Pop is no less secure than Imap. If using pop then you need to select the 'Less secure apps' option in gmail and use your gmail password.

If you want to use pop and use a phone, then you may need to set up 'Two step verification', in this instance you would need to create an 'application specific password' to use in Thunderbird instead of your gmail password.

Make sure you are using a secure SSL/TLS or STARTTLS connection.

If you access email using other devices such as a phone, or another computer then perhaps imap is prefered as it helps to keep all in synch. Imap can be set up to use OAuth2. You create mail account using password and select Password Manager to remember the password. When Thunderbird attempts to locate configuration settings, imap and OAuth2 is selected. Gmail will then ask you to login via pop up window and then a special OAuth2 password is stored in Thunderbird to use instead.

If you only use one computer then it is down to a preference on how you like to work. Pop downloads to your computer, so they are automatically stored in mbox files on your computer in your thunderbird profile. You can choose whether to keep copies on the server and when they get deleted. You can delete off Thunderbird and still keep copies on server.

Imap offers a remote view of folders on the server. Headers are downloaded and when you click to open an email it is retrieved from the server for reading. If you want to keep downloaded copies, then you need to make sure you synchronise folders for offline use to download emails into mbox files in the profile. Note: If you delete in Thunderbird it will delete from server as well, because the folders are , in effect, one and the same. So if you want to keep emails on computer, but delete off server, then you have to get copies of emails into 'Local Folders' mail account before deleting them from imap folder.

Either way, you would still need to backup emails.

If you used imap with verizon, see if you have full downloaded copies all emails by going into offline mode. If you can still read emails then right click on emails and select to copy to Local Folders.

If verizon was pop, you can copy emails into Local Folders.

Create the gmail account via this: 'Menu icon' > 'New Message' > 'Existing mail account'

Set gmail as the default mail account. Right click on mail account in folder pane and select 'Settings' make sure gmail account name is selected click on 'Account Actions' select : 'Set as default'

Then remove the verizon mail account. select 'Verizon mail account name' click on 'Account Actions' select 'Remove Account'

click on OK

General info on gmail and imap:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-and-gmail
• https://support.google.com/mail/answer/78892?hl=en

Advise you do not subscribe to see 'All Mail' folder. Gmail puts everything in the 'All Mail' fodler and they use it as the Archive folder. You only see emails appearing as if in other folders by setting labels on the emails eg: Inbox, Important

Are you aware that you do not have to lose your Verizon account? You can migrate to aol and the only thing you need to change is the pasword. "If you previously used a third party program to access your mail, you simply need to update your password to the one you created when you registered with AOL Mail. ....." Have you read the options available? Some good info here: * https://help.aol.com/articles/verizon-move-to-aol-mail-faq

Hi Toad-Hall!

Wow - thanks for your answers!

So, to answer your last question first, yes, I was aware of the AOL option, but my friends experienced a mixed bag of results, ranging from no problems to a nightmare from a very warm place! I decided that now was as good a time as any to switch to Gmail so that when AOL stops providing free mail service (because I am a pessimist, hey, it could happen!) I would not have to make another switch.

Now, onto the rest of the situation - my Gmail is not associated with my phone, and I do not intend to check mail from there so that is not an issue for me. But, I am very surprised to hear you say that POP and IMAP are equally secure. I guess when it says to "allow less secure apps" that to me means not as secure. I know that the Gmail page advises against using the less secure apps.

My Verizon accounts (which by the way are gone as of June 24, so I am not able to access that option anymore, but it is not a problem, since everything was downloaded) were using POP.

So, now I guess I need to reconsider my plans. If I were to stay with POP, then I would not need to delete my Verizon profiles, just not have them be the default. Hmmm... decisions, decisions. I do have the luxury of time, since at the moment I am reading messages online.

Do you prefer POP to IMAP?

Lets be clear. Google invented the term "less secure apps" and yahoo copied it. But the security is not in the protocol of IMAP or POP. It is in the authentication methods used.

I do not pretend to know how the oAuth2.0 authentication that Google prefer works. I have is from those that do know that it is somewhat more secure than a user name and password. But the reality is that the differences are not as great as we are lead to believe.

In the case of email oAuth2.0 requires the email client to act like a browser. This is because the protocol was designed for web browsing authentication, not email. It could be argued that having non browser developers fiddling with browser code makes the risks greater, not less.

In the end, I personally use less serure apps and a user name and password with google and I put up with their automated whining. For my purposes I gain nothing from using IMAP on my Google account other than a lt of overheads that slow things down. IF Google were serious about security and the suposed risks oAuth2.0 resolves, they would implement oAuth2.0 for POP. That they do not bother speaks only to their profits (no advertising in POP and no emails left on the server to get data from). and the fact their phone apps use IMAP.

Hi Matt! Thanks so much for your reply! I have been reading a little and am starting to see the complaints about Google and understand what you are talking about better now. I am so appreciative of people like you that are willing to take the time to help people like me with clear answers! now I need to ponder and make my decision. Thanks again!! Have a happy 4th!