Do create and guard an application-specific Gmail password for each POP email program or service.
What Is Gmail POP: How to Enable POP Access in Settings
Time needed: 5 minutes
To turn on POP access for your Gmail account so you can download emails in a simple manner to any email (or email backup) program:
- Open your Gmail account in a desktop browser.
- Click the Settings gear icon (⚙) near Gmail’s top right corner.
- Select See all settings from the menu that has shown.
- Go to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
- Under POP Download:, select Enable POP for all mail or Enable POP for mail that arrives from now on.
Already done: If POP access is already available for the account, POP is enabled appears under Status:.
No deluge of messages: Even if you select Enable POP for all mail, your email program will not download thousands of emails at once (starting with the oldest to boot); see below for more information. - Optionally, choose what should happen in your account with email messages downloaded via POP (the copy downloaded to the email program is always managed only in the email program) under
When messages are accessed with POP.Note: See below for explanations of the possible options.
- Click Save Changes.
Now, you can set up an email client to access your account via POP using the correct Gmail POP3 settings for your email program.
Gmail POP Settings Explained
“When messages are accessed with POP…”
- keep Gmail’s copy in the inbox
What it means: In Gmail in your browser or any other email program connecting to it using IMAP, everything will be as if you had never downloaded emails via POP; every email will be unread and in your Inbox (unless, of course, a Gmail filter has moved it elsewhere).
When to use it: Use keep Gmail’s copy in the inbox if you do access Gmail primarily via the web or IMAP email programs and solely download through POP3 for backup or occasional access. - mark Gmail’s copy as read
What it means: When you download emails via POP to an email program, they appear read in Gmail on the web as well as in all email programs connecting to Gmail via IMAP; the messages will be in the Gmail Inbox folder, though.
When to use it: Use mark Gmail’s copy as read to have your messages ready but avoid annoying unread marks in browser and IMAP clients; do rely on your POP email program’s unread count. - archive Gmail’s copy
What it means: Messages downloaded through POP access will appear read and end up in the Archive label (folder) in Gmail on the web and in email programs connected through IMAP; they are permanently available for search, and Gmail will serve primarily as an archive.
When to use it: Use archive Gmail’s copy if you use your POP3 email program primarily to access email and want to keep an easily searchable and available backup at Gmail on the web. - delete Gmail’s copy
What it means: All emails downloaded at least once through POP will go to the Trash folder in Gmail on the web and in email programs connected via IMAP; from that folder, they will be permanently deleted automatically after a certain period.
When to use it: Use delete Gmail’s copy if you use the POP email program to access, archive and back up your email without keeping permanent copies of your messages at Gmail.
What Is Gmail POP: FAQ
I have thousands of emails in Gmail; will they all download at once?
No.
If you turn on POP access for all emails (including messages already received), Gmail will serve them in batches. Your email program will only download a few messages at a time. Downloading the full archive of Gmail emails can take hours or days.
Can I restart the download for a new email program?
Yes.
To download all mail again through Gmail POP:
- Open the Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings in Gmail.
- Select Disable POP under POP download:.
- Click Save Changes.
- Now re-enable POP for all mail.
Will only my Inbox download via POP or all folders?
With Gmail POP3 access, all messages download, even if Gmail rules move them to specific folders.
An email program connected to Gmail through POP will receive copies of all emails received and sent via the web.
If my email program is set up to delete emails after downloading, will messages be deleted from Gmail?
No.
Gmail will ignore this command sent by the email program. For what happens to messages after they have been downloaded via POP, see above.
(What is Gmail POP tested in a desktop browser; updated January 2024)