The most direct way to transfer Gmail data to another Gmail account is by using Gmail's built-in "Import mail and contacts" feature. This tool moves your existing emails, contacts, and labels from your old account directly into your new one without needing to download or upload files.
The direct way to transfer Gmail data to another Gmail: Step-by-step instructions for Gmail's built-in 'Import mail and contacts' feature
This is the most straightforward method because it is built into Gmail and handles the transfer on Google's servers. To use it, sign in to your new (destination) Gmail account first.
- Click the gear icon in the top-right corner, then select "See all settings."
- Navigate to the "Accounts and Import" tab.
- Under the "Import mail and contacts" section, click "Import mail and contacts."
- Enter your old Gmail address and follow the on-screen prompts to sign in and grant the necessary permissions.
- Choose what to import (emails, contacts, and labels) and start the process. This may take several hours or days depending on the amount of data.
Once complete, all your imported emails will appear in a new label called "Imported" in your new account. You can move them to your main inbox or organize them as you like.
What to do if the import fails: enable POP access
If the import process fails or you receive a prompt asking for additional setup, you may need to enable POP access in your old Gmail account. While some sources note that Gmail ended POP3 support in January 2026, Google's official help page still includes enabling POP as a step for importing mail, so it remains the recommended troubleshooting step.
- Sign in to your old Gmail account.
- Go to "Settings" > "See all settings" > "Forwarding and POP/IMAP."
- Select "Enable POP for all mail" or "Enable POP for mail that arrives from now on."
- Click "Save Changes," then retry the import process from your new account.
Enabling POP ensures the import tool can access your old messages even if the standard connection method encounters issues. As an alternative manual transfer method, after enabling POP in the old account's "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab, go to the new account's "Accounts and Import" > "Check mail from other accounts" and add the old account there.
How to forward new emails as a backup
While the import tool moves your existing data, it does not capture new emails that arrive in your old account after the import starts. To catch these, set up email forwarding from your old account to your new one as a backup during the transition period.
- Check the confirmation email sent to your new account and click the verification link.
- Click "Save Changes."
This ensures no email is lost while you complete the full data transfer. Once you are confident all important messages have moved, you can disable forwarding.
Why Google Takeout is not the right tool for this job
Google Takeout is primarily an archiving tool, and Gmail does not directly support importing the resulting .mbox files back into another Gmail account. The original article incorrectly promoted Takeout as a transfer method, but it is designed for creating a personal backup, not for moving data between accounts. If you use Takeout, you will end up with a downloadable archive that you cannot re-upload to Gmail without third-party software. For a direct account-to-account transfer, stick with the built-in "Import mail and contacts" feature described above. If you are instead trying to transfer data from one Samsung phone to another, the process differs entirely and involves tools like Smart Switch, not Gmail settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my labels and filters be transferred to the new Gmail account?
Yes, when you use the "Import mail and contacts" feature, your existing labels are transferred along with your emails. Filters, however, are not automatically moved and must be recreated manually in your new account's settings.
What about my contacts and calendars?
The import tool transfers contacts directly. For calendars, you need to export them from your old account using Google Calendar's "Export" option, then import the resulting file into your new account. Calendars are not included in the email import process.
Can I transfer Gmail data between different domain names?
Yes, the "Import mail and contacts" feature works between any two Gmail accounts, including those with custom domains (such as Google Workspace accounts). The process is the same, though you may need to verify ownership of the old domain if using a business account.
Is it possible to transfer Gmail data between different domain names?
Yes, the import tool works across different domains, but you may need to verify domain ownership or set up domain aliases. Consult your domain administrator for assistance with these steps.
How long does the import process take?
The time depends on the amount of data. A small account (a few thousand emails) may complete in a few hours, while a large account (hundreds of thousands of emails) can take several days. You can close your browser during the process; it continues on Google's servers.
