The Gmail POP3 Fetch Solution

Gmail Is Removing “Check Mail From Other Accounts” in 2026: The Easiest Fix That Works

Gmail Is Removing “Check Mail From Other Accounts” in 2026: The Easiest Fix That Works

Table of Contents EXPAND

Overview of the Problem

Gmail with Google WorkspaceGoogle has announced that it will be removing the “Check mail from other accounts” feature from Gmail starting in early January 2026. This feature allowed Gmail to pull mail from external email accounts using POP3. It has been a quiet but essential tool for years. Many people relied on it to consolidate email from their own domain into a single Gmail inbox. Because this change came with little notice, a lot of users are now scrambling to figure out what to do next.

The Easiest Fix: Switching Back to Email Forwarding

After testing multiple approaches, the simplest and least disruptive workaround is to return to basic email forwarding. Instead of Gmail pulling mail from another server, your domain’s mail server simply forwards incoming messages directly to your Gmail address. From the user’s perspective, email still lands in Gmail just like before, and Gmail features like “Send mail as” continue to work normally. Modern spam filtering, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and SRS have made forwarding far more reliable than it was years ago, even though it is not perfect. For most people, this approach retains existing mail flow with minimal changes to their current setup.

How to Switch From Gmail Fetching to Email Forwarding

To make the change, first create an email forward using the exact same email address that was previously used as your Gmail “holding bucket”. Maybe it was something like MailBucket@yourdomain.com. This is the address that other aliases or forwards already point to. Configure that address to forward mail directly to the same Gmail account that has been using POP fetching. At this point, mail will forward and still land in the holding bucket, which is expected and fine. Next, remove the “Check mail from other accounts” entry from the Accounts and Import section of Gmail so it no longer tries to pull mail via POP3. Finally, once forwarding is confirmed working, remove the old “holding account” mailbox (MailBucket@yourdomain.com in our example) that was previously used only to temporarily store mail for Gmail.

Checklist:

  • Using your host control panel (cPanel), create an email forward that matches the email address that was previously used as your Gmail “holding bucket”. Maybe it was something like MailBucket@yourdomain.com. This is the address that other aliases or forwards at your host have already been pointing to. Configure it to forward mail directly to the same Gmail account that has been using POP fetching. At this point, mail will forward and still land in the holding bucket, which is expected and fine, we’ll fix that soon.
  • Remove the “Check mail from other accounts” entry from the Accounts and Import section of Gmail settings (look for the gear icon) so it no longer tries to pull mail via POP3.
  • Once forwarding is confirmed working, remove the old “holding account” mailbox (MailBucket@yourdomain.com in our example)at your host that was previously used only to temporarily store mail for Gmail retrieval.

Why Forwarded Email Often Arrives Faster Than POP

A positive side effect of switching back to traditional forwarding is speed. Forwarded email typically arrives in Gmail faster than waiting for Gmail to periodically pull messages from an external account. This matters more than people realize, especially for two factor authentication messages, password resets, booking confirmations, and other time sensitive emails that you want delivered immediately.

A Long Term Option: Moving Email to Google Workspace

A long term solution is to move your email entirely to Google Workspace (paid Gmail) while keeping everything else about your domain exactly the same. Your website, DNS, hosting provider, and other services do not need to change. A Google Workspace Starter plan is enough for most individuals, while a Standard or Plus plan works great for small businesses to medium sized businesses. Within Google Workspace, you can create multiple aliases that all funnel into a single primary mailbox, very similar to how traditional web hosting email systems work.

More Than Email: Extra Benefits That Come With Google Workspace

In addition to Gmail, Google Workspace includes Docs, Sheets, Drive, Meet, shared calendars, Gemini AI features, and tools like NotebookLM, all tied directly to your domain. These extras often become a major part of the value once people start using them. For those considering this route, WSO.host offers Google Workspace promo codes which can reduce the cost of getting started. Whether you choose forwarding as a quick fix or Google Workspace as a more permanent solution, there is a clear path forward that avoids disruption and keeps everything working the way you expect.

Google Workspace Promo Code

If you are signing up for a new Google Workspace account or upgrading to a higher Google Workspace plan, please make use of our free coupon code options. These codes will not work to renew an existing plan or if downgrading. Use the easy blue “click to reveal” buttons to obtain yours instantly.