# Reading unread mail for pop3 protocol
**URL:** https://community.automationedge.com/t/reading-unread-mail-for-pop3-protocol/159
**Category:** Get Help & Discuss
**Created:** [February 12, 2018, 7:10am UTC](https://community.automationedge.com/t/reading-unread-mail-for-pop3-protocol/159 "2018-02-12T07:10:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rohini.deshpande](https://community.automationedge.com/u/rohini.deshpande)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2018, 7:10am UTC](https://community.automationedge.com/t/reading-unread-mail-for-pop3-protocol/159/1 "2018-02-12T07:10:13Z")
Hello team,
Having issue in retrieving only unread mails from the inbox folder for pop3 protocol.
Not having access to IMAP protocol.
Tried with java as well as ae Studio but taking lot of time as it first downloads all mails read as well as unread mails.
Could anyone suggest better option for POP3 protocol
Regards,
Rohini
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### Author:  [@Trupti.Mohite](https://community.automationedge.com/u/Trupti.Mohite)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2018, 7:11am UTC](https://community.automationedge.com/t/reading-unread-mail-for-pop3-protocol/159/2 "2018-02-12T07:11:25Z")
POP3 does not have the capability to track whether messages are read or unread. [https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3576354/how-to-retrieve-just-unread-emails-using-pop3You](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3576354/how-to-retrieve-just-unread-emails-using-pop3You) can try batching and/or filtering.
Regards,
Trupti