Configure POP3 and IMAP4 message retrieval format options

Applies to: Exchange Server 2013

You can configure the message retrieval format for users who connect to their email using POP3 and IMAP4. Message retrieval options can be configured at the server level using the Exchange admin center (EAC) or the Exchange Management Shell, and can be configured at the user level using the Shell.

For more information on POP3 and IMAP4, see POP3 and IMAP4 in Exchange Server 2013.

What do you need to know before you begin?

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Set the POP3 message retrieval format at the server level

Use the EAC to set the POP3 message retrieval format at the server level

  1. In the EAC, navigate to Servers > Servers.

  2. In the list of servers, select the Client Access server, and then select Edit Edit icon..

  3. On the server properties page, select POP3.

  4. Under Message MIME format, choose from the following settings:

    • Text

    • HTML

    • HTML and alternative text

    • Enriched text

    • Enriched text and alternative text

    • Best body format

    • TNEF

  5. Select Save.

After you've set the message retrieval format settings for POP3, you must restart the POP3 services for the settings to take effect. For more information about how to restart the POP3 services, see Start and stop the POP3 services.

Use the Shell to set the POP3 message retrieval format at the server level

This example sets the message retrieval format option to text only for all POP3 users on server CAS01.

Set-PopSettings -Server CAS01 -MessageRetrievalMimeFormat TextOnly

You can choose from the following settings. You can specify the value for the MessageRetrievalMimeFormat parameter by using a numerical value or a text string.

Message format Value
Text 0 or TextOnly
HTML 1 or HtmlOnly
HTML and alternative text 2 or HtmlAndTextAlternative
Enriched text 3 or TextEnriched
Enriched text and alternative text 4 or TextEnrichedAndTextAlternative
Best body format 5 or BestBodyFormat
TNEF 6 or Tnef

After you've set the message retrieval format settings for POP3, you must restart the POP3 services for the settings to take effect. For more information about how to restart the POP3 services, see Start and stop the POP3 services.

For more information about syntax and parameters, see Set-PopSettings.

How do you know you've successfully set POP3 message retrieval settings on a server?

To verify that you've successfully set POP3 message retrieval settings on a server:

  1. Run the following command in the Shell.

    Get-PopSettings | format-list
    
  2. Verify the MessageRetrievalMimeFormat setting is correct.

Set the IMAP4 message retrieval format at the server level

Use the EAC to set the IMAP4 message retrieval format at the server level

  1. In the EAC, navigate to Servers > Servers.

  2. In the list of servers, select the Client Access server, and then select Edit Edit icon..

  3. On the server properties page, select IMAP4.

  4. Under Message MIME format, choose from the following settings:

    • Text

    • HTML

    • HTML and alternative text

    • Enriched text

    • Enriched text and alternative text

    • Best body format

    • TNEF

  5. Select Save.

After you've set the message retrieval format settings for IMAP4, you must restart the IMAP4 services for the settings to take effect. For information about how to restart the IMAP4 services, see Start and stop the IMAP4 services.

Use the Shell to set the IMAP4 message retrieval format at the server level

This example sets the message retrieval format option to text only for all IMAP4 users on server CAS01.

Set-ImapSettings -Server CAS01 -MessageRetrievalMimeFormat TextOnly

You can choose from the following settings. You can specify the value for the MessageRetrievalMimeFormat parameter by using a numerical value or a text string.

Message format Value
Text 0 or TextOnly
HTML 1 or HtmlOnly
HTML and alternative text 2 or HtmlAndTextAlternative
Enriched text 3 or TextEnriched
Enriched text and alternative text 4 or TextEnrichedAndTextAlternative
Best body format 5 or BestBodyFormat
TNEF 6 or Tnef

After you've set the message retrieval format settings for IMAP4, you must restart the IMAP4 services for the settings to take effect. For more information about how to restart the IMAP4 services, see Start and stop the IMAP4 services.

For more information about syntax and parameters, see Set-ImapSettings.

How do you know you've successfully set IMAP4 message retrieval settings on a server?

To verify that you've successfully set IMAP4 message retrieval settings on a server:

  1. Run the following command in the Shell.

    Get-ImapSettings | format-list
    
  2. Verify the MessageRetrievalMimeFormat setting is correct.

Set the POP3 message retrieval format for a user

Use the Shell to set the POP3 message retrieval format for a user

This example sets the message retrieval format to text only for POP3 access for USER01.

Set-CASMailbox -Identity USER01 -PopMessagesRetrievalMimeFormat TextOnly

You can choose from the following settings. You can specify the value for the PopMessagesRetrievalMimeFormat parameter by using a numerical value or a text string.

Message format Value
Text 0 or TextOnly
HTML 1 or HtmlOnly
HTML and alternative text 2 or HtmlAndTextAlternative
Enriched text 3 or TextEnriched
Enriched text and alternative text 4 or TextEnrichedAndTextAlternative
Best body format 5 or BestBodyFormat
TNEF 6 or Tnef

After you've set the message retrieval format settings for POP3, you must restart the POP3 services for the settings to take effect. For more information about how to restart the POP3 services, see Start and stop the POP3 services.

For more information about syntax and parameters, see Set-CASMailbox.

How do you know you've successfully set POP3 message retrieval format options for a user?

To verify that you've successfully set POP3 message retrieval format options for a user:

  1. Run the following command in the Shell.

    Get-CASMailbox <identity> | format-list
    
  2. Verify the value for PopMessagesRetrievalMimeFormat is correct.

Set the IMAP4 message retrieval format for a user

Use the Shell to set the IMAP4 message retrieval format for a user

This example sets the message retrieval format to text only for IMAP4 access for USER01.

Set-CASMailbox -Identity USER01 -ImapMessagesRetrievalMimeFormat TextOnly

You can specify the value for the ImapMessagesRetrievalMimeFormat parameter by using a numerical value or a text string.

Message format Value
Text 0 or TextOnly
HTML 1 or HtmlOnly
HTML and alternative text 2 or HtmlAndTextAlternative
Enriched text 3 or TextEnriched
Enriched text and alternative text 4 or TextEnrichedAndTextAlternative
Best body format 5 or BestBodyFormat
TNEF 6 or Tnef

After you've set the message retrieval format settings for IMAP4, you must restart the IMAP4 services for the settings to take effect. For more information about how to restart the IMAP4 services, see Start and stop the IMAP4 services.

For more information about syntax and parameters, see Set-CASMailbox.

How do you know you've successfully set IMAP4 message retrieval format options for a user?

To verify that you've successfully set IMAP4 message retrieval format options for a user:

  1. Run the following command in the Shell.

    Get-CASMailbox <identity> | format-list
    
  2. Verify the value for ImapMessagesRetrievalMimeFormat is correct.

For more information

After you set the message retrieval format for IMAP4 and POP3 users, you may also want to:

Enable or disable POP3 access for a user

Enable or disable IMAP4 access for a user

Configure calendar options for IMAP4

Configure calendar options for POP3