Outlook loses functionality with IMAP - help!

Question

I had to change my email from POP to IMAP and now I continually get error messages - usually saying I've "changed" the message (and no, i haven't!) and I can't figure out why! I can no longer categorize emails. I can't flag emails. (though sometimes i can) Many times, I can't even move an emails to a folders - or even delete or archive them without getting an error message. It's completely unmanageable. Sometimes email messages will accept some folder filing or flagging, and other times not -- and I can't figure why. I don't see a pattern - even after I've waited for things to sync. Outlook has lost most of it's functionality and purpose for me! I'm on 365, windows 10, using outlook accessing gmail. Had to change to IMAP so that I could continue to access gmail with Outlook. (or so I thought) -- I can't tell if this is Home or Business.

Answer 1

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But that doesn't resolve the categories function. The categories function does not seem to be live (icon is greyed out, etc).

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Correct, it won't fix categories. Because that is a different issue. They are not supported in IMAP accounts. but I have some workarounds in this article:

Outlook Categories, Flags, and IMAP Accounts (slipstick.com)

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I changed from POP to IMAP when Gmail required 2-step authentication, June 1,under advice from an IT person, who believed it was more secure. But you're telling me I CAN use 2-step w an outlook app password (however that is done! - another issue) - and not have to enter it repeatedly?

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If you want to use POP, you need to enable 2FA and then use an app password in outlook. This is because the POP protocol in Outlook does not support oAuth2, which is more secure than basic auth. IMAP protocol in Outlook 2016 and newer supports oAuth2.

Under most circumstances, Outlook should not ask for the app password after you enter it the first time.

Answer 2

This was partly helpful, thank you, but not entirely:

1. That little work-around to click on another email for a minute does take care of the flagging and moving of emails, thank you.
2. But that doesn't resolve the categories function. The categories function does not seem to be live (icon is greyed out, etc).

Curiously, if I move an IMAP email (the new account) to a POP account folder (my still existing but not active previous acct), I can tag the email with a category - then when I move the email BACK to the new IMAP account and it retains the category tagging!

Will categories even work at all with IMAP? (except by moving things to another account and then back?? which is alot of trouble)

3. I changed from POP to IMAP when Gmail required 2-step authentication, June 1,under advice from an IT person, who believed it was more secure. But you're telling me I CAN use 2-step w an outlook app password (however that is done! - another issue) - and not have to enter it repeatedly?

If I can get Outlook to function fully with IMAP (categories!), I'd probably keep it at this point, but if I can't and if POP really is secure and password entry easy, I would probably abandon IMAP and go back to POP.

Answer 3

I will be watching for an update. :)

Answer 4

I'll work on these and and see if I can get results. Thanks!

Answer 5

Hello Debodog1

That is a well-known IMAP bug. If you click off the message, either on another message or folder, then come back, you'll be able to make changes.

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Had to change to IMAP so that I could continue to access gmail with Outlook. (or so I thought)

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You can still use POP, but need to enable 2-step verification and use an app password in outlook.

-- Diane

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