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To Leave Internet Messages on the Server

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› Outlook › Email › To Leave Internet Messages on the Server

Last reviewed on January 14, 2019     20 Comments

Applies to: Outlook 2016 (Win), Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007

The steps you need to follow to leave POP3 email on the server depends on your version of Outlook.

In Outlook 2010 and newer, the default is to leave all mail on the server for 14 days. This change was made to prevent problems when people set up new accounts and wanted mail left on the server but opened Outlook before setting Outlook to leave mail on the server. Once it's downloaded by POP3, it usually can't be put back. See Restore POP3 Mail to Server for methods.

Outlook users who do not want mail left on the server for 14 days will need to go into More Settings and change it.

Outlook 2016's simplified account dialog

With Outlook 2016's simplified account dialog, the leave on server option is visible as soon as you open the account settings.

  1. Click on the File tab
  2. Click Account Settings button
  3. Double click on the POP3 account or select it and click Change
    double click on the pop account
  4. Choose or change your Mail settings
    change leave on server settings in outlook 2016

To change the settings in Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013

These steps also work with the older account dialog in Outlook 2016.

  1. Click on the File tab
  2. Click Account Settings button
  3. Double click on the POP3 account or select it and click Change
  4. Click More Settings
  5. Click on the Advanced tab
    more settings advanced dialog
  6. Leave a copy of messages on the server settings at the bottom of the dialog.

Only POP3 email can be left on the server or deleted. IMAP, Exchange server, and Outlook.com account types are server-based accounts and mail is always left on the server. If you want to delete the mail from the server with these account types you need to use rules to move your email to a local pst file.

The dialog is identical in all versions of Outlook. If your dialog does not look like the one below, verify your account is a POP3 email account. This option is only available for POP3 accounts.

Leave mail on server

Outlook 2007

Go to Outlook 2007's Tools, Account Settings.

With the Account Settings dialog open, the steps are the same as Outlook 2010 and newer: select the account and click Change, then click More Settings. Look on the Advanced tab.

Outlook 2007 More Settings Tutorial

With the exception of the location of Account Settings command, the steps are the same for Outlook 2010 and newer.

More Information

  • Internet Mail Issues with Microsoft Outlook
  • Restore POP3 Mail to Server
  • Configuring More Email Account Settings (Video tutorial)

To Leave Internet Messages on the Server was last modified: January 14th, 2019 by Diane Poremsky
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Related Posts:

  • Deliver All POP3 Accounts to One Outlook Inbox
  • Configuring More Email Account Settings
  • Messages Aren't Saved in the Sent Items Folder
  • Leave on Server Setting and Multiple Email Accounts

About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book. She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

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elina robin (@guest_211707)
August 14, 2018 3:37 pm
#211707

To Leave Internet Messages on the Server

0
0
Reply
Joginder Singh (@guest_207724)
July 16, 2017 2:31 am
#207724

get me error send & receive massage : the operation failed. An object cold not fund

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Joginder Singh
July 16, 2017 8:34 am
#207725

What are you doing when you get that message?

0
0
Reply
Nicole Whitehead (@guest_204497)
February 9, 2017 7:15 pm
#204497

I need this for Outlook 2016, can you help????

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Nicole Whitehead
February 10, 2017 12:26 am
#204500

The steps are the same as for the other versions - open File, Account settings. Double click on the account then More settings, Advanced tab.

0
-2
Reply
Sue Churn (@guest_202054)
October 3, 2016 9:02 pm
#202054

Hi I have 2007 outlook and have recently been forced to IMAP by my ISP, how do I delete the message from the servier

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Sue Churn
October 4, 2016 11:24 am
#202070

you need to delete it from outlook or move it to a pst file then purge the folder.
https://www.outlook-tips.net/tips/outlook-imap-accounts/

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0
Reply
Sky (@guest_199375)
June 15, 2016 8:42 am
#199375

outlook 2016 dos not have this settings at all

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Sky
June 15, 2016 8:52 am
#199376

It does, but the account needs to be set up as POP3. Auto account setup defaults to IMAP if it's supported by the server and imap always leaves mail on the server.

1
0
Reply
Bill Shanner (@guest_178314)
July 21, 2013 9:03 am
#178314

Done this many times before but never on Win8 Outlook2013. My problem is the Internet E-mail settings dialog box just does not have the delivery section. Not sure what is wrong

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0
Reply
Diane Poremsky (@guest_178316)
Reply to  Bill Shanner
July 21, 2013 12:17 pm
#178316

What type of email account? Only POP3 accounts have the leave on server settings.

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0
Reply
Bobbie (@guest_176651)
May 7, 2013 9:50 am
#176651

There are no settings in the final box as stated above, using Outlook 2013....only has info pertaining to deleted messages and says nothing about "leave on server".

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0
Reply
Diane Poremsky (@guest_176653)
Reply to  Bobbie
May 7, 2013 10:12 am
#176653

Are you using a POP3 or IMAP account? IMAP accounts always leave mail on the server.

1
0
Reply
James Tyree (@guest_174483)
March 6, 2013 8:46 am
#174483

I have the same problem, "I change the setting to "leave the message on the server" but it won't stick. Have the same problem with my laptop. I'm running Windows 8 on both. What is the fix?

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0
Reply
Diane Poremsky (@guest_174497)
Reply to  James Tyree
March 6, 2013 1:49 pm
#174497

Are you using any registry cleaner or registry protection software?

Does it stick if you close Outlook and restart using Run as Administrator? Hold Ctrl+Shift as you right click on the Outlook shortcut to restart. After changing leave on server, you can restart Outlook normally.

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0
Reply

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