How to Move Mail from an Old ISP Address into Gmail

Your internet provider is closing your old email address and years of sorted mail are sitting in folders there. Gmail's own tools either grab the inbox alone or run a slow import that may not support your provider. The method that keeps the folders is a desktop mail program with both accounts open, dragging folders across.

Get the IMAP settings for the old account

Find the incoming server, port, and security settings on the provider's support pages. IMAP exposes folders; if the provider offers only POP, only the inbox can be pulled. Gmail's own IMAP is always on and needs no setting.

Add both accounts to Thunderbird or Outlook

Install Thunderbird (free) or use Outlook for desktop. Add the Gmail account first, signing in through the Google window that appears. Then add the ISP account with the IMAP settings. Leave the program open until both accounts have finished syncing their folder lists.

Drag the folders from the ISP account to Gmail

In the folder pane, drag each ISP folder onto the Gmail account. The mail program copies the messages up to Gmail, which shows the folder as a label with the same name. Dates, senders, and attachments are preserved. Large folders take a while; watch the status bar and do not close the program until it is done. Then check in Gmail on the web that the labels are there.

Or use Gmail's built-in importer

If a desktop program is not an option, in Gmail open Settings, See all settings, Accounts and Import, then Import mail and contacts. Enter the old address and password. This runs through a Google partner service, imports mail and contacts, turns folders into labels, and can take up to two days. It supports many providers but not all.

Fetch the inbox with POP3 if that is all that is left

On the same Accounts and Import tab, Check mail from other accounts pulls mail from the old address on a schedule. It uses POP3, so only the inbox comes across, with no folders. It is fine for catching new mail during the overlap, not for moving the archive.

Start before the account closes. Providers usually delete the mailbox within days of shutting off service.

If the provider allows forwarding. Turn on forwarding to Gmail in the old account for the overlap period, then send the new address to your contacts and change it on any account that uses the old one for sign-in.

If some folders arrive empty. Open the folder in the ISP account first so the program downloads its contents, then drag it again.