How to Migrate Gmail to IMAP in Bulk? Step-by-Step Guide
Are you planning to migrate Gmail to IMAP but not sure where to start? Don’t worry, you have come to the right place. In this guide we will walk you through everything you need to know about how to set Gmail to IMAP and securely export Gmail to IMAP account. You’ll explore both manual as well as automated solutions with proper step-by-step instructions to avoid complications while performing the Gmail to IMAP migration. So, let’s get started.
Quickly Understand Gmail and IMAP
Before diving into the methods, let’s read what these terms mean or stand for:
Gmail is a Google web cloud based email service to send and receive messages. It store emails on cloud and use labels to organize data not like traditional folders.
IMAP refers to Internet Message Access Protocol which is a standard email protocol that enables users to access and manage emails stored on any remote mail server. It helps sync emails across all devices that keeps everything up-to-date and easily accessible.
Why Migrate Gmail to IMAP? Reasons
Here we will discuss the most common reasons why users choose to export Gmail to IMAP.
- IMAP allows users to access multiple email accounts in one place which makes it easier for them to manage all emails without switching between platforms.
- With IMAP, emails stay on the server itself rather than being downloaded locally. This ensures that your Gmail emails are accessible from any device anywhere.
- Organizations often migrate Gmail to IMAP to store all employee emails on a single mail server for easy management and better compliance with company policies.
- Many users perform Gmail to IMAP migration when they are moving to another email service like Outlook, Yahoo, ProtonMail or Exchange that supports IMAP.
- By exporting Gmail to IMAP, any action you perform including deleting, editing or moving an email, everything will get instantly synced across all connected devices.
How to Set Gmail to IMAP Manually?
The manual method involves using an email client like Thunderbird, Outlook or Apple Mail to allow Gmail connect to IMAP account. Now, follow the below steps:
- Open an email client and add your Gmail account using IMAP settings:
IMAP Server: imap.gmail.com | Port: 993 | SSL: Yes
SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com | Port: 465/587 | SSL/TLS: Yes - Now, in the same client add the IMAP account where you want to move emails.
- Once both the accounts are visible, select emails or folders from you Gmail account and drag and drop them into the destination IMAP mailbox.
- Wait for the synchronization process to complete. In this, your email client will upload all emails to new IMAP server.
Limitations of the Manual Way
While this method seems to be straightforward it holds several drawbacks that every user should know before proceeding with it.
- Migrating large mailboxes can take hours and even days to sync completely.
- Users can export only one Gmail account at a time, which means it does not support bulk migration.
- Configuring IMAP accounts can lead to confusion especially to beginner users as it requires technical expertise.
- A poor and unstable internet connection can lead to duplicate emails or sync errors.
- Some clients fail to migrate email attachments which can result in data loss issues.
If you’re handling multiple accounts and need a faster and error-free solution then we will recommend you to use an automated solution, mentioned in the section below.
Automated and Secure Method to Migrate Gmail to IMAP
If you want to skip the lengthy manual process and want an easy and smooth Gmail to IMAP migration process then use a professional tool like BitRecover Gmail Backup Software. It is designed to simplify the transfer Gmail to IMAP account process for all users including technical and non-technical users so that they don’t face any hassle. Using this robust tool, users can directly connect Gmail to IMAP supported email clients or servers.
It is a great choice for business and enterprise-level users because this utility saves time, maintains folder hierarchy in original form and ensures 100% data accuracy without any risk. So, test its free trial version and download the solution now.
How to Migrate Gmail Mailbox via IMAP? Steps
- Download and install the above software on your system.
- Enter your Gmail account credentials to Log in.
- After that, select folders or individual emails that you want to import to an IMAP account.
- Choose IMAP server as your saving option and fill in the details.
- Lastly, click on Backup to successfully migrate Gmail to IMAP.
Core Feature of the Gmail to IMAP Migration Tool
- This is a safe utility as it uses OAuth 2.0 for safe login.
- Works independently which means it does not require any third-party tool to migrate Gmail to IMAP.
- This software supports batch transfer of multiple Gmail accounts in a single go, using a CSV file.
- Maintain original email structure or folder hierarchy to help users easily locate files after migration.
- Ensures no data loss throughout the Gmail to IMAP migration process.
- Compatible with all versions of Windows OS including latest and old editions.
- Support all IMAP servers and work flawlessly with cPanel, Yahoo, Zoho, Roundcube, Hostinger, Office 365 IMAP and more.
- The tool offers users multiple advanced filter options to precisely export Gmail to IMAP.
Conclusion
The process to migrate Gmail to IMAP seems to be complex, but with proper tools and methods it becomes quick and reliable. While the manual method works well with small mailboxes but is inefficient and not an ideal solution for multiple or larger accounts.
For a faster and professional experience, use the automated solution discussed above. It ensures secure transfer Gmail account to IMAP within just a few clicks. If you face any difficulty working with the tool, feel free to contact our support team via [email protected] or direct chat through the Live Chat option.
FAQs: Export Gmail to IMAP
Q1. What does migrating Gmail to IMAP mean?
The process to migrate Gmail to IMAP means transferring all Gmail emails, attachments and folders to another email account that supports IMAP protocol. It will allow you to access and manage emails from multiple devices while keeping real-time synchronization on.
Q2. Can I migrate multiple Gmail accounts to IMAP at once?
Yes, using the pro tool you can bulk migrate Gmail to IMAP using a CSV file while ensuring complete data security and original folder hierarchy.
Q3. What pre-requisites should I follow to import Gmail to IMAP?
There are no requirements or installation for the conversion. You can convert Gmail mailboxes into IMAP without installing any external installation.
Q4. I am running two Gmail accounts –one personal and one specifically for my business emails. But, now there is urgency and I need to transfer data from both Gmail accounts to IMAP. Will the tool work for this situation? If yes, how?
Yes, indeed you can move both Gmail account data to your IMAP. But, for that, you need to enable the “Use Advance Mode” option. It will ask you for a CSV file containing the credentials of all Gmail accounts and in end, you have to upload that CSV file from this option.
