Gmail’s retiring Check mail from other accounts feature uses POP to fetch another mailbox into Gmail. Replacing it requires a plan for future delivery, not merely an export of old mail. Identify the source provider and the exact account that currently performs the fetch.
Record the legacy connection before changing it
Inspect Accounts and import on Gmail’s web interface and note the source address, any incoming label, and related sending identity. Check which old messages are already stored in Gmail.
Google’s current notice says new users are no longer supported after the first quarter of 2026, with existing users able to continue until January 2027. Do not create a new long-term dependency on a legacy setup screen simply because it remains described in another help page.
Choose a supported replacement
- Use source-provider automatic forwarding for eligible new copies in the main Gmail mailbox.
- Add the provider directly to the Gmail mobile app for separate-account access.
- Use an administrator-approved migration when organizational data needs transferring.
Each route has its own authentication, retention, and policy conditions. The app’s All inboxes view does not import the other mailbox into Gmail on the web.
Verify future mail and historical coverage separately
Test a harmless new delivery, an outgoing message, and the reply destination. Confirm whether source copies remain and whether duplicate routes are active.
Google says messages synchronized before deprecation remain in Gmail and distinguishes supported one-time imports from continuous fetching. Check important history rather than assuming the replacement method copies every folder and contact.
Do not confuse this change with an external app downloading Gmail using POP; that is the opposite direction and remains a separately supported configuration under Google’s current notice.
Keep the source account and required archives available until validation is complete. Avoid disabling 2-Step Verification, using insecure retrieval, or sharing credentials with an unknown migration service. Recheck the official notice before the transition date and remove only the obsolete route once the replacement is working.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
References
- Learn about upcoming changes to Gmailify & POP in Gmail
- Add another email account on your computer
- Add another email account in the Gmail app
Reviewed against the linked product guidance, standards, and identified vendor or public-authority guidance on October 29, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.