How to Import Archived Email Using Gmail

Switching to a new email account can be troublesome if it means losing copies of messages you've received in a different account and want to continue saving. Gmail doesn't allow you to directly import archived messages that are stored on your computer. However, with an IMAP email account and some patience, you can work around this problem and import archived email into your Gmail account.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get an IMAP-based email account. If you current email account already supports IMAP and your email is hosted on the mail server, then you're already done and can move on to Step 3. Otherwise, sign up for a new email account that offers IMAP support.

2. Configure your current email program to access the new IMAP account. Copy all the email to put into your Gmail account's Inbox of your new IMAP account folder by folder. Copy all messages to save from your current Inbox, archived mail folders, and sent-mail folder.

3. Check the settings in your IMAP account to make sure POP access is enabled. If it isn't, turn it on. Set your current email address to forward all new messages to your IMAP account. Stop using your current email client.

4. Use the IMAP account instead. Remember to leave any messages you wish to keep in the Inbox so they can be fetched into Gmail later.

5. Sign in to your new Gmail account. Enable the Gmail Mail Fetcher and set it to fetch email from your IMAP account, making sure to leave the option called "Leave a copy of retrieved messages on the server" unchecked.

6. Wait patiently. Every 60 to 90 minutes, Gmail polls your IMAP account for new mail and download 200 messages each time. It downloads between 3600 and 4800 messages every 24 hours.

7. Continue to use your IMAP account to read email while the fetch process continues. The fetch process could take several days, depending on the number of achived emails.

8. Set your current email address to forward new messages directly to Gmail once the feetch process is complete. Set the IMAP account to forward new messages or close the account completely. Read and reply to messages from now on using your Gmail account.

Tips & Warnings

• You can change the status of all messages in your Gmail account to "read" by choosing "Select: All" from above the message list. On the next line, click the link that "Select all (however many) conversations in Inbox". From the "More Actions" drop down list, choose "Mark as read."

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