Leaving Messages On The Server

When you retrieve e-mail messages from a POP3 server (POP3 is a common protocol that is used to retrieve e-mail messages from an Internet e-mail server.) e-mail account, the messages are deleted from the e-mail server by default after they are downloaded to your computer. For many people, this works great.

However, if you want to check your e-mail from multiple computers, or be able to see new messages in webmail while your mail client is running, you must configure your mail client to not delete the messages from our e-mail servers. This scenario is most common for people who want to check their home e-mail account from work and download the messages for permanent storage on their home computer.

When you leave messages on our e-mail servers, you can choose from several options to delete your messages. To make your choice, you need to consider several factors about your e-mail usage, such as how long you want the messages to be accessible from multiple computers and the storage limits imposed by your e-mail server administrator. If you exceed your storage limit, you might be unable to receive new messages or might be charged additional fees.

Please remember that this is a function of your mail client and not our servers.  We cannot control how your mail client interacts with our servers, and technical support may not be able to help you with the more advanced functions of your particular mail client.

Obviously, we cannot support all mail client settings, but we have listed for reference the inctructions for Microsoft Outlook.  As this is the most popular email client, there is a good chance that these instructions will apply to you.

1. On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts.
2. Click View or change existing e-mail accounts, and then click Next.
3. Select your ISP account, and then click Change.
4. Click More Settings.
5. Click the Advanced tab, and under Delivery, select the Leave a copy of messages on the server check box.

   

6. Select one of the following options:
   • Remove from server after x days   E-mail messages are downloaded to your computer but remain on the e-mail server for the number of days that you specify. This is the most common setting for people who want to read their messages at work but also download them for permanent storage on their home computer. We recommend that you choose the smallest number of days that suits your needs. The longer you leave messages on your e-mail server, the greater the risk of exceeding your mailbox size quota.
   • Remove from server when deleted from 'Deleted Items'   E-mail messages are downloaded to your computer but also remain on the e-mail server indefinitely until you delete the e-mail message in Outlook and empty the Deleted Items folder. Just deleting the message doesn't remove the message from the e-mail server.  This option is not a good one if you keep most of your messages.

   If you do not select either check box, messages are left on the server indefinitely. You will eventually exceed your mailbox quota, unless you connect to the e-mail server from another computer that has Outlook configured to remove messages from the e-mail server.

7. Click OK, and then click Finish.