HT201320 Does my email service provider have to provide the ability for me to create an IMAP email account in order for me to create Sub-folders within Apple Mail?

Question

Hi, Apple Mail provides a function to create sub-folders within my mailbox so that I can group emails of similar subjects or from the same sender. My service provider only provides POP email protocol and the New Folder button does not appear in my Apple Mail account for that service provider. Icloud provides the opportunity for the iPad user to select between POP and IMAP. I can select IMAP and the New Folder button appears allowing me to create sub-folders within the icloud email account. Does this mean I cannot create sub-folders in my email account unless my service provider provides customers with the option of creating an IMAP email account?
This appears to be a problem for quite a few Apple Mail users, but service providers appear reticent to provide a response other than 'use Microsoft Exchange / Hotmail, Google GMail, or some other third party email service provider'. This is why I have chosen icloud as my email service provider. It is Apple and therefore Apple supports it. I have been a Telstra customer for over 15 years and they informed me today, strongly, that they support their own products and services, not Apple products, even though Telstra sell them. When I asked the Telstra Customer Support Manager whether they support Telstra customers, I was informed 'no, because the Telstra customer is not a Telstra product or service'. I have since cancelled my Telstra email account and am in the process of cancelling all of my Telstra services.

Answer 1

Apple Sceptic wrote:
Does this mean I cannot create sub-folders in my email account unless my service provider provides customers with the option of creating an IMAP email account?
Yes. That is what it means. You need an IMAP account in order to create sub folders on the iPad.