Gmail Ends POP3 and Gmailify Support from January 2026
Starting January 2026, Google will discontinue support for Gmailify and the Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3) in its Gmail service. These changes mark a significant shift in how Gmail users can access and manage third-party email accounts through the platform. Gmailify, a feature introduced to extend Gmail’s popular functions such as spam protection, inbox organization, and faster search to non-Gmail email accounts, will no longer be available. This means that users with linked accounts from services like Yahoo, AOL, Outlook, or Hotmail will lose the enhanced Gmail features previously applied to those accounts.
The discontinuation of POP3 support reflects Google’s move toward stronger security and modernized email protocols. POP3, unlike the more current Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), downloads emails from the mail server onto a single device without synchronizing changes back to the server. This protocol can pose security risks because it often transmits usernames and passwords unencrypted and lacks support for two-factor authentication. Moreover, POP3 does not offer real-time syncing or advanced email management capabilities, which limits its usefulness and security in contemporary email use.
As a result of this change, the option to check emails from other accounts using POP3 within the Gmail desktop web interface will be removed entirely. Users who have relied on Gmail to fetch their emails from third-party accounts using POP3 will need to transition to alternative methods. Google emphasizes that users can still access and send emails from other accounts through the Gmail mobile app by adding these accounts with an IMAP connection. IMAP allows emails to be synchronized in real-time across multiple devices while maintaining better security standards, which aligns with Google’s goal of providing the most secure and up-to-date access to email messages.
This change primarily impacts Gmail web users who used the “Check mail from other accounts” feature with POP3. Unlike POP3, the IMAP functionality supported by the Gmail mobile app does not fetch emails into Gmail’s web interface from other service providers. Instead, it connects users’ third-party accounts directly on the mobile device, which means emails accessed this way may not be fully integrated into the Gmail web interface.
For users with work or school accounts managed through Google Workspace, administrators are advised to assist with migrating email data to Google’s platform using data migration services. Google also assures that any emails imported before the January 2026 deadline will remain accessible in users’ Gmail accounts. However, users who have become accustomed to managing multiple email accounts from within Gmail’s web interface will need to explore alternative solutions such as configuring email forwarding from their other accounts or using dedicated email clients that support multiple accounts with IMAP.
Many users have expressed concern that this transition could disrupt workflows, particularly for those who depend on Gmail to centralize their email communications. While the move enhances security and aligns with modern email standards, it also limits the integration previously enjoyed through Gmailify and POP3 fetching. As such, users are encouraged to prepare for the change by enabling IMAP access on their third-party email accounts, migrating their data where applicable, and adopting the Gmail mobile app or other email clients that support IMAP for accessing multiple accounts.
