How to set up an IMAP account in Apple Mail on a Mac

1. Open Mail
2. Click Mail then Preferences
3. Select Accounts
4. Click the + to add an account
5. Enter your name, email address, and email password
6. Select IMAP as the account type
7. Enter the incoming and outgoing mail server information (mail.hvi.net)
8. Verify the settings and click Create

This should show you your folders and emails on the server.

Next you have to permanently save these messages to your computer so you can still access them after the server is taken offline.

Here’s how to do it:

• Create a local mailbox:
  • Open Apple Mail. 
  • Go to Mailbox > New Mailbox. 
  • Select “On My Mac” as the location. 
  • Name your new local mailbox. 
• Move messages to the local mailbox:
  • Select the messages you want to save from your IMAP folder. 
  • Drag and drop them into the newly created local mailbox. 

Key points to remember:

• “On My Mac” is key: Choosing “On My Mac” ensures the messages are stored locally on your computer and not on the email server. 
• Copying vs. moving: Dragging and dropping usually copies the messages, meaning they remain in the original IMAP folder as well. If you want to remove them from the server, you can use the “Move To” option instead. 
• Organizing your local mailbox: Create subfolders within your local mailbox to categorize your saved emails for easier access.