Gmail is Ending POP3 Support: What You Need to Know (and How to Fix It)

If you use Gmail as a "command center" for all your email addresses, your workflow is about to face a major disruption. Google has officially announced that it is discontinuing support for POP3-based email importing and the Gmailify feature.

By January 20, 2026, the "Check mail from other accounts" feature—which millions of users rely on to pull emails from Yahoo, Outlook, or custom domains into Gmail—will stop working.

In this guide, we’ll explain why this is happening and how to ensure you don’t miss any important messages.

Why is Gmail Ending POP3 Support?

Google is phasing out POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) primarily for security and modernization.

• Plaintext Passwords: POP3 often transmits login credentials in plaintext, making them vulnerable to interception.
• No Multi-Device Sync: Unlike IMAP, POP3 was designed for a single-device world. It downloads emails to one location, often deleting them from the original server, which creates chaos if you use both a phone and a computer.
• The Rise of OAuth: Google is moving toward OAuth (Open Authorization), a much more secure "token-based" login method that doesn't require sharing your actual password with third-party apps.

What Features are Being Removed?

• POP3 Fetching: The ability to "fetch" mail from external servers directly through Gmail’s web interface.
• Gmailify: The feature that allowed non-Gmail accounts (like Yahoo or Hotmail) to use Gmail’s spam protection, labels, and organization tools.

How to Keep Your Emails Syncing: 3 Solutions

Don't worry—you won't lose your existing emails. However, to keep receiving new emails from your other accounts in Gmail, you need to switch to one of these methods:

1. Set Up Automatic Email Forwarding (Best for Desktop)

This is the most reliable way to continue seeing all your mail in one Gmail inbox.

• The Fix: Log into your original email provider (e.g., Yahoo, Outlook, or your web host). Go to settings and look for "Forwarding." Enter your Gmail address as the destination.
• Pro Tip: This "pushes" mail to Gmail instantly, often faster than the old POP3 "fetching" method.

2. Use IMAP on the Gmail Mobile App

While the web version of Gmail is losing "fetching" capabilities, the Gmail app for Android and iOS will still support third-party accounts via IMAP.

• The Fix: Open the Gmail app, tap your profile icon, and select "Add another account." Choose your provider and sign in.
• Note: Your accounts will appear as separate inboxes rather than one unified list, but they will stay perfectly synced across all your devices.

3. Move to Google Workspace (For Businesses)

If you are using a custom domain for work, Google recommends migrating your email hosting entirely to Google Workspace.

• The Fix: Use Google’s Data Migration Service to permanently move your old archives and manage your domain directly through Gmail’s infrastructure.