When you set up email address with Gmail, you effectively have your email in the “cloud”. Being able to access your email anywhere, anytime is fantastic, but what if the cloud disappeared???
I am not at all thinking that this will happen with Gmail, but I do keep lots of precious information in Gmail. I would hate to lose this information, so to take the right precautions, I really need to be backing up my Gmail.
If like me, you set up a email address with gmail after already having another established email address, you will already have a mail client that you use. For example Apple Mail 3.0, Outlook, Thunderbird 2.0 or Windows Mail.
To start the process of backing up Gmail, you will need to configure another email client (as listed above) to receive your Gmail account. Then just follow these steps:
1. Adjusting Settings
Once in your Gmail account go to settings at the top right hand corner, as illustrated by the red arrow.
2. Forwarding and POP/IMAP
Click on to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab as highlighted by the red arrow.
3. Enable POP
Click on the option to enable POP for all mail. This will even include even mail that’s already been downloaded online in your Gmail account.
4. Save Changes
Make sure that you scroll to the bottom of the page and click on save changes.
5. Go To Email Client
All you need to do then is open the mail client that you have configured for Gmail, and check for new messages. It may take some time for your messages from Gmail to be downloaded if you have not done this in a while. But be patient and you will soon have all your emails down from the cloud and a back up copy if you wish!