How to Migrate Zoho Mail to Gmail or Google Workspace
There are many reasons for wanting to migrate email from Zoho Mail to Gmail, from a preference for Google's collaboration and productivity tools to simply changing an email address.
It is possible to transfer emails from Zoho to Gmail or Google Workspace in two ways: automatically and manually. In this article, we explore both methods along with their pros and cons. We also provide recommendations for moving away from one account to the other and answer the most common questions about migrating Zoho Mail emails.
Migrate Zoho Mail to Gmail automatically
The easy way to transfer Zoho Mail emails to Gmail or Google Workspace is to use VaultMe, an automated app for migrating emails between online accounts. VaultMe allows users to transfer large volumes of data quickly and efficiently while preserving the folder organization of their Zoho emails.
We recommend migrating Zoho emails automatically to avoid challenges associated with the manual migration process. Pros of VaultMe's automatic process include the following:
- It preserves formatting, attachments, dates, read/unread status as well as the folder organization of Zoho Mail emails
- It is quick and easy to set up
- It generates a report at the end of the migration listing all items that have been copied along with their locations before and after the migration
- It involves zero manual work!
Cons of the automatic process:
- Paid service (but worth the price, according to customers' reviews)
To migrate Zoho Mail to Gmail or Google Workspace automatically:
- Ensure that IMAP is enabled for your Zoho Mail account.
- Navigate to the VaultMe app.
- Select IMAP as your source.
- Select Google as your destination.
- Connect your accounts. For the Zoho account, use the following settings: login — your full email address, host — imap.zoho.eu, port — 933.
- Review the totals and proceed to checkout.
- Sit back and relax! You can close your browser or even shut down your computer as the app works in the cloud.
VaultMe will not delete the messages in Zoho Mail, so your source account will remain intact after the migration.
If you are a small business owner or an administrator responsible for migrating Zoho Mail accounts to Google Workspace, consider using VaultMe for Admins, VaultMe's advanced tool for migrating email. For detailed instructions on preparing for the transition and using VaultMe for Admins as your email migration tool, see our new article: How to Migrate to Google Workspace: VaultMe's Step-by-Step Guide.
Transfer Zoho Mail emails to Gmail manually
This is a potentially slow and error-prone method. Back up any critical data and proceed at your own risk.
To migrate Zoho Mail to Gmail or Google Workspace manually:
- Install a desktop email client on your computer. You can use Thunderbird, Mailbird, Microsoft Outlook, or any other third-party email application.
- Connect your Zoho Mail account to the email client. Use Zoho's IMAP server details to set up a connection.
- Export emails from Zoho Mail to your hard drive by downloading the email archive. The exact steps for extracting emails may differ depending on the app, but generally, you should look for the "Export" or "Export messages" menu. Depending on the size of your Zoho Mail account, the export process may take somewhere between a couple of minutes and a couple of hours.
- Connect your Gmail account to the same email app.
- Import the downloaded Zoho Mail archive to Gmail. Again, the steps may differ depending on the app you are using, so look for the "Import" menu or similar. The import process may take hours, sometimes days, or even weeks.
- Check the results by signing in to your Gmail account in a browser. If you don't see the results, you may need to repeat the process.
Pros of the manual method:
- Free
Cons of the manual method:
- Requires at least some technical knowledge to fix issues that may arise
- Complex and potentially time-consuming
- Unreliable and may cause data loss
- Folder organization may be fully or partially lost
- Requires many resources (a stable internet connection, ample free storage space on a hard drive, and lots of time)
After you move from Zoho Mail
Once you've copied your emails, there are a couple of things that you can do to ensure a smooth transition to the new account. The exact steps depend on whether you've transferred your email to a business class email account (Google Workspace, or formerly G Suite) or a basic Gmail account.
Zoho Mail to Google Workspace / G Suite
If you are moving from Zoho Mail to Google Workspace without changing an email address, remember to update your MX records after the migration so that all new emails go to Google Workspace and not Zoho Mail.
If you are changing your email address, you don't have to change MX records. However, you may find the additional recommendations for basic Gmail accounts (below) useful.
Zoho Mail to a personal Gmail account
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Set up automated email forwarding from Zoho Mail to Gmail.
If you intend to keep your Zoho Mail account at least for a while, consider setting up your Zoho account to forward new emails to Gmail. This way, if someone sends you a message to a Zoho Mail address, you'll receive it in Gmail. For instructions, see Zoho Mail's help page. Note, however, that the forwarding rules will stop working if you cancel and delete your Zoho Mail account.
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Inform your contacts.
Remember to notify your contacts of your new email address. You can do that by sending an email from a Zoho Mail account and including all of your contacts in a BCC.
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Update your email address in all online accounts.
If your Zoho Mail email address is linked to different online accounts (such as social media accounts, online banking, etc.), you will need to replace it with your new Gmail email address.
Frequently asked questions about transferring Zoho Mail emails
Can I migrate from Zoho to Gmail?
Yes. You can move to a new email address while keeping your emails. If you are planning to move to Google Workspace, you can keep the same address you've used for Zoho Mail. The instructions provided in this article will help you transfer your Zoho Mail email history to a new Gmail or Google Workspace account.
How do I redirect or forward Zoho emails to Gmail?
It is possible to forward Zoho Mail email to Gmail. For instructions, see Zoho's help article. However, if you no longer need your Zoho Mail address, you can migrate to Gmail and take all your Zoho Mail emails with you. Use the instructions provided in this article to copy your Zoho emails to Gmail.
How do I import Zoho email to Google Workspace?
To automatically import Zoho emails to Gmail, connect your two accounts to VaultMe and start a migration (this is a paid option). To import them manually, export the archive from Zoho Mail and import it into Gmail using the instructions provided in this article.
Conclusion
Migrating from Zoho Mail to Gmail or Google Workspace may be necessary for various reasons. This article provides insights into the migration process and outlines the two methods, highlighting their pros and cons.
If you value ease of use and reliability, VaultMe's service is worth considering. But manually transferring your Zoho Mail emails might be the right path for you if you prefer a more hands-on approach and have the necessary technical skills.
Whether you're a business upgrading to Google Workspace or an individual migrating to a personal Gmail account, this guide provides you with the knowledge needed for a successful transition.
Related articles
If you are tasked with migrating your organization's data from Zoho Mail to Google Workspace, use VaultMe's detailed guide for preparing for the transition and transferring Zoho Mail emails: How to Migrate to Google Workspace: VaultMe's Step-by-Step guide.
If you are looking for an email migration tool, explore the options outlined in our article: How to Choose an Email Migration Tool.