Gmail is quietly removing two long-standing features that have allowed users to manage multiple email accounts from a single interface for more than a decade. While the change hasn’t been widely announced, it marks a significant shift for users who relied on Gmail as a central hub for handling emails from different providers.
Starting this month, Google is discontinuing Gmailify and the “Check mail from other accounts” feature, which used the POP3 protocol to fetch emails from external services such as Yahoo Mail, Outlook, ISP-provided addresses, and work emails. The update appeared in a Google support document with little fanfare, and Google has not publicly explained the reasoning behind the move.
What Features Are Being Removed?
The first feature being phased out is “Check mail from other accounts.” This tool allowed Gmail to log into external POP3 servers, download incoming messages, and display them alongside regular Gmail emails. For many users, this effectively turned Gmail into a universal email client accessible from any web browser.
In the early days of Gmail, this feature was particularly attractive. Gmail offered generous storage, powerful search, and industry-leading spam filtering, making it an ideal place to consolidate multiple inboxes without relying on desktop email software.
The second feature, Gmailify, took integration a step further. It allowed non-Gmail accounts to benefit from Gmail’s advanced spam filters, inbox categories like Primary, Social, and Promotions, and fast search tools. Gmailify also enabled push notifications for external accounts on mobile devices, making services like Yahoo or Outlook feel almost identical to native Gmail accounts.
Together, these features made Gmail a popular choice for users juggling multiple email identities.
What This Means for Users
With both features being retired, Gmail will no longer automatically fetch emails from external providers on the web. Emails that were previously imported will remain in users’ inboxes, but new messages from linked accounts will stop appearing unless alternative arrangements are made.
This change is likely to affect freelancers, small business owners, and long-time internet users who have accumulated multiple email addresses over the years. For them, Gmail was not just an email service but a centralized workspace.
What Still Works
Google is not entirely removing multi-account support. The Gmail mobile apps on Android, iPhone, and iPad will continue to allow users to add third-party email accounts using standard IMAP connections. This means users can still read and send emails from different providers within the Gmail app, though without the deep integration previously offered by Gmailify.
Desktop users, however, will need to rely on email forwarding if they want messages from other accounts to appear in Gmail. This represents a shift from a “pull” system (where Gmail fetched emails) to a “push” system, where other providers send emails to Gmail.
Why Is Google Making the Change?
Although Google has not provided an official explanation, security is widely seen as a key factor. POP3 is an aging protocol that does not fully align with modern security standards. Phasing out legacy systems also reduces maintenance overhead and simplifies Gmail’s infrastructure.
The move suggests Google is increasingly positioning Gmail as a standalone service rather than a universal inbox.
The Bigger Picture
While casual users may not notice the change, it signals the end of an era for Gmail power users. Those affected will need to adjust their workflows, whether by setting up forwarding, switching to third-party email clients, or fully migrating old accounts into Gmail.
For many, this quiet update highlights how even long-standing digital habits can change without much warning.
