DI reader M. Radhakrishnan recently switched from one Gmail address to another one and now wants to transfer all his old emails to the new account. He writes:By setting up the auto-forward settings in GMail, I've made sure that all new mails I receive at the old address automatically land up at my new GMail Inbox.Well, this is very much possible though you would need the help of a desktop mailing client like Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, Eudora, Apple Mail, Outlook express or even your BlackBerry.
But I've been using the old one for quite a while and so have quite a few important mails lying on that id. Is there a way that I can import all existing mails from my old id to the new one at one go so that I can forget about my old id completely.
Here are the steps involved to transfer emails from one web account to another one:
Step 1. Enable POP access in GMail settings and also configure your desktop email software to fetch email from GMail servers. [Read How to Backup Your GMail Inbox]
Step 2: Hit the Send / Receive button in Outlook to download all GMail messages from your old address locally. The process might take some time so be patient. Once the transfer is complete, you may want to do some cleaup in your Outlook Inbox - delete duplicate messages, useless threads or those with heavy attachments.
Step 3. Create an email rule in Outlook that will auto-forward all incoming email to our new GMail address. Click Start from a blank rule, and then click Next. (Check messages as they arrive). Choose forward messages and specify your_new_address@gmail.com. Run this rule now on messages already in your Inbox.
Click Finish and get a cup of coffee. Outlook is now transferring your old inbox messages to the new one.
The above bulk-email forwarding technique can work for Yahoo and Hotmail users as well. Just use YahooPops or HotmailPopper since these email service don't provide POP access for free accounts.
Find this article at: http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-to-forward-all-email-from-one.html
web: http://www.labnol.org/ email: amit@labnol.org
Reader Comments
Wow that was some fast response Amit. DI never ceases to amaze!!
Thanks a lot for solving my problem.
Written on 17/12/06 8:44 PM
You can also forward all emails from gmail using filters section, it shows all mail and ask whether or not forward existing mails;)
Written on 17/12/06 11:59 PM
Very uneconomic way :(
Written on 18/12/06 3:04 AM
Somehow I never liked outlook or thunderbird. I preferred the online version of gmail. I have plenty of email ids - official ones and others, all are forwarded to one email id which runs a good enough filters to arrange it into various folders.
Written on 18/12/06 6:55 AM
Tôi rất hân hạnh khi được tham gia vào gmail va rất hi vong những bạn nao có kinh nghiệm trong việc lam blog giúp đở thank you
Written on 18/12/06 8:10 AM
I have Reported your blog to blogger.
Reasons: You are not giving a credit back to blogger.
You have removed the blogger button!
You are using blogger's space and bandwidth, so be merciful to give a credit back to blogger.
Blogger has replyed me back and said, they will look at this matter seriously.
I am happy
Written on 18/12/06 9:16 AM
1.Why use this tedious method when it can be done in Gmail itself?
2.Spelling mistake in step2 'cleaup' instead of 'cleanup' exists even after notifying you through mail a day before.
3. Last but not least, publishing the anonymous comment even though posting comment is moderated on your blog looks suspicious- may be a way to increase traffic on your blog.
Written on 18/12/06 6:11 PM
Escaper, Rupesh - Will you like to share you methods on how one can forward all emails using Gmail itself ?
If you write a solution here, I will put it as a separate post on this blog with full credit to you.
Written on 18/12/06 6:33 PM
It is very difficult and not economical solution.
Written on 19/12/06 1:51 PM
well it will take weeks for those who have a slow connection.
Written on 12/1/07 2:39 PM
Wow! excellent This method is very very usefull. Thanks a lot.
Ajith Chanaka.
Written on 20/9/07 8:47 AM
Listen up people, Amit is correct. GMail will NOT, I repeat WILL NOT, forward your old mail. Try it first then reply. Filter creation will forward all emails sent up to that point. Thank you for the ingenious solution Amit, credit goes to you
Written on 17/11/07 8:16 AM