You have choices. If you keep the account as IMAP, the account syncs to the server. Delete locally and it deletes on the server. That's how it works. So, what is your intent? Is it to delete from server and keep them? If so, setting a POP account will do that. Be very specific on what you want. If it isn't a straight IMAP or POP account, you can do compromises, but there will always be the chance of making an error. Let us know, and we will try to assist.

Hi David, my intent is for me to receive emails into Thunderbird and when I delete them they don't delete off the server. My biggest worry is that if I set a new pop account and then remove the existing imap account, that the emails in that account will get deleted off the server as I delete the account from Thunderbird (if that makes sense). Regards, Aaron.

Hi David, my intent is for me to receive emails into Thunderbird and when I delete them they don't delete off the server. My biggest worry is that if I set a new pop account and then remove the existing imap account, that the emails in that account will get deleted off the server as I delete the account from Thunderbird (if that makes sense). Regards, Aaron.

Interestingly IMAP is synchronized. You created an IMAP account and then posted here your aim is to not synchronize your mail to the sever, hence I guess you want to be using POP as it is not synchronized but you need to make those decision, it is not for someone else to tell you what you want. I suggest you read this support article on IMAP https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/imap-synchronization and then this wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_Office_Protocol to look at the comparative differences then make up your own mind which protocol suits you.

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Hi Matt, yes I created an IMAP account, however I did NOT know that it would synchronise that way. I've created many accounts in Thunderbird (usually connecting to Rackspace accounts which act like pop accounts) and never had this issue before. I wasn't expecting it. I'm also not looking for someone to make a decision for me, I'm just asking for advice. How to change the account, and once changed, not having the existing account remove all the emails from the server when I delete it. Thanks for the links, I'll check them out. Aaron.

If you remove the IMAP account from Thunderbird it has no effect on server. Providing you do not do anything to any emails.

Account Settings

• Select name of account and look on the right side.
• Click on the 'Delete' button located top right.

Check all passwords for that account and make sure they are removed.

• Settings > Privacy & Security
• scroll down to Passwords section
• click on 'Saved Passwords'
• If you see any lines where the Username = the gmail email address
• select those lines and click on 'Remove'
• click on 'Close'

Exit Thunderbird - wait a few moments for background processes to complete.

Please logon to gmail webmail account and check to see if the Pop option has been enabled. in gmail webmail account

• click on 'Settings' gear cog icon top right
• select 'See all settings'
• Select 'Forwarding and Pop/IMAP' tab
• select : Enable POP for all mail
• When messages are accessed with POP - select 'keep gmails copy in the Inbox'

Start Thunderbird

To avoid any possible issues you may find it easier to switch off the new Account Hub as it's still experimental.

• Settings > General
• Account Hub
• Uncheck the option 'Create accounts in the new Account Hub'

Check this:

• Settings > Privacy & Security
• select 'Accept cookies from sites'
• click on 'Exceptions' button
• Enter : https://accounts.google.com
• click on 'Allow'
• click on 'Save Changes'

Create the mail account

• Menu app icon > New Account > Email
• Enter name, email address and password
• Remember password' should be selected
• click on Continue

By default it will try to look for the IMAP settings. You will need to clickon the 'Manual Configuration' button Then swap the 'Protocol to say Pop Check all the pop settings are correct

Incoming : POP

• Server name: pop.gmail.com
• Port: 995
• Connection Security: SSL/TLS
• Authentication Method: Oauth2
• Username: full gmail email address

Outgoing SMTP

• Server name: smtp.gmail.com
• Port: 465
• Connection Security: SSL/TLS
• Authentication Method: Oauth2
• Username: full gmail email address

Click on 'Done' to create the account.

Immediately check you have the correct settings.

• In Account Setting
• for the pop gmail account
• select 'Server Settings'
• Make sure the 'Leave messages on server' option is selected.

Hi Toad-Hall (what a great name).

Thank you very much for your detailed answer. This is exactly the information I was hoping to find. I have to wait until I can get hold of the administrator for gmail access (so could be a day or two) before I can work through these steps but once I do I'll let you know how I went. regards, Aaron.