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haz10
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Sunday, February 5th, 2023 7:59 PM

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POP3 to IMAP

I am using an iMac and Apple email with Comcast as a provider. Currently I have 4 Comcast email addresses, all configured as POP 3 for incoming mail. I really would like to have my emails on my own computer where I can do my own backups, I can access email even if the Comcast server is down, I can easily control what I have, I do not need to be concerned about what Comcast plans for email storage. I have an elaborate folder structure where I saved emails that are important to me going back to 20+ years.

Lately there were email problems created by one of the vendors  and I was told that I should switch to IMAP.  If I decided to do that, I am very concerned about what synchronization across devices might do to my email folders on my iMac.

Does anyone on this forum know the following:

1) If I saved all my current emails in my Inbox into a folder I would create before switching from POP 3 to IMAP, would synchronization between the Comcast server and my iMac after the switch to IMAP delete the email folders I created on my computer before the switch?

2)Is there any easy way to also store selected emails on my computer after switching to IMAP?

3) Is there any reliable documentation that explains how to do the switching without deletion of any emails on my computer?

I do not care for accessing emails from multiple devices.

Hopefully someone on this forum can address my questions. Thanks.

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2 years ago

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EG

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108.7K Messages

2 years ago

The concern is not "Community Knowledge Base" help related. Thread moved here to the proper help section for assistance. 

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haz10

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81 Messages

2 years ago

Sorry, would you be able to send me a link to wherever my post is now? I cannot find it...

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EG

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108.7K Messages

2 years ago

It's right here above. It's the first post in this thread. You're good.

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haz10

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81 Messages

2 years ago

Thank you. I didn't notice it....    Hopefully now I have better chances to get some answers.  I appreciate your help.

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CCJodie

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@haz10 Hi there, thanks for the post. We'll do our best to answer those questions for you. 
1. After making the switch, the stored emails you have on your computer's hard-drive/storage shouldn't be touched. 
2. That is all based on the Mac email tool, but there should be an easy way to drag and drop to a folder or even an archive option. 
3. I would suggest looking into "saving IMAP Mac emails locally." That will really help with the transition. 

I no longer work for Comcast.

2 years ago

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EG

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108.7K Messages

2 years ago

No worries !

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haz10

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81 Messages

2 years ago

Thanks @XfinityJodie. Good suggestions.

I asked the question about deletion of emails on my computer, because I noticed that due to the IMAP setting on my iphone, if I delete emails on my iphone, they are deleted in webmail (on the Comcast server). So I am concerned about this synchronization as I do not quite understand how it works when one configures the iMac compter for IMAP.

I did find based on your suggestion some good advice about saving emails locally after switching to IMAP.

However, what I still need is step-by-step instructions for making the change from POP 3 to IMAP, such that I will not loose any emails. I'd appreciate that. I do not know if the change has to happen on the Comcast side first and how to do that and if I have to do something also on the iMac and how to do that.

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XfinityDilary

Official Employee

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1.9K Messages

Hey @haz10! After some research, I found this website that might help with the process of changing from POP 3 to IMAP. Let me know if this helps. 

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

2 years ago

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haz10

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2 years ago

Thanks, @XfinityDilary. This appears to be useful info. It looks quite complicated and dangerous....    It seems that nothing needs to be done on the Comcast side. Is this correct? I thought that there is also some setting in Comcast when email accounts are created that defines the incoming protocol, but I might be wrong.

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CCJodie

Problem Solver

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1.3K Messages

I would suggest saving the emails you would like to keep on your personal computer before you make the switch to be safe. That's all the information we have on what you're looking for. 

I no longer work for Comcast.

2 years ago

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haz10

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81 Messages

2 years ago

Thanks. Are you aware of the fact that there is no notification sent out when you post a reply? I have my profile set for notifications. This way I do not know if you reply unless I keep checking....  If you use Comments, then I am notified.

Are you saying that if I decide to change my incoming email from POP 3 to IMAP, there is NOTHING I need to change on the Comcast side? Could you please either confirm or let me know what would I have to do in any Comcast mail configuration or any other place. I believe I am in the "right" place, asking Comcast staff.  Thanks.

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XfinityJohnG

Official Employee

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1.5K Messages

For some email applications, switching from POP to IMAP is as simple as entering your Comcast email address and password.

  1. Find your email application's Settings or Preferences section on the device that you use to access your Comcast email account.
  2. Choose the option to Add new (IMAP) account...
  3. Enter your Comcast.net email address and password when prompted and submit.
  4. You should now see two separate Comcast accounts – POP and IMAP.

Note: Before deleting your POP account, make sure that you move any emails or folders that you wish to save into your new IMAP account. We would not need to take any steps on our end.

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

2 years ago

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haz10

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81 Messages

2 years ago

Thanks for confirming that nothing would need to be changed on the Comcast side, the addition/deletion of the email accounts should happen only on my iMac (I am using the Apple email client.).

In this thread, @XfinityJodie stated:  "After making the switch, the stored emails you have on your computer's hard-drive/storage shouldn't be touched", as an answer to my question #2.  Since my emails are now on my computer, why would this be needed, as stated above:  "Before deleting your POP account, make sure that you move any emails or folders that you wish to save into your new IMAP account."?   Supposedly nothing on my computer will be deleted.....

(edited)

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Again

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31.2K Messages

@haz10​ 

Something to understand.  In IMAP, almost anything you do in webmail will affect Apple Mail and anything you do in Apple Mail will affect webmail.  One example, if you delete an email in Apple Mail, it will also be deleted in webmail.  If you create a new folder in Apple Mail it will show up in webmail under My Folders.  But, if you create a new folder in webmail, it will show up as a folder under the Inbox, and will also show up in Apple Mail under the Inbox.  And everything you do between webmail and Apple Mail will also affect your iPhone.

I am not familiar with Apple Mail settings, but if you want to keep emails on the Comcast servers [webmail] you need to check Mail settings to "leave a copy on the server".  Moving mail into folders is your best bet, but remember to periodically check how much storage you have in webmail if you leave mail on the server.

Here is another website that might help you: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/differences-between-pop3-and-imap/

I am not a Comcast Employee.
I am a Customer Expert volunteering my time to help other customers here in the Forums.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.

Was your question answered? Please mark an Accepted Answer!tick

2 years ago

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haz10

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@again, thanks. I think that I understand synchronization with IMAP when anything NEW is created on any device using the same email accounts. What I wanted to make sure that all my existing emails now on my iMac in many folders are NOT deleted if I switch from POP 3 to IMAP. It appears that depending on whom I talk to, I get different answers... The link you sent me is useful but it doesn't address my question.

2 years ago

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Latoque

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29.6K Messages

@haz10 

Are you using "Time Machine" on the iMac to backup your machine to an external drive?  If so, you would be able to restore anything in Mail in the event of anything getting deleted.

I am not a Comcast Employee.
I am a Customer Expert volunteering my time to help other customers here in the Forums.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.

Was your question answered? Please mark an Accepted Answer!tick

2 years ago

haz10

Contributor

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81 Messages

2 years ago

yes, I am using Timemachine. However, if at all possible, I would like to avoid having to restore, particularly since previously I was told that one cannot/should not just restore mail but one has to restore everything. Who needs that? That's why I was trying to get a conclusive answer from somebody who knows about what to expect. But apparently nobody knows for sure....

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