SMTP is responsible for transmitting emails from your email client to the recipient’s email server, where it is then delivered to the recipient’s inbox. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) was created in 1981 and is used by mail servers to send, receive, and/or relay outgoing mail between email senders and receivers. When a user connects to the mail server using their Windows email client to retrieve their mail, the messages are downloaded from the mail server to the user’s hard drive. It works by receiving emails, storing them locally on your computer, and filtering them into the appropriate folders. POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) is one of the oldest email protocols still in use today. Any actions you take on one device, such as marking an email as read, will be reflected on all other devices. This means you can check your email from anywhere in the world, whether it’s on your phone, laptop, or a public library computer. Instead, you’re reading it directly from the email server.

When you read an email message using IMAP, you’re not downloading or storing it on your computer. IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is a technology that allows you to access your email from any device while keeping all your other devices in sync. Before diving into the best email apps and clients for Windows 11, it’s important to understand some key terms related to email.

Best email clients windows 10