TL;DR
Google will stop supporting Gmailify and POP3 mail fetching in January 2026, a change announced quietly in a support note. The Gmail mobile app will still allow access to those accounts, but Gmail itself will no longer retrieve third-party mail via POP.
What happened
In a support update posted by Google, Gmail will discontinue two legacy features starting January 2026: Gmailify (which applied Gmail features like spam protection and inbox organization to third-party addresses) and the ability for Gmail to fetch mail from other providers using the POP3 protocol. The notice appeared as a support article titled about upcoming changes to Gmailify and POP in Gmail rather than a broad public announcement. Some readers found the support pages inaccessible in Firefox and viewable only in Chrome. The company has been asked for comment. Google says the service will not retrieve messages from external accounts via POP going forward, though the Gmail mobile application will still permit access to those third-party accounts. Users who rely on Gmail as a single hub for older accounts are being advised to consider alternatives, including switching to an IMAP-based setup or using a local email client.
Why it matters
- Many users rely on Gmail's POP fetching to consolidate mail from older or third-party accounts into a single inbox.
- Removing Gmailify removes a shortcut that applied Gmail's spam filtering and organization to non‑Gmail addresses.
- POP3's security limitations have been cited by observers as a possible factor, raising questions about how providers balance legacy support and safety.
- The change will force some users to adopt other access methods (IMAP or local clients), adding migration or configuration work.
Key facts
- Start date: Google will stop supporting Gmailify and POP mail fetching beginning January 2026 (as stated in the support note).
- Gmailify: Google will discontinue the feature that applied Gmail features to third-party accounts.
- POP3 fetch: Gmail will no longer retrieve external accounts via the POP protocol.
- Gmail mobile app: The mobile app can still be used to access those third-party accounts, but Gmail's server-side fetching will end.
- Announcement format: The change was communicated via a support article rather than a prominent public statement.
- Browser access: The reporting outlet noted the support pages were locked in Firefox and could be accessed using Chrome.
- Security speculation: Some market observers suggested the move may relate to POP3's practice of sending passwords in cleartext; Google has been asked to comment.
- User impact: At least one public user (developer/blogger Jamie Zawinski) indicated dissatisfaction and said switching to IMAP does not resolve his situation.
- Suggested alternatives in reporting: The article recommended using a local email client such as MZLA Thunderbird as a replacement for server-side aggregation.
What to watch next
- Whether Google will publish migration guidance or tools for affected Gmailify and POP users — not confirmed in the source
- If Google will replace the removed features with alternative integrations or extended IMAP support — not confirmed in the source
- Any follow-up statements or broader notices from Google clarifying the security or policy reasons for the change — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- POP3: An older email retrieval protocol that downloads messages from a mail server to a client; it typically does not synchronize state across multiple devices.
- IMAP: An email protocol that keeps messages on the server and synchronizes read/unread and folder state across multiple clients and devices.
- Gmailify: A Gmail feature that applied Gmail's spam protection and inbox organization to external email accounts that were linked to a Gmail address.
- Local email client: Software installed on a computer that connects to mail servers (via POP, IMAP, Exchange, etc.) to download and manage email locally.
Reader FAQ
When will Gmail stop fetching mail via POP3 and end Gmailify?
The support note states the changes take effect starting January 2026.
Will I still be able to access third‑party accounts from Gmail?
The report says the Gmail mobile app will still allow access to those accounts, but Gmail's server-side fetching via POP will end.
Is Google saying why it is removing these features?
Opinions vary; some observers suspect POP3's plaintext password handling is a factor. Google has been asked to comment.
Can I switch to IMAP instead?
The company has suggested IMAP as an alternative, but at least one user reported that switching to IMAP did not solve their situation.
Will Google migrate my settings or provide tools to move my mail?
not confirmed in the source
APPLICATIONS 5 Gmail preparing to drop POP3 mail fetching It's January 2026, and Google is finding innovative new ways to make one of its services worse Liam Proven Mon 5 Jan 2026 //…
Sources
- Gmail preparing to drop POP3 mail fetching
- Gmail Will Stop Supporting These Third-Party Emails From …
- Use Gmail for Third-Party Email? POP3 Support Is Ending
- Gmail Is Removing "Check Mail From Other Accounts"
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