If you use multiple email accounts through Gmail, you might want to recheck your settings this month—that's because Google is ending support for the POP3 protocol, which can sync email from third-party accounts. And although there are other solutions, they don't work the same way.
POP3 was an older standard for syncing email between multiple accounts that allowed users to import email from a third-party account and manage it in one place. It's also a less secure method of transmitting email, so it's no surprise that Google is phasing it out, but the company hasn't advertised the change too loudly, so it may come as a surprise to some users.
How to Ensure Third-Party Accounts Work in Gmail
If you're still using POP3 to receive email from a third-party account, there are a few ways to fix it before Google disables the feature:
-
Forward emails from other accounts. Instead of Gmail reaching out to your third-party accounts, you can set up automatic forwarding on the other end. How to do this will depend on which email providers you use, so check your third-party account settings for forwarding options.
-
Use IMAP to check email in Gmail apps. In the Gmail app for Android and iOS, you can sign in to third-party email accounts that support IMAP connections.
IMAP works a little differently than POP3. While POP3 imports messages into your Gmail but leaves the original, IMAP syncs between your accounts. So if you use the Gmail app to check your email and delete some messages, they will disappear if you later check the original account.
What are your thoughts so far?
Google's support document says the change will go into effect “beginning in January 2026” without giving any specific time frame. At the time of writing, POP3 support is still working on my email accounts, so it hasn't been disabled yet, but it would be a good idea to update your email settings sooner rather than later.
