Google Is Ending Gmailify in January 2026: What It Means and What to Do Next
If you use Gmail to manage emails from other providers like Outlook, Yahoo or your own domain, there’s a big change coming. Google has confirmed that the Gmailify feature and the desktop “Check mail from other accounts” POP fetching will be discontinued starting January 2026.
That means you will no longer be able to pull third-party emails into your Gmail inbox on the web in the same way you do now. For many people who rely on Gmail as an “all-in-one” inbox, this is a significant shift – but there are good alternatives and workarounds.
In this article, we’ll break down what’s changing, when it’s happening, and what you can do to prepare, plus a few alternative tools you can switch to.
What Is Gmailify?
Gmailify is (or was) a Gmail feature that allows you to link non-Google email accounts (like Yahoo, Outlook, or some IMAP/POP providers) to Gmail and still enjoy many of Gmail’s smart features, including:
- Gmail’s powerful spam filtering
- Inbox categories (Primary, Social, Promotions, etc.)
- Better email notifications on mobile
- Improved search using Gmail’s advanced search tools
On top of that, the related feature called “Check mail from other accounts” allowed Gmail to fetch messages via POP from third-party accounts and display everything in a single inbox inside Gmail on the web.
In short: Gmailify turned Gmail into a central hub where you could read and send email from multiple providers without leaving your Gmail account.
When Is Gmailify Ending?
According to Google’s official support documentation, Gmailify and the POP-based “Check mail from other accounts” feature will stop working from January 2026. Some reports specify that POP import is scheduled to end on 1 January 2026, so it’s safest to assume the changes will effectively apply from the very start of the month.
Practically speaking, that means:
- From January 2026 onwards, you won’t be able to use Gmailify to apply Gmail’s special features (spam filtering, categories, etc.) to your non-Google inbox.
- The option in Gmail on desktop called “Check mail from other accounts” (which uses POP to pull in messages) will no longer be available.
What Exactly Is Changing?
1. Gmailify Is Being Retired
The Gmailify integration that upgrades third-party accounts with Gmail features is going away. If you currently have, for example, a Yahoo or Outlook account “Gmailified” into your Gmail, those extra smart features will no longer be applied to new messages after the change takes effect.
2. POP “Check Mail from Other Accounts” Is Ending
The desktop Gmail setting that lets you fetch emails from other accounts via POP is also being discontinued. This is the feature many people use to pull in messages from:
- Other free providers (Yahoo, Outlook, GMX, etc.)
- Custom domain email (e.g. [email protected]) hosted elsewhere
After January 2026, Gmail on the web will no longer act as a central POP inbox for those external accounts.
3. What Stays the Same?
- Existing imported emails will remain in your Gmail account. Google is not deleting messages that were already fetched or synced.
- You can still access third-party accounts via IMAP in the Gmail mobile app on Android and iOS.
- You can continue to use Gmail itself with third-party email clients (like Thunderbird or Outlook) via IMAP or POP, if your setup relies on that.
Will I Lose My Existing Emails?
No. Google has stated that emails that have already been imported or synced into your Gmail account will remain there. They are not being automatically removed when Gmailify and POP fetching are turned off.
The change applies to future emails – i.e. once the Gmailify and “Check mail from other accounts” features are disabled, Gmail will simply stop pulling in new messages from your external accounts.
Alternatives to Gmailify & POP Fetching
The good news is that you still have several solid options for managing multiple email accounts in one place once Gmailify disappears.
1. Use a Dedicated Email Client (Desktop or Mobile)
Instead of relying on Gmail’s web interface to combine accounts, you can move that role to an email client. These tools let you add multiple accounts (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, custom domains, etc.) and view everything in one app.
- Thunderbird – Free, open source, and very powerful.https://www.thunderbird.net/
- Microsoft Outlook – Part of Microsoft 365, widely used in business, supports IMAP, POP and Exchange.Outlook email and calendar
- eM Client – User-friendly desktop client for Windows and macOS with good multiple-account support.https://www.emclient.com/
- Mailbird (Windows) or Apple Mail (macOS) – Both can handle multiple accounts via IMAP/POP.
With these tools, you add each email account directly (via IMAP or POP), and the client does the consolidation instead of Gmail.
2. Use Forwarding from Your Other Providers
If your external email provider allows it, you can:
- Set up automatic forwarding from that account to your main Gmail address.
- Configure Gmail to send mail as that external address using SMTP (if still available in your account settings).
This can give you something close to the old “all-in-one inbox” behaviour, although it won’t restore Gmailify’s special features and may introduce quirks around SPF/DKIM and reply behaviour depending on how it’s configured.
3. Move to a Different “Hub” Provider
If you’d prefer not to rely on Gmail at all, you could migrate to a privacy-focused or power-user-friendly email provider that still supports pulling in third-party accounts or offers robust aliasing. For example:
- Proton Mail https://proton.me/mail
- Fastmail https://www.fastmail.com/
These services usually offer good tools for managing multiple addresses, custom domains and aliases in one interface.
How to Prepare Before January 2026
If you currently rely on Gmailify or POP fetching inside Gmail’s web interface, it’s a good idea to plan your transition before January 2026 so there are no surprises.
- List all the external accounts that are connected to Gmail via Gmailify or “Check mail from other accounts”.
- Decide whether you want to:
- Use a dedicated email client (Thunderbird, Outlook, etc.).
- Use forwarding from each external account into Gmail.
- Migrate to a different email provider entirely.
- Test your new setup (send and receive) well before January 2026 so you can fix any issues.
- Update any important logins or online services if you decide to change your main email address.
FAQ: Gmailify Ending in January 2026
When exactly is Gmailify ending?
Google has announced that Gmailify and the POP-based “Check mail from other accounts” feature in Gmail will be discontinued starting January 2026. Some sources indicate POP import may end on 1 January 2026, so it’s wise to have an alternative in place before the end of 2025.
Will my existing imported emails be deleted?
No. Emails that have already been imported or synced into your Gmail account will remain there. The change only affects future email fetching via Gmailify and POP.
Can I still use non-Google accounts in Gmail at all?
Yes, but with limitations. After January 2026, you can still use non-Google accounts in the Gmail mobile app (Android and iOS) using a standard IMAP connection. However, the desktop Gmail web interface will no longer fetch mail from those accounts via Gmailify or POP.
Is POP support gone completely?
Gmail will no longer support using POP to pull in messages from third-party accounts via the “Check mail from other accounts” setting. However, you can still use POP or IMAP in other email clients (like Thunderbird or Outlook) to access your Gmail account or other email accounts directly.
What’s the best alternative if I liked having one inbox?
If you relied on Gmail as your one-stop inbox, the closest alternative is to use a dedicated email client such as Thunderbird or Outlook and add all your email accounts there. This keeps everything in one place without depending on Gmailify or POP fetching.
Summary: Gmailify and Gmail’s POP “Check mail from other accounts” feature are being phased out from January 2026. Now is the ideal time to review how you manage email, choose an alternative setup, and make sure everything is working smoothly before the switch.
