How to Migrate IONOS Email to Google Workspace? 2026 Guide

  

Mark Regan
Published: June 23rd, 2026 • 6 Min Read

Many users are looking to migrate IONOS email to Google Workspace, which can be difficult due to many reasons like data loss, service interruption and maintaining folder structure. Users can use Google Workspace’s Data Migration Service by connecting their IONOS account using IMAP and can transfer emails directly to Gmail. However, for multiple mailbox migration, an automated tool can simplify the entire process with complete security. After the process is complete, update the domain MX record to begin receiving emails in Google Workspace.

For many professionals, using Google Workspace has its benefits; however, importing email from IONOS via Google Workspace allows users to manage all their mailboxes in one place and makes it easier to keep the content of their email systems in sync. Importing IONOS mail to Google Workspace also makes for an ideal long-term solution due to Google’s secure and scalable infrastructure.

In this guide, firstly, we will know why users transfer IONOS email to Google Workspace. We will explore the manual method and its limitations. Then we will learn about an automated solution that will simplify the whole process. By the end of this article, users will know which method will be suitable.

Why Migrate IONOS Email to Google Workspace?

There are many reasons why users & businesses migrate their email data from IONOS to Google Workspace versus keeping it on a traditional email host.

• Collaboration – Users perform the migration  because of the collaborative tools that are available with Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Meet, Google Drive, Google Docs, & Google Calendar).
• Security – Google Workspace provides enhanced security features such as spam filtering, phishing protection, email encryption, & two-factor authentication.
• Cloud Access – Users can access their email from multiple devices (desktop, smartphone, tablet) when migrating IONOS email to Google Workspace.
• Email Deliverability – Many companies are importing their IONOS email because of the email deliverability & server uptime provided by Google.
• Admin Management – Admins have the ability to quickly & easily manage users, permissions, & policies from a single interface in Google Admin Console.

Transfer IONOS Email to Google Workspace Manually

Set Up Google Workspace

1. Firstly, sign up for Google Workspace
2. Now, add all users accounts in Google Workspace.
3. Do not update anything in MX record. Keep your IONOS mailbox active until the migration is finished.

Get IONOS Ready for Migration

Verify that all your IONOS mailboxes are working properly.

Set Up Migration in Google Workspace

1. Simply log into the Google Admin Console.
2. Navigate to Menu > Data > Data Import & Export > Data Migration.
3. Click Set Up Data Migration and select Email.
4. Select another IMAP server as source.
5. Enter details
   Server: imap.ionos.com
   Port: 993
   Security: SSL
6. Enter a valid IONOS email address and password to connect the account

Match User Accounts

1. Users need to link each IONOS email account to the correct Google Workspace account
2. Enter the IONOS mailbox password for each user.
3. Click Start to start the process.

Direct Emails to Google Workspace

1. Users need to log in to IONOS and open DNS settings.
2. Change the MX records to Google Workspace.
3. Update the SPF record.
4. Finally, add Google DKIM settings to protect your emails to transfer IONOS email to Google Workspace.

Limitations of Manual Migration

Even though users have the ability to move IONOS emails to Google Workspace on their own, there are some disadvantages to using this method.

• If you have a lot of email, it could take many hours or days to complete moving everything.
• You must be comfortable working with computers and have the technical skill to set up IMAP, DNS, and Google Workspace to complete the move of emails.
• Sometimes emails, attachments, and folders may not sync correctly during the transfer.
• When you transfer email from IONOS to Google Workspace, you will have no ability to filter which email(s) you would like to move.
• When you manually transfer your email from IONOS to Google Workspace, you won’t have the ability to automate a transfer.

Key Features of the Tool

• Direct Migration to Google Workspace: The application helps migrate email directly without the use of third-party programs.
• Mass Account Migration: Users can migrate mail from an IONOS account to Google Workspace using different accounts at the same time.
  
• Keeps Folder Structure: While importing e-mail, the application preserves the folder hierarchy in the IONOS mailbox.
• Incremental Migration Option: Only newly received mail will be migrated in future transfers; avoiding duplicate emails.
• Filter Emails: Users have the option to filter out emails by date, subject, sender and folder to smoothly migrate IONOS Email to Google Workspace.
  
• Retain Metadata: When migrating, the application will provide users with the “To” “From” Subject”, date”, attachments”, and formatting information for their migrated files.
• Simple Interface: The program is easy to use, even for those who are not technically savvy.
• Scheduled Migration: Users can schedule their email to be migrated daily, weekly, or monthly.
  
• Multiple Platform Support: Besides Google Workspace, the application supports Gmail, Office 365, Yahoo Mail, Thunderbird, Outlook, etc. as target platforms.
  

Conclusion

To enhance collaboration, scalability, accessibility, and security among professionals and businesses, many organizations are moving away from IONOS e-mail and towards Google Workspace. While users have the option to manually migrate IONOS Email to Google Workspace using IMAP and Google’s Migration Service, this could be a complicated and time-consuming process for users with large mailboxes.

A tool allows users to transfer their entire mailbox content into Google Workspace with ease. This software allows users to easily migrate their IONOS e-mail accounts directly to Google Workspace while providing bulk transfer capability, schedule migration capabilities, incremental migration capability, and advanced filtering to create a smooth transition process.

FAQs 

1. Is IONOS email POP3 or IMAP?

Ans. IONOS is compatible with both POP3 and IMAP protocols. However, IMAP will work best to keep the emails manageable across all devices.

2. How to migrate email from IONOS to Google Workspace?

Ans. Yes, users can transfer IONOS emails to Google Workspace using Google’s Data Migration Service using IMAP or they can use a professional email migration tool for quick and reliable transfer.

3. Can I transfer my domain name to Google Workspace?

Ans. Yes, users can use their domain with Google Workspace. Users must keep their domain registered with IONOS and update the DNS records or transfer the domain registration to another provider if needed.