Import from Gmail

To copy your mail from Gmail, you make an app password in your Google Account and give it to the import. Gmail isn't changed: we only read it.

Make an app passwordCopy Anchor Link

Google only offers app passwords when 2-Step Verification is on for your account.

1. Sign in to your Google Account (myaccount.google.com) and open Security.
2. If 2-Step Verification is off, turn it on first and follow the steps.
3. Search for App passwords with the search box at the top of your Google Account (it's also listed under 2-Step Verification).
4. Type a name you'll recognise, like "AnhourMail import", and create it.
5. Google shows a 16-letter password once. Copy it: you'll paste it into the import. The spaces don't matter.

Google changes its menus from time to time, so the names above may differ a little. If you don't see App passwords at all, see If Gmail refuses the sign-in.

Start the importCopy Anchor Link

1. In the console, open Import mail and choose New import.
2. Under Provider, choose Gmail. The server settings are filled in for you:

3. Type your full Gmail address as the User name, paste the App password, and choose Start import.

The rest is the same for every provider: see Move your mail here.

How Gmail's labels arriveCopy Anchor Link

Gmail shows labels to mail apps as folders, and the import copies them that way:

• Each label becomes a folder here, with labels inside labels kept as folders inside folders.
• A message with several labels is copied into each of those folders, the way a mail app sees it.
• Sent Mail, Drafts, Spam and Trash go into Sent, Drafts, Junk and Deleted items here. Spam and Trash are left out unless you turn off Leave out Junk and Deleted items.
• All Mail holds every message, including archived mail that has no label. It's copied last, into Archive, and only the messages not already copied from another folder. So archived mail arrives once, and nothing else twice.
• Starred and Important aren't copied as folders: those messages arrive in their own folders, and starred ones keep their flag.

If your Gmail settings limit how many messages a folder shows to mail apps (under Forwarding and POP/IMAP, Folder size limits), set it to no limit before you start, or older mail won't be copied.

If Gmail refuses the sign-inCopy Anchor Link

The import says Needs you: the old provider refused the sign-in. Check:

• You used the app password, not your usual Google password.
• The user name is your full Gmail address.
• If your Gmail settings have an IMAP access option under Forwarding and POP/IMAP, it's turned on.
• No App passwords option? 2-Step Verification must be on. On an account managed by your work or school, the administrator may not allow app passwords or IMAP. Ask them; if they can't turn it on, we can't import from that account yet (see Providers we can't import from yet).

Then make a new app password and choose Resume with it.

When you're doneCopy Anchor Link

Revoke the app password in your Google Account (App passwords, then delete it). The import has already deleted its copy, but it's good practice.

Moving your own domain away from Google too? See Switch a domain without losing mail.