Email Sync Problems

How to Convert Outlook 2021 from POP to IMAP Without Losing Data

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to change their Outlook 2021 Classic email account protocol from POP to IMAP while keeping all existing local data, including folders, contacts, and calendar rules, intact.

Product: Outlook 2021 Classic
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Upgrading email sync protocols to IMAP to ensure better synchronization across multiple devices without disrupting locally stored information.
Observed behavior: Outlook does not allow a direct conversion of an existing POP account to IMAP, requiring a workaround to add the new account type before removing the old one.

Before you start

Verify with your email provider that your account supports IMAP, and ensure you know your IMAP incoming and outgoing server settings before proceeding.

Solution 1Recommended

Add IMAP Account via Control Panel and Safely Remove POP

Since Outlook restricts direct conversion from POP to IMAP, you must add the IMAP configuration alongside the old one, set it as default, and then remove the POP account while preserving its data file.

Microsoft Outlook does not provide a simple toggle to change an existing account's protocol from POP to IMAP. Instead, you need to manually add the IMAP version of your email and set it as the default before removing the old POP setup.

Close Outlook

Close Microsoft Outlook completely to ensure no data files are locked during the configuration process.

Open Mail settings

Open the Windows Control Panel, search for 'Mail' in the top-right search box, and click on 'Mail (Microsoft Outlook)'.

Access Email Accounts

In the Mail Setup window, click on the 'Email Accounts' button to view your current list of configured email profiles.

Add the IMAP account

Click 'New' under the Email tab, enter your email credentials, and configure the account using your provider's IMAP server settings.

Set IMAP as default

Once the IMAP account is successfully added, select it from the list and click 'Set as Default'.

Remove the POP account

Select your old POP account from the list and click 'Remove'. Your local data (saved in the .pst file) will remain intact on your computer.

Local Data Preservation: Removing the POP account from this menu only severs the connection; it does not delete your original Outlook Data File (.pst). Your contacts, calendars, and previously downloaded emails will remain safely accessible on your hard drive.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my calendar and contacts when switching from POP to IMAP?

No, as long as you do not manually delete the original Outlook Data File (.pst) associated with your POP account from your hard drive. Your contacts and calendar items are saved locally in this file and will remain fully accessible in Outlook.

Why can't I just change the incoming server settings from POP to IMAP in Outlook?

Outlook permanently locks the account type (POP or IMAP) once the email profile is created. To change the protocol, you are required to add the email address as a brand new IMAP account and then remove the obsolete POP configuration.

How do I move my old POP emails to the new IMAP server?

After adding the IMAP account in Outlook, open your old POP inbox from the local .pst file in the sidebar, select the emails or folders you want to upload, and drag them into the new IMAP inbox. Outlook will then sync these emails up to the IMAP server.

What happens to my custom email rules after making the switch?

Because Outlook treats the newly added IMAP account as an entirely separate mailbox, email rules tied specifically to your old POP inbox might need to be recreated or manually updated to apply to the new IMAP folders.

Outlook & Email Problems