How to import IMAP email to Gmail account?

Importing IMAP emails to Gmail may sound simple until you check the old mailbox. It contains years of important email conversations, attachments, and business records that make this transition more hesitating for you.

Now, your biggest concern is how to move everything without missing any important emails.

The blog answers all the questions by showing you the available methods, prerequisites, & step-by-step guide to import emails from IMAP to Gmail.

Import IMAP Emails to Gmail: Know Which Method Applies to You?

You can import emails into Gmail using different solutions, but it mainly depends on your source type.

Your Situation	Applicable Method
1. Live IMAP Account
Active IMAP account (individual-level)	Gmail’s built-in Import mail and contacts option.
Active IMAP account (enterprise-grade)	Google Workspace’s data import tool or direct IMAP migration software.
2. Backup Files of IMAP Emails & Other Mailbox Data
MBOX backup	Compatible email clients like Thunderbird or Apple Mail.
EML files backup	Access & import messages via Thunderbird, Outlook, eM Client, and Apple Mail.
Thunderbird profile backup	Import local mailboxes to Thunderbird or Apple Mail.
3. No active account or backup
Exceptional Case	You must have either an active IMAP account or mailbox backup to import emails.

Know Checklist: What You'll Need to Import IMAP Emails to Gmail?

Make sure you have the following prerequisites ready before initiating the import procedures.

1. For an active IMAP Account
   • Username if needed.
   • IMAP access enabled.
   • Password & app password.
   • Email address & server name.
   • IMAP port with SSL/TSL settings.
2. For Google Workspace IMAP Migration
   • Create destination user accounts.
   • Super Administrator access in GWS.
   • Source-to-destination user-mapped CSV file.
   • Decide which users, folders, and date ranges to import.
   • Check that enough storage space is available in the destination.
3. For IMAP Emails & Other Mailbox Data Backup
   • Organized backup folders by mailbox type.
   • Compatible email clients (Thunderbird, eM Client, & Apple Mail).
   • Original email backup files, such as MBOX, EML, or Thunderbird profile.
4. For Gmail Account
   • IMAP access enabled in Gmail settings.
   • "Show in IMAP" enabled for All Mail and labels.
   • Sufficient free storage space in the Gmail account.
   • Gmail IMAP settings for email client configuration
   • Gmail account credentials (email address and password).

Manual Ways to Import IMAP Emails to Gmail [Best Ones]

After detailed analysis, we have come up with effective solutions to import emails from another account to Gmail. Check out this section carefully to learn the detailed steps of the applicable methods for your specific scenario.

I. When You Have An Active IMAP Account

You can import emails from IMAP to Gmail directly when you have an active IMAP account. Here are suitable methods to do the same.

Method 1. Using Gmail’s Import Mail And Contact Section

You can import emails from IMAP to Gmail directly when you have an active IMAP account at the individual level. Here are suitable methods to do the same.

Go to your browser and access the Gmail account.

Click on Gear icon to See all settings.

Navigate to the Accounts and Import section and proceed to the Import mail and contacts section.

Enter your IMAP email address and click Continue.

Agree to the Terms & Conditions by hitting the Continue option.

Provide your email address and click Next.

Enter your password and proceed to Next.

Allow access to your email address by hitting the Continue option.

Select the required data for import and press Continue.

Close the pop-up window after successful authentication.

Choose the Import options to Start import.

Finish the import setup by clicking on OK.

Wait for 2 days till the process is completed.

You will see the "Import complete" message once the Initial import done.

Method 2. Using Google Workspace Data Import Tool

Another method is to use Google Workspace data import tool for getting IMAP emails into Gmail at large scale (Up to 100 users per batch). To do so, follow the given steps:

Access the Google Workspace admin console.

Expand Data > Data import and export > Data import.

Navigate to Import data from other providers and click Import.

Enter your IMAP server and Test connection.

Add user information by entering:

• IMAP email address
• IMAP password (App Password)
• Workspace email address

Click on Edit settings to Configure data import settings.

Then, click on Save changes.

Once all the details are completed, click Start import.

Check out the live import status report on your screen.

Export user report and data import logs after the process is completed.

II. When You Have IMAP Emails & Other Mailbox Data Backup

You can use the methods provided below to access the backed-up IMAP mailboxes in Gmail. Check them out now to learn the detailed steps:

Method 1. Import IMAP Emails Into Gmail With Thunderbird

For Windows users, Thunderbird and eM Client are the most suitable applications to access locally saved mailboxes in Gmail. Here, we are using Thunderbird to open & access emails:

A. To Open Individual Email Files

Right-click on Inbox folder and create a New Folder.

Then, provide a Name to Create Folder.

Right-click on the created folder and go to ImportExportToolsNG.

Then, click on Import EML Messages and proceed to All EML Messages From A Directory And Subdirectories.

It will import IMAP emails into Gmail

B. To Open Mailbox Folders

Access the Menu options and go to Tools.

Click on Import under Tools to proceed.

Choose the appropriate option as per your situation and click Continue.

Select the Import Backed-up Profile option and proceed to Continue.

Choose what to import and hit Continue.

Verify selected items and Start Import process.

It will start importing mailbox data to Thunderbird.

Once done, click Finish and restart the Thunderbird application.

Method 2. Import Emails From IMAP to Gmail Using Apple Mail

For Mac users, Apple Mail is the most applicable method to open & access backed-up IMAP mailboxes in Gmail. Here’s how:

Create the New Mailbox to proceed.

Go to File menu and select Import Mailboxes.

Choose the Files in mbox format to Continue.

Select the locally saved mailbox folder and hit the Choose option.

It will start importing the mailbox folder to Gmail.

CLick on Done option after the process is completed.

You can see the imported emails in Apple Mail.

Why Prefer An IMAP Migration Tool Over Native Import Solutions?

You can use the above solutions to import emails from IMAP to Gmail. However, the native import function of Gmail is only suitable for individual purposes. Also, the GWS data import tool limits IMAP imports to 100 users in a single batch.

To remove such restrictions, using our Recoverfix IMAP Migration tool is beneficial. The software handles the selective import of emails from another account to Gmail with advanced filters.

Final Thoughts

We have discussed several manual approaches to import IMAP emails to Gmail in detail. By performing these mentioned solutions, you can easily import IMAP mail to Gmail.

But, some of its restrictions lead users to choose a professional tool that might be a better option to import IMAP to Gmail data easily. The software allows you to import emails directly from AOL, Fastmail, or Zoho Mail to Gmail with ease.

FAQs About Importing IMAP Emails to Gmail

Q1- Can I import all IMAP emails to Gmail?

Ans: Yes, you can transfer most emails from an active IMAP account to Gmail. The final count depends on:

• Mailbox size
• Migration settings
• Available Gmail storage
• Source-server limitations

Q2- Is it possible to import IMAP folders into Gmail?

Ans: Yes, both Gmail's native import feature and Google Workspace IMAP migration service help you migrate folders or subfolders.

Q3- Why is Gmail not connecting to my IMAP account?

Ans: Check IMAP server details, ports, passwords (including app passwords), SSL/TLS settings, IMAP access, or provider security restrictions.

Q4- How long does it take to import IMAP emails to Gmail?

Ans: Migration time depends on mailbox size, number of emails, attachments, internet speed, source-server performance, and the chosen method.