The word POP can describe two opposite connections. Gmail fetching another provider’s mailbox is the retiring Check mail from other accounts feature. A separate mail client downloading Gmail from Google’s servers is a different function. Identify the direction before changing settings.
Draw the source and the downloader
For legacy Gmail fetching, the source is another provider and Gmail is the downloader. Settings appear in Gmail’s Accounts and import area for the other account.
For a POP mail client, Gmail is the source and an app or device downloads from it. Gmail’s POP Download settings and the client’s server configuration concern that direction.
Apply the announced change to the correct feature
Google’s current deprecation FAQ says third-party POP fetching no longer accepts new users after the first quarter of 2026, with existing users continuing until January 2027. The same FAQ states that third-party apps can still access Gmail servers through POP or IMAP.
Do not disable a working client’s Gmail access merely because a notice mentions POP. Conversely, enabling Gmail’s POP Download setting does not replace Gmail’s ability to fetch a different provider’s future mail.
Choose a replacement only where needed
- List the source account and the component that connects to it.
- Identify whether the goal is ongoing access, future forwarding, or historical transfer.
- Use the relevant provider’s secure supported method.
- Test the source-copy behavior and a harmless delivery.
Source-provider forwarding and direct mobile-app access can replace some legacy fetching needs. A one-time import is not continuous synchronization.
When keeping an external POP client, use the account’s supported authentication and preservation settings. Downloaded local mail and a synchronized IMAP mailbox have different behavior, so preserve necessary copies before reconfiguration.
Do not copy obsolete instructions to enable less-secure access or turn off verification. Google’s general older setup pages may contain legacy sections; prioritize the explicit current change notice and secure authentication guidance. Recheck the timeline before the transition rather than describing every POP-related operation as already discontinued.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
References
- Learn about upcoming changes to Gmailify & POP in Gmail
- Read Gmail messages on other email clients using POP
- Add Gmail to another email client
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.