Mozilla Thunderbird is the University supported email program. This can be configured to access email via POP (Post Office Protocol) or IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol). The choice between these two protocols depends on the user’s preferences to access email on the server.

• POP - Choosing POP means that Thunderbird will be configured to download all messages from the mail server to the user’s system, removing it from the server and making it available ONLY on the computer the user is working on. This means that such messages can no longer be accessed from other computers through the UoM Webmail facility or otherwise.

  It is possible for users to set POP in Thunderbird and apply a setting to leave the email messages on the server but if there is a requirement to do so, then such users should consider IMAP.

• IMAP - Choosing IMAP means that ALL ACTIVE (both read & unread) email will remain available on the mail server and will therefore be accessible from different computers and locations. This is particularly useful for users who need access to all their email from different locations e.g. when on campus, at home, abroad etc.

  IMAP users should monitor that messages do not use all the mailbox storage space on the mail server by checking out the information about email quota limits and instructions to remove messages from the server.

Users can check whether they are using POP or IMAP as follows:

1. In Mozilla Thunderbird, click Tools menu.
2. Choose Account settings...
3. Choose Server Settings below Account (left pane of the Account Settings dialog box). On the right pane, the Server Type: will display either POP Mail Server or IMAP Mail Server.
4. Click OK button to close the Account Settings dialog box.

Use of IMAP on IT Services workstations is currently not supported. Users are encouraged to use the UoM Webmail facility when accessing their mailbox on IT Services workstations.

Thunderbird Configuration Guides

• Guide A [PDF] - Setting up Thunderbird (to use POP or IMAP) on home computer for the first time.
• Guide B [PDF] - Switching from POP to IMAP on your already installed and configured Thunderbird.