Gmail Loader (GML) is a legacy tool, not the recommended way to import old mail today. Its creator deprecated it and pointed users to Gmail’s built-in import, POP, and IMAP options. Choose a method based on where your messages are stored: a hosted account, a local mbox archive, or a Google Workspace migration.
Choose the right way to import your old mail
| Where the mail is | Recommended route | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Still hosted by a provider that supports POP | Gmail’s web import | Imports messages, not folders or labels; new mail is forwarded for 30 days after import. |
| Still hosted by a provider that supports IMAP | Use an IMAP-capable migration tool or a desktop mail client connected to both accounts | Requires IMAP access and account setup. |
| Local mbox archive for Google Workspace | Google’s import-mailbox-to-gmail utility | Google recommends testing with a test user before migrating real mailboxes. |
| Many messages or an application-driven migration to Workspace | Gmail API message import | Requires API authorization and implementation; maximum message size is 150 MB. |
| Past mail at an IMAP provider, migrating to Workspace | Workspace admin IMAP import | Google announced general availability on September 23, 2026; it currently imports one user at a time. |
Import mail from a POP-enabled account in Gmail
For a consumer Gmail account, use Gmail’s built-in web import when the old provider still hosts the messages and offers POP access. Google’s Gmail Help instructions describe the import workflow.
- Open Gmail on the web.
- Select Settings, then See all settings.
- Open Accounts and Import.
- Under Import mail and contacts, start the import and follow the prompts for the old account.
This brings messages into Gmail but does not preserve the old account’s folders or labels as Gmail labels. Google’s consumer import also forwards new messages from the old account for 30 days after the import. That forwarding period is part of this workflow, not a permanent sync.
Move messages from an IMAP account
If the old provider supports IMAP, an IMAP-capable migration path or a desktop client connected to both accounts is generally a better fit than GML. Mark Lyon, GML’s creator, recommended enabling IMAP and dragging messages from the old mailbox into Gmail. He said this avoids ISP restrictions on sending and preserves original dates. Availability and behavior can depend on the mail client and account configuration, so confirm that the messages land in the intended Gmail folders and retain their dates.
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Import a local mbox archive to Google Workspace
For a local mbox archive and a Google Workspace mailbox, Google provides the import-mailbox-to-gmail utility. It accepts mbox files arranged in per-user folders and uses filenames as Gmail labels. The utility can be run as a Windows executable or with Python. Google explicitly recommends testing with a test user before importing real mailboxes; use that test to verify labels, message counts, and the resulting mailbox before scaling up.
Use the Gmail API for a programmatic import
Developers can import individual messages into a user’s mailbox with the Gmail API’s users.messages.import endpoint. Google says this imports a message without sending it, while applying normal delivery scanning and classification. The current API reference sets a maximum message size of 150 MB. An appropriate Gmail authorization scope, such as gmail.insert, is required. This is an API-based workflow, not a consumer Gmail interface for selecting an archive.
Use Workspace’s newer IMAP migration for past mail
Google Workspace Updates announced general availability on September 23, 2026, for an admin feature that imports past email from any IMAP-based provider while setting up Google Workspace. Google described it as a simplified migration route; at announcement, it imported one user at a time. See the Google Workspace Updates announcement for the feature details. Organizations migrating multiple users should account for that one-user-at-a-time limit.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Gmail Loader (GML) still supported?
No current support or compatible release should be assumed. Lyon’s 2013 post, “Gmail Loader Deprecated”, says: “These new options are superior methods for importing mail.” He identified Gmail’s built-in webmail import, POP retrieval, and IMAP drag-and-drop as alternatives. GML remails messages one at a time, which can change the displayed inbox timestamp, and an ISP may block the direct sending it relies on. A version 0.5 dated June 25, 2004 appears in historical third-party documentation, but that is not evidence of a current supported release or download.
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Pick by archive type and scale
- Old account still online, POP available: use Gmail’s web import for a consumer mailbox.
- Old account still online, IMAP available: use an IMAP migration method or a desktop client connected to both accounts.
- Local mbox for Workspace: test Google’s utility with a test user before migration.
- Application-driven import: use the Gmail API if you can handle authorization and per-message processing.
- Workspace migration from an IMAP provider: consider the admin import feature, keeping its one-user-at-a-time behavior in mind.
- Maildir archive: the cited Google utility documentation specifies mbox; it does not establish direct Maildir support. Use an IMAP-capable client or migration route rather than assuming GML or the utility accepts Maildir.
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