Foxmail Review
Although the most accessible way to access our email accounts from any platform is by using the provider's website, desktop clients have their own one-of-a-kind advantages. The most important one is probably the ability to manage multiple accounts from different mail providers in a single place.
Foxmail is an email client capable of handling multiple accounts simultaneously. It offers support for POP3, IMAP and Exchange server types, and includes a wide array of useful options to manage emails easier, such as a calendar, duplicate mail finder, alarms and mouse gestures. The utility is wrapped in a pleasant and intuitive environment that should be satisfactory for all types of PC users, novices and experienced ones alike.
NOTE: Foxmail was tested on an Intel Core i5-3470 with CPU @3.20GHz and 12GB RAM, running Windows 8.1 Pro.
Installation and interface
The setup procedure is rapid and does not require configuration. At the first run, it is necessary to create en email account. Everything is simple enough, but the only problem is that Foxmail is, by default, in Chinese (its setup pack too). Non-speaking users of this language are most likely to have a hard time and maybe even give up on the tool before finding the Options panel with the English option.
![Showing the interface in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail interface.jpg)
Account configuration
Worth mentioning is that Foxmail automatically detects the server configuration based on the specified email address and password. It does not automatically apply these settings, however, but lets the user make any changes if necessary. It is possible to edit the account display name, sender name (email address by default), along with frequency for new email checkups.
The server details are prone to modifications as well, and these revolve around the incoming and outgoing server addresses, SSL activation and port numbers, STARTTLS (if supported by the server), local backups (keep or delete) and SMTP authentication mode. What's more, the selected email account can be turned off and re-enabled at a later time.
![Showing the account settings in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail account settings.jpg)
Multiple email accounts can be created to monitor at the same time, deleted, as well as imported from Foxmail older versions, Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express files. For each account the tool can show total emails and disk space for each folder.
Mail folders, list and preview
Users may access all folders belonging to each email account, along with a common folder which contains all unread, sticky and labeled messages from all accounts (it can be hidden). Although it is possible to retrieve all messages for an account from the server, Foxmail may be asked to obtain only the most recent ones, based on the number of items defined by the user. All messages from a folder can be marked as read via the context menu, added to the favorites list, or automatically sorted by the program. New directories can be created (local or remote) while existing ones can be renamed or deleted.
![Showing the email folders in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail email folders.jpg)
![Showing the mail list in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail mail list.jpg)
Moreover, messages can be printed, added to notes and exported to file (EML or TXT format). Operations can be performed for multiple selected emails in batch mode as well, such as making them as unread or unsticky, syncing them to the server, adding senders and recipients to the address book, and sending a message to all senders. Foxmail can be set to always transfers mails from a selected sender to a folder. It is possible to schedule alarms to run once or on a regular basis, add comments, view source codes, and edit subjects only.
![Showing the in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail mail options.jpg)
![Showing the sidebar in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail sidebar.jpg)
Mail composition, managers for signatures and mail templates
When composing a new email, it is possible to attach files, embed pictures (GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, BMP), as well as capture the screen and edit the photo. Standard formatting options are available, such as text color customization, strikethrough, bullet points, numbered lists, alignment, emoticons, hyperlinks, tables and HTML code.
The signature manager can hold multiple signatures to attach to emails, depending on the account used. It features basic formatting settings and has a default signature, which is automatically inserted into each new message, while also allowing users to quickly replace them with new ones into the context menu. Unfortunately, Foxmail cannot import ready signatures from external text files.
![Showing the signature manager in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail signature manager.jpg)
![Showing the template manager in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail template manager.jpg)
Address book, calendar
Apart from the fact that the address book gathers all contacts, it is also the place where users may find all emails sent by a specific person/organization. Contacts can be organized into multiple groups, sorted by name or group in ascending or descending order, looked up by first letter, as well as edited in terms of photo caption, name, display name, personal information, notions, and so on. Furthermore, they can be merged, synchronized for all accounts, as well as imported and exported from and to CSV, Business Cards (vCard format) and Foxmail Folder format (CSV).
![Showing the in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail address book.jpg)
![Showing the in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail calendar.jpg)
Feed reader, other tools
The feed reader is very simple to use, since it contains only basic options. Foxmail features a list with recommended channels and lets users add new ones by just inputting the feed address. Just like in the address book section, channels can be classified into various categories. It is possible to mark favorites to quickly access them later from a special folder, view extended content in a built-in browser instead of launching an external app, import and export files from and to OPML format, as well as to re-arrange the RSS layout and modify the font size (like with emails). Plus, important news can be immediately forwarded via email.
![Showing the feed reader in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail feed reader.jpg)
![Showing the attachment manager in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail attachment manager.jpg)
Program settings
For each account, it is possible to switch from no proxy settings to the Foxmail system, Internet Explorer options or customized properties. In addition, the utility features an antispam system to filter emails. By default it uses the Bayes mode, and it can be exchanged for the Foxmail spam samples (currently in beta development stage). Moreover, users may create a black list and white list with senders and addresses whose emails to ban and allow, respectively.
![Showing the common and advanced settings in Foxmail](https://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/WINDOWS3/small/Foxmail/Foxmail common and advanced settings.jpg)
Foxmail can become the default email client, automatically run at Windows startup, minimize to the system tray area on close, hide notifications or alert via sound on new messages, and so on.
The Good
It is wrapped in a comfortable interface, supports hotkeys and mouse gestures, and it contains a search function for emails and contacts.
The tool is free to use and does not contain third-party applications or advertisements. It is compatible with Windows XP through 8/8.1.
The Bad
Some parts of the interface are not translated into English, and the help documentation available online is in Chinese only.
Foxmail does not integrate an option for importing ready signatures from external files.
The Truth
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