Note, that when you use POP3 to connect to your email account, messages are downloaded locally and removed from the email server. POP3 allows you to download email messages on your local computer and read them even when you are offline. Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3) is a standard mail protocol used to receive emails from a remote server to a local email client. What is POP3 and which are the default POP3 ports Read on to see which configuration will best serve your particular email needs. Each one of them has a specific function and way of work. This tutorial explains the most commonly used Email protocols on the internet – POP3, IMAP, and SMTP.