How to Access a Gmail Account With any Email Client via POP

Get your Gmail messages in another email program

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Updated on April 15, 2020

While it's possible to set up mail forwarding in Gmail, an easier way to get all of your messages in one inbox is to connect your Gmail account to your preferred email client via POP access. That way, you can enjoy the editing power of your desktop email client while retaining the archiving and search proficiency of Gmail's web interface.

Instructions in this article apply to the standard web version of Gmail. All steps are the same for all browsers.

How POP Access to Gmail Works

You can access your Gmail account directly via POP using any email client. Mail downloaded via POP can either be archived in Gmail, remain unread, or be trashed.

If you send a message through Gmail's SMTP server from the email program of your choice, a copy is automatically placed and archived in Gmail's Sent Mail folder; you do not have to add yourself as a Bcc: recipient.

Alternatively, you can connect to Gmail via IMAP, which gives you to access archived mail as well as your Gmail labels in a different email client.

How to Enable POP Access to Gmail

To enable POP access to your Gmail account with any email client:

Select the gear in the upper-right corner of Gmail and select Settings from the drop-down menu.
Select See all settings.
Select the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
Make sure Enable POP for all mail or Enable POP only for mail that arrives from now on is selected.
Next to When messages are accessed with POP, select what you want to happen to mail after it gets downloaded
Scroll to the bottom and select Save Changes.

For some email clients, you may also need to allow access for less secure apps in your Gmail account.

How to Set up Your Email Client for Gmail POP Access

The steps for setting up Gmail POP access differ depending on your email client. The following email programs provide streamlined integration with Gmail via POP: