Gmail POP and Gmailify ending: dates and what to do
Updated · Rotomal
Gmail is removing Gmailify and "Check mail from other accounts", the setting that fetches mail from other providers over POP. New users lost it after the first quarter of 2026, and existing users can keep it until January 2027; Google has not given the exact day. Mail already in Gmail stays. Before January, replace each fetched address with forwarding from the other provider, the Gmail app over IMAP, or a one-time import.
Key dates
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | The date Google first gave for the change, as reported at the time |
| After Q1 2026 | New users can no longer set up POP fetching in Gmail |
| Q3 to Q4 2026 | Google's notice and transition period: the features keep working, but Gmail may restrict new setups |
| January 2027 | Existing users can no longer fetch mail from other accounts; the option disappears from Gmail on computers; Gmailify features end; "Send as" for third-party addresses ends |
Google's help page says existing users can use the feature until January 2027 and does not name a day, so do not count on it lasting the whole month.
What stops
- Gmailify: Gmail stops applying its spam protection, inbox categories, better mobile notifications and faster search to linked third-party accounts.
- Check mail from other accounts: Gmail no longer fetches email from third-party accounts over POP, and the option disappears from Gmail on computers.
- Send as: from January 2027 you can no longer send from a third-party address such as @yahoo.com or @hotmail.com through Gmail, on the web or in the apps. Google Workspace aliases and other Gmail addresses you own keep working.
What keeps working
- Mail that was already synced into Gmail stays there.
- You can add accounts such as Yahoo or Outlook to the Gmail app on Android, iPhone and iPad, which uses IMAP.
- Other apps such as Outlook or Apple Mail can still connect to your Gmail account with POP or IMAP.
- You can still run a one-time import of mail and contacts from another account in Gmail on the web; it does not keep syncing.
Check whether you are affected
- Open Gmail on a computer.
- Select Settings, then See all settings.
- Open the Accounts and Import tab.
- Look under "Check mail from other accounts". Every address listed there stops arriving in Gmail in January 2027 unless you replace it.
Your options for each address
| Option | Works in Gmail on a computer | Cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic forwarding from the other provider | Yes for reading; replying as that address needs another route after "Send as" ends | Free at many providers; Yahoo requires Yahoo Mail Plus | Addresses you still want to read in Gmail |
| Add the account to the Gmail app (IMAP) | No, phone and tablet only | Free | Reading the other inbox on your phone |
| A desktop mail app | No, in the app | Free or paid, by app | People happy to leave Gmail on the web for that mail |
| One-time import, then retire the address | Yes, for old mail | Free | Addresses few people still use |
| Move a business domain to proper hosting | Depends on the host | The host's subscription | info@ or bookings@ addresses customers rely on |
If you want help
Gmail POP Switch goes through each address with you, picks the option that works for that provider, guides you through the clicks without ever asking for your passwords, sends a test message to confirm mail arrives, and sets up a way to reply from each address you still need. $19 per address, or $49 for up to 5 in a household.
Questions
Is Gmail getting rid of POP3?
Gmail is ending its own fetching of mail from other accounts over POP. Other apps can still connect to your Gmail account with POP or IMAP.
What is the exact date in January 2027?
Google has not published one. Its help page says existing users can use the feature until January 2027.
What is Gmailify?
A Gmail feature that applied Gmail's spam protection, inbox categories, notifications and search to linked accounts such as Yahoo or Outlook. Google is ending it alongside POP fetching.
Will my old emails disappear?
No. Google says messages already synced before the change stay in Gmail.
Is Google Workspace affected?
Google's help page points Workspace and school administrators to its data migration service for moving email into Google Workspace. If you use a work or school account, ask your administrator.
What should I do first?
Check Settings, Accounts and Import, list every address under "Check mail from other accounts", and decide for each one whether to forward it, read it in the Gmail app, or retire it.
Sources
- Gmail Help: Upcoming changes to Gmailify and POP in Gmail Source: support.google.com
- Gmail Help: Changes to third-party email account support in Gmail (Send as) Source: support.google.com
- The Register: Gmail preparing to drop POP3 mail fetching (5 January 2026) Source: theregister.com
- Yahoo Help: Forward Yahoo Mail (requires Yahoo Mail Plus) Source: help.yahoo.com
- TidBITS: Gmail to end POP fetching and Gmailify features Source: tidbits.com