***Change Gmail Addresses, and Take Your Mail with You

There are two ways to lead your old mail to a new account.

You can do the moving manually in an email program, preserving your setup oflabels, or let Gmail copy the messages for you without labels but also without hassle.

***Move or Copy Mail from One Gmail Account to Another (Using Only Gmail)

First, make sure all email programs or services you have configured to download mail from your old Gmail account using POP are closed or set not to check mail automatically. Then, to move (or copy) all received and sent emails from one Gmail account to another Gmail account by having thenew Gmail accountfetch the messages:

  1. Log i​nto the account from which you want to import (bring over) mail.
  2. ClicktheSettingsgear icon (⚙️) in the Gmail account's toolbar.
  3. Select Settingsfrom the menu that comes up.
  4. Go totheForwarding and POP/IMAPtab.
  5. Select Enable POP for all mail(even mail that's already been downloaded) underPOP Download:regardless of the current POP download status (underStatus:).
    Note: You do not have to move messages to the old account's inbox for the new account to pick them up.Archived mailwill be fetched and copied to the new account automatically.
  1. Select archive Gmail's copyunderWhen messages are accessed with POPto have your old account's inbox cleared; selectdelete Gmail's copyinstead to move mail instead of copying it.
    Tips: If you do want to retain some messages at the old account, they will be available in theTrashlabel for 30 days.
    You can alsoselect keep Gmail's copy in the Inbox(unread) ormark Gmail's copy as read, of course.
  1. Click Save Changes.
  2. Click your picture(or the icon) in Gmail's top right corner.
  3. Select Sign outfrom the menu that appears.

We are done with the account from which to import messages. On with the new Gmail account:

  1. Nowlog in to the Gmail accountto which you want to move the messages.
  2. ClicktheSettingsgear icon (⚙️).
  3. Select Settingsfrom the menu.
  4. Go totheAccounts and Importtab.
  5. Click Add a mail accountunderCheck mail from other accounts:.
  6. Enter the email addressof the Gmail account from which you want to import underEmail address.
  7. Click Next».
  8. Make sureImport emails from my other account (POP3)is selected.
  9. ClickNext».
  10. Verify the desired Gmail account'suser name is entered correctly underUsername:.
  11. Type the passwordfor the Gmail account from which you import underPassword:.
    Important: If you have enabled 2-step authentication for the old Gmail account, docreate and use a Gmail application passwordinstead.
  12. Selectpop.gmail.comunderPOP Server.
  13. Select 995underPort:.
  14. Verify Leave a copy of retrieved messages on the serveris NOT checked.
  15. Verify Always use a secure connection (SSL) when retrieving mailIS checked.
    Options: SelectLabel incoming messagesand pick the label corresponding to the old Gmail account's email address, an existing label orNew labelfor a new label.
    SelectArchive incoming messages (Skip the Inbox)so imported emails do not show up (or clutter) your new Gmail account's inbox.
  1. Click Add Account.
    Important: If you see an access error, you have two options:
    With 2-step authentication enabledespecially, youmay have toauthorize Gmail to access itself.
    If you do not have 2-step authentication turned on,make sure "less secure" applications are allowed to access Gmail.
  2. Select Yes, I want to be able to send mail as nderWould you also like to be able to send mail as ?.
    Why to say "Yes"here: Having your old address set up as a sending address in the new account lets Gmail recognize your old sent messages and place them in theSent Maillabel.
    Can I say "No"?You can chooseNo, of course; you can alwaysadd your old address as a sending addresslater.
    If you do selectNo,clickFinishright away and skip the coming steps that add the old address to the new account.

To make sure your old Gmail address is recognized by the new Gmail account as one of yours—and available for sending:

  1. Continuing fromYes, I want to be able to send mail as , clickNext Step ».
  2. Enter your nameunderName:.
  3. Click Next Step ».
  4. LeaveTreat as an aliaschecked.
  5. Click Next Step ».
  6. Nowclick Send Verification.
  7. Click Close window.
  8. Click your iconin the top right corner of Gmail.
  9. Select Sign outfrom the sheet that comes up.
  10. Log in to Gmailusing the address from which you import.
  11. Open the messagefrom Gmail Team with the subjectGmail Confirmation - Send Mail as .
  12. Highlight and copythe numeral confirmation code underConfirmation code:.
    Tip: It is betternot to followthe verification link and instead log in with the correct account in your browser first, then use the code there. We will do this in the following steps.
    Otherwise, your browser might get the Gmail accounts mixed up.
    If you followed the link and everything worked, that is fine, of course.
    Option: As an alternative to the somewhat convoluted process that follows, you can wait for your new Gmail account to import the verification message and follow the confirmation link from there.
  13. Click your account's iconin the top right corner.
  14. Select Sign out.
  15. Login to Gmail again, this time with the account to which you import.
  16. ClicktheSettingsgear icon (⚙️).
  17. Select Settingsfrom the menu that comes up.
  18. OpentheAccounts and Importtab.
  19. Click Verifyfor the old Gmail account's address underSend mail as:.
  20. Pastethe verification code underEnter and verify the confirmation code.
  21. Click Verify.

Gmail will not fetch all messages in one go. It will download mail from the old account in batches of approximately 100 - 200 emails at a time instead. Typically, importing will start with the oldest messages.

Gmail will download messages in your old Gmail account'sSent Maillabel in addition to messages you have received. If you have set up the address from which you imported as a sending address in the new account, sent mail will appear under the new account's Sent Mail label, too.

After importing, you can use the old address with your new Gmail account, effectivelycombining the two accounts.

Stop Continued Importing of Mail from the Source Gmail Account (and Prevent Duplicates)

To stop Gmail from continuing to import new messages from the old account (or import everything anew if you ever reset the POP access status for the old account to offering all messages):

  1. Click theSettingsgear icon (⚙️) in the new Gmail account.
  2. SelectSettingsfrom the menu that comes up.
  3. Go to theAccounts and Importcategory.
  4. Clickdeletefor the Gmail account from which you imported underCheck mail from other accounts (using POP3).
  5. ClickOKunderAre you sure you want to delete this mail account?