# Support IMAP standard

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/support-imap-standard/289333>\
**Category:** Feature\
**Created:** [December 20, 2023, 2:23pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/support-imap-standard/289333 "2023-12-20T14:23:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

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**Author:** ![hellekin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/hellekin/32/51636_2.png) [@hellekin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hellekin)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 2:23pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/support-imap-standard/289333/1 "2023-12-20T14:23:26Z")

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Continuing the discussion from [Is there a way to use IMAP instead of POP3 for replies by email?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-use-imap-instead-of-pop3-for-replies-by-email/279012/5):

> [@Is there a way to use IMAP instead of POP3 for replies by email?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-use-imap-instead-of-pop3-for-replies-by-email/279012/5):
>
> The easiest thing to do is [Configure direct-delivery incoming email for self-hosted sites](https://meta.discourse.org/t/straightforward-direct-delivery-incoming-mail/49487)
> 
> It’s much easier than maintaining an IMAP server anyway.

Well, this is an opinion. Actually, with [Stalwart Mail](https://stalw.art), it became far easier to maintain an IMAP service than using an extra container and forwarding email. It’s also more standard.

I just rebuilt my email infrastructure to discover, like @jeanas, that IMAP support is limited to GMail. Limiting IMAP to GMail is hindering the email federation. Please consider looking into solid IMAP implementation of Stalwart Mail.

Note that Stalwart Mail also support [JMAP protocol](https://stalw.art/jmap/), which might be more interesting for Discourse, if you want to avoid IMAP.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/support-imap-standard/289333)._