Google is phasing out two long-standing Gmail features – POP access and Gmailify – impacting millions of users who rely on them to centralize email accounts from other providers. The changes, rolling out throughout 2026, will prevent new users from accessing these features and eventually discontinue them for existing users, fundamentally altering how some manage their inboxes.
For years, Gmailify allowed users to link non-Gmail accounts, such as Outlook or iCloud Mail, to benefit from Gmail’s robust spam filtering, intelligent organization and unified inbox experience. POP, a protocol enabling the download of emails from other services into Gmail, provided another avenue for consolidating email management. The move signals a shift in Google’s strategy, prioritizing its own ecosystem and newer synchronization methods.
The decision primarily affects those who actively use these features to manage multiple email accounts in one place. While Google is ending support for these methods, alternatives are available, though they may not offer the same seamless integration. Understanding these changes and available options is crucial for users who depend on POP and Gmailify to maintain their current email workflows.
What Were POP and Gmailify?
Gmailify extended Gmail’s features – including advanced spam protection and smart categorization – to external email accounts. According to WIRED, this allowed users to benefit from Google’s email infrastructure even when using addresses from other providers. POP, was a protocol that downloaded messages from other email services directly into a user’s Gmail inbox.
While POP was a widely used standard for decades, it has largely been superseded by IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol), a more modern system that synchronizes email across devices without permanently downloading it to a single computer. The shift away from POP reflects the evolving landscape of email access and management.
What are the Alternatives?
Google is offering several alternatives depending on how users currently utilize these features. For those who used Gmailify, the company recommends adding the external account directly to the Gmail mobile app (Android or iPhone) using the IMAP protocol. This allows users to read and send emails from multiple addresses within the app. Though, it’s important to note that not all of Gmail’s intelligent features will be available when using IMAP-connected accounts, and the full experience won’t be replicated on the web version.
Users who relied on POP to access their email on computers are advised to set up automatic forwarding from their original email provider to their Gmail account. This will ensure new messages are delivered directly to their Gmail inbox without relying on the soon-to-be-discontinued protocol. Alternatively, they can also add the external account to the Gmail mobile app via IMAP, providing a centralized location for managing multiple email addresses.
Adding another account to the Gmail app is a straightforward process: open the Gmail app, tap your profile picture in the top right corner, select “Add another account,” choose the corresponding email provider, and follow the on-screen instructions. Manual configuration is also possible, but it requires more technical knowledge.
How to Add Another Account in the Gmail App
The process for integrating a non-Gmail address is simple on both phones and tablets:
- Open the Gmail application.
- Tap on the profile picture located in the upper right corner.
- Select “Add another account.”
- Choose the corresponding email provider and follow the instructions on the screen.
Manual configuration is also an option, though it’s more complex and requires additional technical details. Consulting a technician or software configuration specialist may be beneficial in such cases.
As Google continues to refine its email services, users are encouraged to explore these alternatives to ensure a smooth transition. The changes reflect a broader trend towards streamlined, integrated digital experiences, but also require users to adapt to new methods of managing their email communications. The shift emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying protocols and available options for maintaining access to email across different platforms.
What comes next for Gmail remains to be seen, but Google’s focus on IMAP and its own ecosystem suggests a continued emphasis on integrated services and intelligent features. Users should stay informed about future updates and adjustments to ensure they can effectively manage their email communications in the evolving digital landscape.
Have you been affected by these changes? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.