Start and stop the IMAP4 services

Applies to: Exchange Server 2013

By default, the two IMAP4 services, the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service and the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend service, aren't started on computers running Microsoft Exchange Server 2013. You must start these two services to allow your email clients to connect to Exchange using IMAP4. When these services are running, Exchange 2013 accepts unsecured IMAP4 client communications on port 143 and over port 993 using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

The Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service runs on Exchange 2013 computers that are running the Client Access server role. The Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend service runs on the Exchange 2013 computer that's running the Mailbox server role. In environments where the Client Access and Mailbox server roles are running on the same computer, you manage both services on the same computer.

For additional information related to POP3 and IMAP4, see POP3 and IMAP4 in Exchange Server 2013.

What do you need to know before you begin?

• Estimated time to complete: 2 minutes.

• You need to be assigned permissions before you can perform this procedure or procedures. To see what permissions you need, see the "POP3 and IMAP4 Permissions" section in the Clients and mobile devices permissions topic.

• For information about keyboard shortcuts that may apply to the procedures in this topic, see Keyboard shortcuts in the Exchange admin center.

Use the Microsoft Management Console Services snap-in to start or stop the IMAP4 services

To start the IMAP4 services:

1. On the computer running the Client Access server role, click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services. Right-click Microsoft Exchange IMAP4, and then click Start.

2. On the computer running the Mailbox server role, click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services. Right-click Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend, and then click Start.

To stop the IMAP4 services:

1. On the computer running the Client Access server role, click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services. Right-click Microsoft Exchange IMAP4, and then click Stop.

2. On the computer running the Mailbox server role, click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services. Right-click Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend, and then click Stop.

Use the Shell to start or stop the IMAP4 services

To start the IMAP4 services:

1. On the computer running the Client Access server role, from the Shell, run the following command to start the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service.

   Start-service msExchangeIMAP4
   

2. On the computer running the Mailbox server role, from the Shell, run the following command to start the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend service.

   Start-service msExchangeIMAP4BE
   

To stop the IMAP4 services:

1. On the computer running the Client Access server role, from the Shell, run the following command to stop the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service.

    Stop-service msExchangeIMAP4
   

2. On the computer running the Mailbox server role, from the Shell, run the following command to stop the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend service.

   Stop-service msExchangeIMAP4BE
   

Use net start to start or stop the IMAP4 services

To start the IMAP4 services:

1. On the computer running the Client Access server role, at the command prompt, run the following command to start the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service.

   net start msExchangeIMAP4
   

2. On the computer running the Mailbox server role, at the command prompt, run the following command to start the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend service.

   net start msExchangeIMAP4BE
   

To stop the IMAP4 services:

1. On the computer running the Client Access server role, at the command prompt, run the following command to stop the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service.

   Net Stop MSExchangeIMAP4
   

2. On the computer running the Mailbox server role, at the command prompt, run the following command to stop the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend service.

   Net Stop MSExchangeIMAP4BE
   

How do you know this worked?

1. On the Exchange Client Access server, open Windows Task Manager. On the Services tab, the status for MSExchangeIMAP4 will show as Running if the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service is running.

2. On the Exchange Mailbox server, open Windows Task Manager. On the Services tab, the status for MSExchangeIMAP4BE will show as Running if the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend service is running.