When you set up an e-mail account in any mail app, it asks whether you want POP3 or IMAP. The two protocols do the same job - fetching mail from the server - in completely different ways. Picking the wrong one is one of the most common causes of "missing mail" problems.
The short answer
Use IMAP unless you have a very specific reason not to.
How they differ
| Behaviour | POP3 | IMAP |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On your device | On the server |
| Multiple devices stay in sync | No | Yes |
| Folders sync | No (Inbox only) | Yes |
| Read / unread state syncs | No | Yes |
| If your laptop dies | Mail lost (no server copy) | Mail safe on server |
| Uses server disk quota | Briefly | Continuously |
When POP3 still makes sense
- You only ever check mail from one device.
- You want a forced backup on your local machine. Some people use POP3 with "leave a copy on server" enabled to get the IMAP-like behaviour but with a guaranteed local copy.
- Your mailbox quota is small. POP3 frees up server space because mail is downloaded then deleted.
When IMAP is the right choice
Almost every other situation: laptop + phone + tablet, more than one user reading the same mailbox, expectation that "Sent" and "Trash" should look the same on every device, or simply not wanting to think about it. Trinico Cloud mailboxes have generous storage (typically 10 GB+ depending on your plan) so quota is rarely a reason to pick POP3.
Hosting with mail (IMAP supported)
Need a hand?
The Trinico Cloud team is in South Africa and replies during local business hours. Reach us via WhatsApp, e-mail or a support ticket - whichever suits you best.
