This article describes some connection methods for email at Virginia Tech. If the method is disabled, then an individual is not able to use it to check their email. If the method is unsupported, Virginia Tech is unable to provide technical support to check email using this method. This article is not intended to cover all available connection methods, describe these methods in detail, or provide information on how to connect using the supported methods. To understand about recommended clients, please see Understanding the Best Email Clients for Checking Mail at Virginia Tech.

MAPI for Exchange Online

The MAPI connection method for Exchange Online provides a more secure and feature rich user experience, is considered the recommended connection method for Exchange Online, and is supported at Virginia Tech. Reasons why MAPI is considered a better connection method include:

• Performance and synchronization improvements: With direct server-to-client communication users will experience less delays in receiving messages and better synchronization.
• Enhanced support and management: Supporting consistent configurations across MAPI clients can improve security, compliance, and centralized management.
• Security: using MAPI clients ensures support of advanced security features like integrated multi-factor authentication (MFA) and best security policy practices including data-loss prevention (DLP) mechanisms.
• Advanced integration: these clients also offer more comprehensive integration with Microsoft's ecosystem, including features like offline access, rich calendaring, and advanced mailbox capabilities.

IMAP

IMAP is not supported in VT's Exchange Online environment. Therefore, IT Support is unable to provide any support for connecting with this method.

IMAP and POP 3

POP 3 is not supported in VT's Exchange Online environment. Therefore, IT Support is unable to provide any support for connecting with this method.

App Passwords 

App passwords are not supported in VT's Gmail environment. Therefore, IT Support is unable to provide any support for connecting with this method.

POP Fetch

Starting January 2026, Gmail will no longer provide support for the following feature, 

• Check mail from other accounts: Fetching emails from third-party accounts into your Gmail account, with POP Fetch, will no longer be supported.

Therefore, IT Support is unable to provide any support for connecting with this method.

Options include

• Check your account(s) separately at their respective 3rd party web interface(s) and maintain best security practices
• Use a dedicated email client (other than Gmail through a browser) to check all accounts using IMAP or the settings as recommended by the third party.
• Add your account to the Gmail app (mobile): You can use a standard IMAP connection to continue to read and send emails from your other account in the Gmail app for Android, iPhone, and iPad, which uses a standard IMAP connection. Learn how to add another email account to the Gmail app.