In this guide, we explain how to change a POP3 email account to IMAP using your Domains.co.za email settings. Email accounts can be configured using either POP3 or IMAP, depending on how you want your emails stored and accessed.

POP3 downloads messages to a single device and does not keep them synchronised, while IMAP stores emails on the mail server and keeps them in sync across all connected devices.

If you access your email from multiple devices, require consistent folder synchronisation, or want your messages securely stored on the server, switching from POP3 to IMAP is recommended.

IMPORTANT:

Email applications do not allow an existing POP3 account to be directly converted to IMAP. To change protocols, you must remove the POP3 account from your email application and re-add it as an IMAP account.

Before continuing, ensure that you:

• Back up any important emails stored locally on your device.
• Confirm your email password is correct.
• Have access to your IMAP and SMTP server settings.

Retrieve Your IMAP Email Settings

1. Login to your Domains.co.za account.

2. From the dashboard, open the Manage Services menu and select the hosting service linked to your domain.

4. Click Manage next to the domain, then select Login to cPanel.

5. In cPanel, go to Email and click Email Accounts.

6. Find the email address you wish to update and click Connect Devices.

Make a note of the following details:

• Incoming mail server (IMAP).
• IMAP port numbers (SSL and non-SSL).
• Outgoing mail server (SMTP).
• SMTP port.
• Username (full email address).
• Encryption type (SSL/TLS).

These settings will be required when adding the account back to your email application.

Remove the Existing POP3 Account from Your Email Application

On the device or email application where the account is currently configured:

1. Open the email application’s Settings.

2. Select the POP3 email account.

3. Choose Remove, Delete, or Sign Out, depending on the application.

4. Confirm the removal.

NOTE:

This action does not delete the email account or mailbox from the server. It only removes the account from the device.

Re-Add the Email Account Using IMAP

1. Open your email application and select Add Account.
2. Enter your email address and password.
3. When prompted to select an account type, choose IMAP.
4. Enter the IMAP and SMTP settings you recorded earlier.
5. Complete the setup process.

IMAP synchronisation can take some time, especially if your mailbox contains numerous messages:

• Initial syncing can take several minutes.
• Older emails and folders may appear gradually.
• Folder structure and read status will sync automatically.

Once syncing is complete, your email account will be fully configured using IMAP.

Additional Information

Key Differences Between POP3 & IMAP

• POP3
  
  
  • Downloads emails to a single device.
  • Does not synchronise folders or read status.
  • Best for offline access and local storage.
    
    
• IMAP
  
  
  • Stores emails on the server.
  • Synchronises messages, folders, and read status across all devices.
  • Ideal for multi-device access.

IMAP Configuration Considerations

• An active internet connection is required to view and sync emails.
• Mailbox size is limited by your hosting plan’s storage allocation.
• Deleting an email on one device removes it from all connected devices.
• Large mailboxes may take longer to sync during initial setup.

Best Practices When Switching to IMAP

• Back up locally stored POP3 emails before removing the account.
• Use IMAP if you access email from more than one device.
• Enable SSL/TLS encryption for secure email communication.
• Regularly archive or delete old emails to manage mailbox size.
• Organise emails into folders to improve syncing performance.
• Monitor mailbox usage to avoid exceeding storage limits.

Common Behaviour After Switching to IMAP

• Emails previously stored only on your device may not appear on the server.
• Syncing may take time, depending on mailbox size and internet speed.
• All devices will display the same folders and messages once synced.

Login to Domains.co.za Account

1. Go to the Domains.co.za website Account Login page.

2. Enter your Email and Password and click the Sign In button.

3. You will see the Domains.co.za Dashboard, displaying the Manage Account menu on the left and your Account Information, Account Overview and Open Support Tickets on the right.