HT201320: Set up an email account on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Learn about Set up an email account on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Bungalow5003

Q: I have a iPhone 5c.  Wanting to set up an email account on the phone.  After entering email address and password it sets up an imap account automatically, when I need to set up a pop3 account.  What's happening?

Have just purchased an iPhone 5c and have been trying to set an email account on it.  Under the menus I have gone in for an "Other".  Having enetered the email address and password the phone automatically sets up an IMAP account and I need it to be a POP3 account - I am not being given the option.  What is going wrong?

iPhone 5c, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 3, 2014 12:44 PM

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Q: I have a iPhone 5c.  Wanting to set up an email account on the phone.  After entering email address and password it sets ... more

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  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jan 3, 2014 12:46 PM in response to Bungalow5003
    Level 9 (59,919 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 3, 2014 12:46 PM in response to Bungalow5003

    Who is the email provider for this account?

  • by Bungalow5003,

    Bungalow5003 Bungalow5003 Jan 3, 2014 12:48 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 3, 2014 12:48 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    btinternet

  • by TJBUSMC1973,

    TJBUSMC1973 TJBUSMC1973 Jan 3, 2014 12:50 PM in response to Bungalow5003
    Level 5 (7,636 points)
    Jan 3, 2014 12:50 PM in response to Bungalow5003

    Whatever settings the email provider gave you are what determine the type of account it is.  Find out from them if you have the right settings, and ask if there is an option to use POP instead of IMAP.

     

    Out of curiousity, why does it need to be a POP account for you?

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jan 3, 2014 12:50 PM in response to Bungalow5003
    Level 9 (59,919 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 3, 2014 12:50 PM in response to Bungalow5003

    I've read a couple of other posts regarding BT internet mail accounts. Once reports you cannot set that up on the iPhone. You might want to check with them about settings for the iPhone. Their support should have information for you, or you can look over to the right of the thread here at More Like This and see if you find answers.s

  • by Bungalow5003,

    Bungalow5003 Bungalow5003 Jan 3, 2014 12:59 PM in response to TJBUSMC1973
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 3, 2014 12:59 PM in response to TJBUSMC1973

    The provider is btinternet and they say it should be set up as a POP3 account which is what I have always done; pc, iPads, smartphones etc and everything is fine.

     

    On the iPhone 5c it is goig to IMAP automatically and then if I delet anything from the phone it sync all, I lose it from the server and can't then pick up from iPad later.

     

    Yes I could not delete it from the phone, but with so many coming through during the day it just makes easier.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jan 3, 2014 1:04 PM in response to Bungalow5003
    Level 9 (59,919 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 3, 2014 1:04 PM in response to Bungalow5003

    Try deleting the account from the phone. After doing that, try creating the account again. Once you enter the email address and password, it should go through the verification and then bring you to a page to continue. From there, at the top of the page you should get to make the choice between IMAP and POP.

  • by Bungalow5003,

    Bungalow5003 Bungalow5003 Jan 3, 2014 1:14 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 3, 2014 1:14 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    Done this already.

    What you have described is what you are told on all the websites that describe setting up an email account on an iPhone.  However what actually happens is after the verification process you don't get the IMAP or POP option.  I am wondering if this a change with this latest phone?

    Also I wanted to limit over what period emails were being downloaded, say last three days, but that option doesn't appear to be available either.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Jan 3, 2014 1:22 PM in response to Bungalow5003
    Level 9 (56,539 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 3, 2014 1:22 PM in response to Bungalow5003

    POP3 is considered obsolete. In this age of multiple mobile devices, computers, etc. POP3 creates more problems than it solves. IMAP allows for full synchronization of the entire mailbox and all folders with all client devices. If you read a message on one, it will be marked as read on all client devices. If you delete it or move it on one, the change will be reflected on all devices (and the server, of course). POP3 requires that the message store be managed manually on all devices and can sometimes prevent you from being able to retrieve the message on more than one device at all.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jan 3, 2014 1:25 PM in response to Bungalow5003
    Level 9 (59,919 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 3, 2014 1:25 PM in response to Bungalow5003

    There is no difference with the new phone. I have a 5s and just tried setting up another "other" account on my phone and it went right away.

     

    After deleting the account, try adding it back, however this time put in the wrong password on purpose. This should make it fail the verification. It should then bring you to the first page of the mail add, and should let you choose IMAP or POP. You can then type in the correct password and continue to add the account.

  • by Bungalow5003,

    Bungalow5003 Bungalow5003 Jan 3, 2014 1:46 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 3, 2014 1:46 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    Thanks.

     

    Using the wrong password did the trick and gave the IMAP/POP option.  All done now and working.

     

    Nice to get an answer to the question rather than lots advice about doing something completely different.

     

    Cheers and have a good weekend.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jan 3, 2014 3:03 PM in response to Bungalow5003
    Level 9 (59,919 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 3, 2014 3:03 PM in response to Bungalow5003

    You're welcome. Glad you got it sorted. The problem is, for some reason when the phone goes through the verificaiton process, it is getting mixed signals from your email provider, making the phone believe that you have an IMAP account. Good luck and enjoy your iPhone.