Bluehost Web Hosting Help

How To Migrate An IMAP Email Account - Moving IMAP Email Servers

Migrating IMAP email from one server to another.

When you move to a new Email provider, existing mail is not typically migrated over into the new mailbox. Email Migration is the process of migrating an email message (or messages) from one mail client into another mail client. An equivalent term is Mailbox Migration, in which case records such as e-mails, appointments, contacts or tasks may also be migrated. Usually email clients don't support similar file formats for saving mailbox data, so you will need to use IMAP to migrate mail from server to server. Bluehost servers support IMAP. The other server/host you are pulling emails from, or taking emails to, also needs to support it.

You will Need:

  • The password for the email account you are wanting to migrate.
  • An IMAP-capable local email client. Most email clients like Thunderbird, Outlook, and Apple Mail, will support IMAP email accounts.

Instructions:

  1. The same email account needs to be at both locations. So on the new server you need to create the same email address with the same spelling and capitalization.
  2. The new email address needs to have the same password. (After you are done migrating it is advisable to change your password).
  3. Now comes the interesting part. Because you will be referencing two servers, you need to create two email accounts in your email client(This is Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail, etc).
  4. They will use the same email address.
  5. They will use the same password.
  6. They will be configured the same(using IMAP)
  7. The incoming server (IMAP server) is where things will get different. For your older server, put in the IP address for it. For the new server, put in the domain name. (This will help differentiate between the two and avoid confusion).If you are stuck with having the same domain name for both locations, then please use the IP address instead.

Make certain they both connect. Then you can drag and drop messages between the accounts. Please give it time to move them over. If you have thousands of emails and/or large files or attachments, it will take some time.

Knowledgebase Article 209,492 views bookmark tags: email imap migrate


Was this resource helpful?

Did this resolve your issue?


Please add any other comments or suggestions about this content:





Recommended Help Content

IMAP Connection Limit

Can I make multiple IMAP connections to the same email address?

How To Setup An Email Account - Create A New Email Account

Learn how to create an email account associated with your domain name

Subscribing to Mail Folders

Instructions on how to resubscribe to the IMAP folders

Related Help Content

How To Setup Email Account - Client Setup SSL/TLS Settings - POP & IMAP

How to setup your Bluehost-hosted email address with an email application.

Email Management - Account-Level Email Filters

Account level Filters.

How To Setup Outlook 2013 On Windows - Outlook 2013 Email Guide

How to setup an email account using Microsoft Outlook 2013

How To Check Email - Webmail & Email Applications

So, you want to access your email, eh? You're going to need an email client for that. But what is an email client? Email clients come in two varieties: webmail and email applications.

Email Application Setup - Outlook 2007 for Windows

How to setup an email account using Microsoft Outlook 2007

Email Application Setup - Outlook 2010 for Windows

How to setup an email account using Microsoft Outlook 2010

Email Application Setup - Outlook Express

Configuring your email client: Outlook Express.

How To View All Email Accounts From One Account - Combine Email Addresses

I am no longer able to view any email account's email from the main username's email account.