Enable IMAP4 in Exchange 2013

Applies to: Exchange Server 2013

Learn how to enable IMAP4 client connectivity in Exchange 2016 using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) or the Exchange Management Shell (EMS).

When you installExchange Server 2016, IMAP4 client connectivity isn't enabled. To enable IMAP4 client connectivity, you need to start two IMAP services, the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service and the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend service. When you enable IMAP4, Exchange 2016 accepts unsecured IMAP4 client communications on port 143 and over port 993 using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

You manage both IMAP4 and IMAP4 Backend services on the same Exchange 2016 computer running the Mailbox server role. In Exchange 2016, Client Access services are part of the Mailbox server role so you no longer manage the services separately.

For more information about how to set up 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 (MMC) to enable IMAP4

On the computer running the Mailbox server role:

1. In the Services snap-in, in the console tree, click Services (Local).

2. In the result pane, right-click Microsoft Exchange IMAP4, and then click Properties.

3. In the result pane, right-click Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend, and then click Properties.

4. On the General tab, under Startup type, select Automatic, and then click Apply.

5. Under Service status, click Start, and then click OK.

Use the Exchange Management Shell to enable IMAP4

On the computer running the Mailbox server role:

1. Set the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service to start automatically.

   Set-service msExchangeIMAP4 -startuptype automatic
   

2. Start the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service.

   Start-service msExchangeIMAP4
   

3. Set the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend service to start automatically.

   Set-service msExchangeIMAP4BE -startuptype automatic
   

4. Start the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 Backend service.

   Start-service msExchangeIMAP4BE
   

How do you know this worked?

On the Exchange 2016 Mailbox server, open Windows Task Manager. On the Services tab, the status for MSExchangeIMAP4 and for MSExchangeIMAP4BE will show as Running if IMAP4 is enabled.