Gmail is among the most popular email service providers by Google, offers powerful features such as auto-categorization, spam filters, cloud storage and advanced security features. Gmail supports both POP3 and IMAP protocols to sync emails with external applications.
IMAP(Internet Message Access Control) is widely used for managing emails on the server as IMAP contains emails on the cloud and it allows access from multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Table of Contents
- Why Transfer Gmail Emails to IMAP Account?
- How to Migrate Emails from Gmail to IMAP Manually?
- Hurdles of Manual Methods
- How to Transfer Gmail Emails to IMAP via Gmail to IMAP Migration Tool?
- Benchmark Attributes of Gmail to IMAP Migration Tool
- Common Questions about Migrate emails from Gmail to IMAP
- Closing Remarks
Why Transfer Gmail Emails to IMAP Account?
- IMAP allows you to sync emails across all platforms ensuring that made changes on one device will reflect on all devices. This is too beneficial for those users requiring access from multiple locations.
- Unlike POP, which downloads emails and removes them from the server, IMAP keeps emails stored on the cloud server.
- If you are switching to another email service provider, migrating emails to IMAP Server makes the process more smoother. IMAP allows you to transfer emails without losing folder structure and metadata.
- For users who need to archive emails for compliance or retention purposes. Transfer Gmail emails to IMAP server keeps emails accessible for years without worrying about Gmail storage limits.
- Many businesses and professionals prefer IMAP over Gmail due to its flexibility, security and compatibility with various professional email clients such as Outlook, Thunderbird and Apple Mail.
How to Migrate Emails from Gmail to IMAP Manually?
If you want to transfer Gmail emails to IMAP Server manually then you must install Mozilla Thunderbird. Follow the instructions as we have shared below:
Part 1. Enable IMAP in Gmail
- Open Gmail on your web browser and click on “Settings”.
- Click on “forwarding and POP/IMAP” and navigate to the IMAP section.
- Select “Enable IMAP” and press on Save Changes.
- Go to App Password and “Generate App Password” for Mail.
Part 2. Configure Gmail Account in Thunderbird
- First, open Thunderbird and go to Tools and press on “Account Settings”.
- Click on “Add Mail Account” and fill Gmail credentials.
- Choose “IMAP” and click on continue.
- Fill “Gmail IMAP Server” Credentials:
- Incoming Mail Server: imap.gmail.com Port: 993 Encryption: SSL
- Outgoing Mail Server: smtp.gmail.com Port: 465 or 587 Encryption: SSL
- Press on “Next” to successfully configure.
- “Configure IMAP email account” where you want to transfer Gmail emails.
- Now, select the “Gmail labels” as you want to migrate.
- “Login IMAP email account” using webmail or another client.
- Verify all “Gmail” data transferred successfully.
Hurdles of Manual Methods
- Large mailbox may take hours to migrate,
- Thunderbird may not preserve Gmail labels as folders.
- IMAP synchronization may fail to transfer.
- Requires manual selection and migration to IMAP account.
How to Transfer Gmail Emails to IMAP via Gmail to IMAP Migration Tool?
If you want to transfer a batch Gmail account or are required to transfer specific mailbox folders. So, we recommend you to choose Jagware Gmail to IMAP Migration Tool as it allows you to migrate specific mailbox folders and is capable of migrating whole mailbox data. You just need to click on the download button to install this software on your machine and can easily migrate any number of Gmail accounts via IMAP without losing any information.
Procedure to Migrate Emails from Gmail to IMAP Account
- Firstly, Download and install “Jagware Gmail to IMAP Migration Tool” on your system.
- Enter Gmail email address and click on “Sign in with Google”.
- Fill “Google password” and press on Next to continue.
- Accept all required “Google permissions” to migrate.
- Preview to select “Google mailbox folders” as you want to migrate.
- Choose the “IMAP option” in the list of select saving options.
- Enter “IMAP email address and password” to authorize email account.
- Choose advanced filters and press Next to start “migrating emails from Gmail to IMAP account”.
Benchmark Attributes of Gmail to IMAP Migration Tool
- It allows you to export Gmail emails as PDF, PST, MBOX, TXT, HTML and 30+ saving options.
- This software offers Oauth authentication to directly configure Gmail accounts without generating app passwords.
- You can also extract attachments, email addresses, and extract phone numbers from Gmail accounts.
- With this software, you can also use modern filters such as incremental backup, date range, export only sent folder, exclude body and attachments and many more.
- This wizard can also migrate Gmail to Microsoft 365, Thunderbird, Zimbra, and all IMAP Supported email platforms.
Common Questions about Migrate emails from Gmail to IMAP
Does Gmail work with IMAP?
Yes, Gmail supports IMAP, allowing users to sync emails across multiple devices. IMAP ensures that it remains stored on the Gmail server, so changes from one device and it will reflect on all other devices.
Should Gmail be POP or IMAP?
Gmail should be IMAP if you need real time synchronization across multiple devices. IMAP keeps emails on the server, making them accessible anywhere. POP downloads emails and may delete them from Gmail, making it suitable for single device email access but less flexible.
What is the IMAP format for Gmail?
IMAP Server: imap.gmail.com, Port:993 Encryption: SSL to ensure email secure retrieval allows synchronization with email clients like Outlook, Thunderbird and Apple Mail.
Closing Remarks
In this guide, we have explained all valuable information to migrate emails from Gmail to IMAP by manually and Gmail to IMAP Migration Tool. The manual approach is very complicated and has lengthy procedures. So, we suggest you to opt Gmail to IMAP Migration Software as it offers fully maintained attributes without losing any metadata.
