How to Check Email from Other Accounts in Gmail Easily

People running multiple email accounts want to put an end to distributed email management and collect all their data in a single place. Gmail has an excellent option for this situation. Provided that you know how to check emails from other accounts in Gmail.

The process is not that hard. Try this in your Gmail account. Go to settings > See all settings > Accounts and import > check mail from other accounts > Add a mail account.

If you still feel that a more in-depth explanation is required, don’t worry, I will provide you with exactly that. However, before that, let us understand the reasons behind this requirement.

Why Users Want to Check Email from Other Accounts in Gmail

Being able to see all of your emails in a single location has plenty of advantages.

First, you save time. Instead of manually navigating, signing in, and out of multiple accounts, you get a clean single interface where you log in once, check all your mail, and log out.

Makes management simpler. If you set up your Gmail to catch all of your outside mails, you don’t have to worry about forgetting the credentials or losing them.

Keeps you updated on all that is happening from a single watchpoint. You can check your personal email and stay on top of the work updates at the same time.

This, along with other niche reasons, is why people want to have the ability to check other accounts’ mail in Gmail. The problem is that many people don’t know how to enable this setting. Don’t worry, I will guide you exactly step by step on what you have to do.

Manually Check Other Emails in Gmail

There have been some recent changes in Gmail that directly affect what type of mail account you can and cannot check in Gmail.

The change I am talking about is the recent Gmailify shutdown that took place in January 2026.

In this update, Google explicitly removed the ability to pull emails directly from a POP3-only account. So your account must be IMAP only. Check the source email account to see if it supports IMAP.

If it does not, then I am afraid you cannot check emails from that particular account. You can try other means, like auto-forwarding, but that too is not guaranteed to work.

The rest of you who have an IMAP-style account can follow the steps explained below.

Step 1. Keep your source IMAP credentials and server data at the ready. Log in to your Gmail account.

Step 2. Click on settings > See all settings.

Step 3. Change to the Accounts and Import tab.

Step 4. Scroll till you see the ‘Check email from other accounts’ section, then click Add an email account.

Step 5. (You might be prompted to log in again, do it) Type in the name of your email account. Then choose either the Gmailify service or the POP3 option (if available), fill in the details when given the option, and wait for the sync to complete.

Step 6. You can repeat this for four more accounts.

What Checking Email from Other Accounts in Gmail Cannot Do

It’s important to realize the limits so you don’t end up with unrealistic expectations. Here is a list of important actions that won’t happen when you set up your Gmail to check email from another account.

First, you will only see the messages. None of the folders gets copied. So if you were expecting a full account translation, you are in for a disappointment.

Moreover, the Gmailify service is no longer available for new Gmail accounts and will soon disappear from existing accounts as well. When it happens, all syncs cease. Currently, there are no updates on what will replace this service.

Instead, if your real intention is to move all emails between accounts, then I have a better option for you.

Alternative to Check Email From Other Accounts in Gmail

The SysTools IMAP to IMAP Migration Software is a free-to-try tool that does exactly what you need. It can shift all of your emails from a source account to an @gmail.com address; there’s no need to bother with the confusing Gmail settings. Just get a copy of this tool today and permanently shift all emails at once.

 

The best part is that the tool is available on both Windows and Mac, plus you don’t need to memorize any scripts to use it, as it has a full GUI dashboard.

Also Read: Ptera Email Shutdown Date Announced

Conclusion

Now you know exactly how to check email from other accounts in Gmail. The steps can be overwhelming at first, but after a few tries, you get the hang of it. However, one important thing to keep in mind is that this service is on its last legs, and in a few months, this feature will end, so relying on it long-term is not ideal. Instead of this, what I recommend you do is use the tool. It can safely transfer all of the messages without any issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I check emails for more than one account in Gmail?

Yes, you can. In fact, you can set up up to 5 different accounts. For any more, you will need to use the tool and bring all the emails.

Q: Has Google removed the ability to check email from other accounts in Gmail?

Yes, it has. If you create a new Gmail account today, you won’t get the option. Moreover, even the accounts that have the option will lose it later in 2026.

Q: Does email checking count towards my Gmail storage?

It depends on how you set it up. If it were the multiple account addition, then no, all storage remains separate. However, if you put them inside your main account, then yes, the emails will contribute toward the storage.