What is 'recent mode?'
If you're accessing Gmail on multiple clients through POP, Gmail's 'recent mode' makes sure that all messages are made available to each client, rather than only to the first client to access new mail.
Recent mode fetches the last 30 days of mail, regardless of whether it's been sent to another POP client already.
Setting up 'recent mode'
In your POP client settings, replace 'username@gmail.com' in the 'Username' or 'Email' field with 'recent:username@gmail.com'
Once you enable recent mode, please be sure to configure your POP client to leave messages on the server according to the instructions below:
- Outlook or Outlook Express: on the Advanced tab, check the box next to 'Leave a copy of messages on the server.'
- Apple Mail: on the Advanced tab, remove the check next to 'Remove copy from server after retrieving a message.'
- Thunderbird: on the Server Settings tab, check the box next to 'Leave messages on server.'