Google has confirmed that from January 2026, Gmail will no longer support two functions that were crucial for users who were used to having multiple email accounts in one place. These are the option “Check mail from other accounts” based on the POP protocol, as well as Gmailifya feature that enabled the application of Gmail filters and spam protection for other email services.
This practically means that users will no longer be able to automatically download messages from other email accounts via POP in the desktop version of Gmail, nor to use Gmail tools to organize and filter mail that does not come from a Google account. For those who have been using Gmail as a central place to manage their personal and business email addresses, this change will have a noticeable impact.
What are the official alternatives
At the same time, Google listed two official alternatives for users who still want to access other email accounts through Gmail.
The first option is automatic message forwarding. Users can turn on automatic in the settings of other email services forwardingto direct new messages directly to the main Gmail Inbox. In this way, similar behavior is achieved as with the previous POP download, but without direct synchronization of the account.
The second option is for the mobile Gmail app. Google has confirmed that the Gmail app for Android, iPhone and iPad will still allow you to add other email accounts via standard IMAP connectivity. Users will be able to read and send messages from those accounts, but without Gmailify features like advanced filtering and automatic organization.
For users using work or school accounts, Google recommends contacting an administrator to migrate mail to Google Workspace, which remains a long-term solution within the Google ecosystem.