When using POP3, you have access only to the Inbox folder of the mailbox. If SpamAssassin is enabled for a mailbox, all incoming messages that get filtered as spam will go to the Junk Mail folder of that mailbox. If you use POP3 for a mailbox protected by SpamAssassin, all messages that get filtered as spam will not be downloaded to your device.

To get around this limitation of POP3, you have several options:

  • Switch from POP3 to IMAP 
1. Set up a new IMAP account for your mailbox in your e-mail program. You can check our step-by-step instructions on Configuring an e-mail program (Outlook, Thunderbird, Mail, etc).
2. Use your e-mail program to manually move the messages from the POP3 account to the IMAP account.
3. Delete the POP3 account. 
Note: To see if IMAP is a viable option for you, please check the article on Differences between POP and IMAP.
 
Most e-mail programs don't provide an easy way of switching from POP3 to IMAP, but you can use this workaround to switch to IMAP, while keeping the messages that are already downloaded:
 
1. Set up a new IMAP account for your mailbox in your e-mail program. You can use our step-by-step instructions on Configuring an e-mail program (Outlook, Thunderbird, Mail, etc).
2. Use your e-mail program to manually move the messages from the POP3 account to the IMAP account.
3. Delete the POP3 account.

  • Use the Webmail interface to check the Junk Mail folder

Regularly check the Junk Mail folder through the Webmail interface and move any legitimate messages to the Inbox folder. You will then be able to download them to your device through POP3.

Note: The default setting of the Junk Mail folder is to keep messages for 7 days. We would recommend that you change the Junk Mail folderis enabled, keep messages for setting for your mailbox to 30 days through the Mail Manager section of the hosting Control Panel. This will allow you to check the Junk Mail folder less frequently.

  • Disable SpamAssassin for your mailbox

Generally, we would recommend against disabling SpamAssassin, as it protects your mailboxes from unsolicited messages. If you decide to do it anyway, you can check our article on disabling SpamAssassin