---
title: What is POP3
description: "Post Office Protocol version 3 (**POP3**) is a standard mail protocol used to receive emails from a remote server to a local email client. **POP3** allows you to download email messages on your local computer and read them even when you are…"
url: "https://support.bluspider.com/kb/what-is-pop3/"
updated: "2024-08-09"
category: Email
---

# What is POP3

Post Office Protocol version 3 (**POP3**) is a standard mail protocol used to receive emails from a remote server to a local email client. **POP3** allows you to download email messages on your local computer and read them even when you are offline.

The protocol has been around for a number of years and is the simplest of protocols used to manage connections to an email client.

POP3 clients typically delete the mail from the server once they've downloaded it; therefore it is not a good protocol to use if you receive mail on multiple machines.

Some newer versions of the protocol do offer you the option of leaving the mail on the server.