First, make sure that POP is enabled in Gmail. Next, check that you are using the correct incoming mail server port and encryption: port 995 with SSL. If the problem persists, try running a telnet test to determine whether the port is blocked on your network.

      To better diagnose the problem, you'll need to run a telnet test, which will check that your computer can contact our POP servers.

      If you're running Windows Vista, you'll first need to enable the Telnet feature:
         1. Click the Start button, then Control Panel, and Programs.
         2. Click Turn Windows Features On or Off.
         3. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
         4. In the Windows Features box, check the box labeled Telnet Client, and click OK. (It may take a few minutes for the installation to complete.)

      To run the telnet test on a Windows computer:
         1. Open the Start menu, and select Run.
         2. Enter command in the Open: field, and click OK.
         3. Enter 'telnet pop.gmail.com 995,' and hit Enter.

      If the telnet test produces an error, it indicates that your network is blocking access to Gmail's POP servers. Please contact your local network administrator or your Internet Service Provider's customer support department for further instructions.

      If the telnet test clears, the server errors you're experiencing are most often temporary and will resolve themselves within 24 hours. If you continue to experience difficulties, please try our troubleshooter.