Your users can send and receive Gmail with their preferred third-party email client. Depending on the client, they can use IMAP or POP to sync their mail.
What's the difference between IMAP and POP?
- IMAP–With IMAP, email messages and attachments stay on the mail server even after you open them on your device, for example a tablet or phone. To keep messages on the server so you can get them from any of your devices at any time, use IMAP
- POP–With POP, email messages and attachments are removed from the mail server after you get them on your device. Once the messages are removed from the server, you can't get them from any other device. If you get messages on a single device, and want messages deleted from the server after downloading, use POP.
Sync your account using IMAP or POP
For instructions on how to sync your Gmail account using an IMAP or POP email client, go to IMAP or POP.
Clients you can use with Google Workspace
Gmail supports IMAP clients that use IMAP4rev1, including:
- Microsoft Outlook
- Windows Mail
- Apple Mail
- Mozilla Thunderbird
You might be able to use clients not listed here.
Note: If IMAP clients use IMAP4rev1 incorrectly, some features might not work as expected. Google doesn't provide technical support for third-party IMAP clients. If you're having issues with your third-party IMAP client, contact support for the client.
Google Workspace Sync for Microsoft Outlook (GWSMO)
Microsoft Outlook users can synchronize their mail, contacts, and calendars with Google Workspace using Google Workspace Sync for Microsoft Outlook (GWSMO). For details, go to Synchronize Google Workspace with Outlook.
Microsoft Outlook for Mac doesn't support the Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) that GWSMO needs to communicate with Outlook. So, you can't use GWSMO to sync with Outlook for Mac. For sync options you can use with Outlook for Mac, go to Get started syncing Google Workspace data.
Related topics
- Read Gmail messages on other email clients using POP
- Sync Google Workspace Gmail with an IMAP client
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