Change POP to IMAP

The account type listed doesn't matter. It's what you have for the server and port number that makes the difference between IMAP and POP. The server name and port number will be different for each.

However, you would probably be better to just recreate the account. Instead of deleting the original one, uncheck the box to enable the account. That will deactivate it, but not delete it. If you have problems creating the imap version, you can just re enable the account and nothing will be lost.

When you start to add a new account, hold the option key down when you hit continue after the initial setup screen. That will give you the options to create the type of account you want. Select IMAP and put all the correct settings in for the IMAP account. Once done, you and you have it working, just delete the POP version. You may need to save messages in the POP version to local mailboxes so you don't loose them.

You will have to go into Mail's preferences under Accounts. You will have to find the imap settings for your provider. The server names will be different. You will need to change it. You will also need to go to the Advanced tab and change the port settings and number to the correct one.

The outgoing server may be the same. You will need to verify that with your provider. If different, you will need to edit the SMTP server and change the settings also.

Hi Glenn,

thank you for the explanation. However, I have around 25 mailboxes and within two of them I have sub boxes as well, is there a smart way to export and import tem into my new created imap account?

Thanks,

Bert

If you created mailboxes in a POP account, then they are probably local mailboxes. They should reside in the On My Mac section of Mail and not in a specific account. Disabling the old account shouldn't afftect them. Try disabling the account (don't delete the account) in Mail preferences to test. You can check the box to enable the account after testing.

Derar Glenn,

Thank you for the extremely fast reply. I did as you suggested and created two IMAP mailboxes. All mail came in the correct mailboxes, except the local ones of course.

But how can I synchronise all the mailboxes, so including the local ones with two iphones and two ipads?

At least I hope that is possible.

Thanks,

Bert

You need to create a new mailboxes in the imap account to move messages to from local mailboxes. The imap mailboxes will be available to all devices. You can move messages from the local mailboxes to imap mailboxes.

Are you doing this from a computer, or just iphone and ipad?