You can transfer emails, but the method depends on which email service you use and whether you own both accounts
Email transfer is possible, but it is not a single button. Most email services let you download your messages, forward them to another account, or use a tool built into the service itself. The fastest route depends on how many emails you have, which services you are moving between, and whether you need to keep the original account active.
If you are moving away from a bank's email notifications or account alerts, understand that transferring old messages does not automatically redirect future ones. You will need to update your banking contact information separately so new statements, fraud alerts, and payment confirmations go to your new email address.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo each have built-in tools to import messages from another account, usually the fastest option if both accounts are yours.
- Forwarding rules can send future emails to your new account, but they do not move old messages already received.
- Downloading your emails as a file works across any service but requires you to re-import them into your new account manually.
- Bank and financial institution emails require a separate address change in your account settings; transferring old emails does not update where new statements are sent.
- The process can take hours to days depending on volume, so plan the transfer when you do not need immediate access to old messages.
Using your email service's built-in import tool
Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all have import features that pull messages directly from another account. This is the simplest method if you own both the old and new accounts and both use one of these services.
In Gmail, go to Settings, then Accounts and Import, then Import Mail and Contacts. You enter the email address and password of the account you want to import from, and Gmail retrieves your messages. The process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how many emails you have. Gmail will not delete the original messages from your old account—it copies them.
Outlook has a similar feature under Settings, then Mail, then Accounts. Yahoo's import tool is under Account Info, then Security, then Import Contacts and Mail. Each service works the same way: you provide credentials, and the service copies messages over. None of them delete the originals.
Setting up forwarding for future emails
Forwarding sends new incoming messages to your new address automatically, but it does not move old emails. Use forwarding if you want to keep receiving messages at your old account without checking it constantly.
In Gmail, go to Settings, then Forwarding and POP/IMAP, then Add a Forwarding Address. Enter your new email, confirm it (Gmail sends a verification link to that address), then choose whether to keep a copy in your old inbox or forward only. Outlook and Yahoo have similar features under their Settings menus.
Forwarding works even if your old and new accounts are on different services—you can forward a Gmail address to an Outlook address, for example. However, forwarding does not work if your old account is closed or if the email service shuts down access to that account.
Downloading emails as a file and re-importing them
If you need to move emails between services that do not have import tools, or if you want a backup copy, you can download your emails as a file. This method works with any email service but requires more steps.
Gmail and Outlook both allow you to export messages in a standard format called MBOX or PST. In Gmail, use Google Takeout (takeout.google.com), select Mail, and download your messages. In Outlook, use the Export function under File to save messages as a PST file. These files can then be imported into most other email services, though the exact steps vary.
The download can take a long time if you have thousands of emails. Once you have the file, you will need to import it into your new account using that service's import tool or by uploading the file directly. Some services charge for this or limit how many emails you can import at once.
Updating your bank and financial accounts
Transferring emails does not change where your bank sends future statements, alerts, and payment confirmations. You must update your email address in your banking account separately.
Log into your bank's website or app, go to Account Settings or Profile, and look for Contact Information or Email Address. Change it to your new email. Your bank will usually send a confirmation email to the new address before the change takes effect. After that, all new messages from the bank go to your new email.
If you have multiple accounts at the same bank—checking, savings, credit card—check whether they all use the same email or different ones. Some banks let you set a different email for each account. Update each one separately if needed.
What to do if you no longer have access to your old account
If your old email account is locked, suspended, or you have forgotten the password, you cannot use the import tool or set up forwarding. Your options are more limited.
If the account is locked due to suspicious activity, contact the email service's support team. Provide proof of identity and explain that you need to recover the account. This can take days or weeks. If the account is permanently closed or deleted, you cannot retrieve emails from it—they are gone.
If you have an old email address but cannot remember the password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. The service will send a reset link to a recovery email or phone number you set up when you created the account. If you no longer have access to that recovery method, contact support with proof of identity.
Timing and what to expect during the transfer
Email transfers are not instant. A small account with a few hundred messages might transfer in minutes. A large account with years of emails can take hours or even a day. During the transfer, both accounts remain accessible—you can still send and receive emails normally.
If you are using the import tool, check your new account periodically to see if messages have arrived. If you are downloading a file, the download happens in the background, and you can close your browser once it starts. Re-importing the file into your new account is usually faster than the download itself.
Plan the transfer for a time when you do not need to search your old emails urgently. If you are waiting for an important message, wait until after it arrives before starting the transfer, or check your old account one more time before closing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my old emails disappear after I transfer them?
No. Import tools and downloads copy your emails—they do not remove them from the original account. Your old emails stay where they are unless you manually delete them. If you want to close the old account later, you can, but the transfer itself does not erase anything.
Can I transfer emails from a work email to a personal email?
Yes, if you have the password to the work email account and your employer allows it. However, many companies restrict access to work email after you leave, so you may not be able to log in. If your work account is already locked, you cannot transfer emails from it. Check with your employer's IT department about their policy before you leave.
What happens to attachments when I transfer emails?
Attachments transfer along with the messages when you use an import tool or download a file. However, if you use forwarding, attachments are included in the forwarded message but may count toward your new account's storage limit. Very large attachments sometimes fail to forward, so check a few forwarded messages to confirm everything came through.
Do I need to update my bank if I change my email address?
Yes. Transferring old emails does not tell your bank about your new address. Log into your banking account and update your email in the settings. Your bank will send a confirmation to the new address, and after that, all statements and alerts go there. If you do not update it, you will miss important notifications.
Can I transfer emails if I do not remember my old password?
You can reset the password using the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. The service sends a reset link to a recovery email or phone number you provided when you created the account. If you no longer have access to that recovery method, contact the email service's support team with proof of identity. Without either of these, you cannot access the account to transfer emails.