> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://perfgrid.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Import email

> Copy IMAP mail from another provider into an existing Grid Hosting mailbox.

**Import mail** copies messages from your old provider into a mailbox that already exists on your Grid Hosting account. Open it from **Emails** → **Import**.

The source must be **IMAP**. POP3 is not supported. Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 need an **app password**, and IMAP must be turned on there. There is no OAuth sign-in yet.

Create the **destination mailbox** here first. The import does not create it.

Folders are copied **as they are** on the source, including nested folders.

Passwords you enter for the import are **deleted when the import finishes**.

## Limits

There is no separate timeout. A large mailbox can run for **hours**. The limit is the **email disk space** on the hosting account.

Messages already copied stay on the destination. Start the import again to **continue** from where it left off.

## Start an import

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create the destination mailbox">
    In [hosting-panel.net](https://hosting-panel.net), go to **Emails** → **Accounts** and create the mailbox that should receive the mail, if it does not exist yet.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Import">
    Go to **Emails** → **Import**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the destination">
    Select **Destination**, then click **Continue**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://perfgrid-guides.s3.eu-west-par.io.cloud.ovh.net/EjFAjeKXqJZJZykTO9b9kKiTn.png" alt="Import mail step with Destination mailbox selected" style={{ borderRadius: '0.5rem' }} />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose where the mail is today">
    Select **Another web host / cPanel**, **Generic IMAP**, **Gmail (app password)**, or **Microsoft 365 (app password)**, then click **Continue**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://perfgrid-guides.s3.eu-west-par.io.cloud.ovh.net/SJIxpYKgZxoeaO5xE2OozB9vl.png" alt="Import mail source options for another web host, generic IMAP, Gmail, and Microsoft 365" style={{ borderRadius: '0.5rem' }} />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect to the source">
    Enter **Source hostname**, **Port**, **Encryption**, **Source username**, and **Source password**. Also enter **This mailbox's password** — the password you set when you created the destination mailbox here, not the old one.

    Defaults for a typical IMAP server are port **993** and **SSL**. Click **Test connection**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://perfgrid-guides.s3.eu-west-par.io.cloud.ovh.net/GqAZqjwYCKn8z36C9gnwcPIYv.png" alt="Import mail connect form with source hostname, port 993, SSL, and password fields" style={{ borderRadius: '0.5rem' }} />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review remote folders">
    After a successful test, **Remote folders** lists the source folders and message counts. Nested folders appear with a `/` in the name.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://perfgrid-guides.s3.eu-west-par.io.cloud.ovh.net/BRYmqPeu8XWrfZfjpLEiibw66.png" alt="Remote folders list with message counts including INBOX and nested Archive folders" style={{ borderRadius: '0.5rem' }} />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Let the import run">
    Click **Start import** (blue, below the folder list). The page updates by itself. There is no countdown. You can **Cancel** if you need to stop.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://perfgrid-guides.s3.eu-west-par.io.cloud.ovh.net/dG7oiS4Kofa5eE26kNHrDJHCI.png" alt="Running import showing current folder and messages copied of the source total" style={{ borderRadius: '0.5rem' }} />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Active imports** on the Import tab show each destination mailbox, how many messages have copied, and a **Running** status. Open the row for the live progress view.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://perfgrid-guides.s3.eu-west-par.io.cloud.ovh.net/Wonb2Ca1nbxjzVBjpcoE9M76w.png" alt="Import tab Active imports list with a running import and message progress" style={{ borderRadius: '0.5rem' }} />
</Frame>

When you are satisfied, point mail apps at Grid Hosting. Update MX if they still point at the old provider. If this domain should keep using Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or another host for mail, set [external mail routing](/docs/grid-hosting/email/configure-mail-routing-for-external-email-services) instead of importing.

## Related articles

* [POP3 information](/docs/grid-hosting/email/pop3-information)
* [Configure mail routing for external email services](/docs/grid-hosting/email/configure-mail-routing-for-external-email-services)