Google’s decision to end support for the POP3 email protocol is pushing many users to take action before it’s too late. POP3, or Post Office Protocol 3, has long been a reliable way to automatically transfer emails from one account to another. With Google planning to disable this feature for existing users later in 2026, now is the perfect time to clean out your Gmail inbox and reclaim the 15GB of free storage that came with your account.

For years, Gmail users have enjoyed a generous 15GB of complimentary storage, but that space isn’t reserved solely for emails. It also covers Google Drive files and Google Photos, meaning a busy inbox filled with large attachments can quickly eat into your capacity. Once you hit the limit, you stop receiving new messages and cannot send emails until you free up space or upgrade to a paid Google One plan. The cheapest option — 100GB for $20 per year — works well for many, but you shouldn’t have to pay just to store old newsletters and promotional emails.

If you prefer a free solution, you can transfer all of your old messages to a second Gmail account using POP3. This method essentially gives you a dedicated archive account, allowing you to wipe your primary inbox clean without losing any data. The process takes a few days for large inboxes, but the result is a fresh start with zero storage usage. Below, we explain exactly how to set up the transfer, including important steps like backing up your emails and creating a Google app password if needed.

Understanding the Urgency

Google first announced its intention to phase out POP3 support in early 2026. New users lost access to the protocol during the first quarter, but existing users were given a grace period that extends until later this year. After that, you will no longer be able to use POP3 to automatically fetch emails from your Gmail account. While you can still manually download emails using IMAP or Google Takeout, the automatic, hands‑off nature of POP3 makes it the most convenient option for bulk transfers.

Because of this deadline, you should begin the transfer process as soon as possible. The actual transfer can take up to several days for accounts with tens of thousands of messages, so delaying may leave you scrambling just before Google pulls the plug. Remember that after the protocol is disabled, you will need to rely on alternative methods that are either more technically demanding or less efficient.

Backup First: Using Google Takeout

Before you start linking accounts, it’s wise to create a local backup of your emails. Google Takeout is a free service that exports all your data, including Gmail messages, into a downloadable archive. In a recent test, a Gmail account containing about 75,000 messages produced a complete download in approximately two hours. This backup ensures you have an independent copy in case anything goes wrong during the transfer.

To use Google Takeout, visit the service’s page, deselect all data types except Mail, and choose your preferred export format and delivery method. Once the archive is ready, you can download it to your computer or an external hard drive. Keep this backup saved until you have confirmed that all emails have arrived safely in the new account.

Step-by-Step Transfer Instructions

Once your backup is complete, you are ready to start the transfer. Follow these steps carefully:

1. Log into your original Gmail account and click the gear icon in the top‑right corner, then choose See all settings.
2. Navigate to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. Under the POP Download section, select Enable POP for all mail. This tells Gmail to allow a third party to fetch all existing messages.
3. Choose what happens to the emails after they are downloaded. To automatically delete them from your original account once they are transferred, select Delete Gmail’s copy. If you prefer to keep copies, you can select Keep Gmail’s copy in the Inbox — but that will not free up storage.
4. Click Save Changes.
5. Create or log into your new archive account. This will be the destination for all your old emails.
6. In the new account, go to Settings → See all settings → Accounts and Import tab.
7. Next to Check mail from other accounts, click Add a mail account.
8. Enter the email address of your original account, then click Next.
9. Select Import emails from my other account (POP3) and click Next again.
10. Enter the password of your original account. If the standard password does not work, you will likely need to create a Google app password (instructions below).
11. Set the Port to 995. Ensure the box Always use a secure connection (SSL) when retrieving mail is checked.
12. Check the boxes Label incoming messages and Archive incoming messages (Skip the Inbox). The first option helps you identify imported messages, and the second keeps your new inbox tidy.
13. Click Add Account.

You may also be prompted to confirm whether you want to be able to send mail from your original address using the new account. This is optional but can be useful if you continue to use both accounts.

Creating a Google App Password

During testing, standard Gmail passwords were rejected when trying to link accounts via POP3. The solution is to create a temporary app password. App passwords are 16‑digit codes that allow less secure apps or services to access your Google account without using your main password.

To generate one, go to https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords. Note that you must have 2‑Step Verification enabled on your account. Once there, give the password a name (e.g., “Bulk Email Transfer”), click Create, and copy the 16‑digit code that appears. Return to the transfer setup and paste this code instead of your regular password.

Important: Google displays the app password only once. Write it down or save it securely. After the transfer is complete, you should delete this app password from your account settings. Also, note that app passwords are not recommended for everyday use, but they remain a necessary workaround for POP3 migrations.

What Happens After the Transfer Begins

Once you’ve completed the setup, the transfer will start automatically and run in the background. The time required depends on the volume of emails. For a test account with 75,000 messages, the entire process took roughly two full days. During this period, you can continue to use both accounts normally, though you may experience slower sync speeds if you are also sending and receiving new emails.

After all messages have been moved to the archive account, your original Gmail account will place the deleted emails into the Trash folder. You must manually empty the Trash to actually free up storage. In the test case, emptying 75,000 messages took about an hour. Once the Trash is empty, check your storage usage. The same test account went from using 12GB (80% of the free limit) to just 0.66GB — a dramatic recovery.

Important Notes and Limitations

The POP3 transfer does not move Drafts or Spam messages. Drafts remain in the original account and must be handled manually — you can either delete them, leave them, or forward them to your new account. Spam messages are automatically deleted by Gmail after 30 days, so you can simply wait for them to disappear or empty the Spam folder manually after the transfer.

Once all emails are successfully imported, it is crucial to stop the automatic sync to avoid duplicating future messages. To do this, log into your new archive account, go to Settings → Accounts and Import, and next to Check mail from other accounts, click Delete for the original account. Confirm the deletion. If you created an app password, visit the app passwords page and remove the one you generated.

Finally, keep in mind that Google will delete accounts that remain inactive for more than two years. Even if you only use your archive account as a repository, make sure to log in at least once every two years to keep it active. You can set a simple reminder on your calendar to check the account periodically.

By following this guide, you can take full advantage of the last few months of POP3 support and free up your Gmail storage without spending a cent. The process is straightforward, though it requires a bit of patience while the transfer completes. Once finished, you will enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a clean, uncluttered inbox and the ability to receive new messages again without hitting the storage limit. Remember to back up your data first, create an app password if needed, and empty the Trash after the transfer. Do not wait until the last minute — Google’s deadline is approaching, and the POP3 window is closing.

Source: CNET News