Google has announced a major change for Gmail users: from January 2026, the service will no longer function as a client or webmail platform for third-party email accounts.
The update removes Gmailify, which allows users to connect and manage non-Google accounts—including Outlook, Yahoo, or professional emails with custom domains—directly within Gmail. Additionally, POP mail checking, which lets users fetch messages from other accounts into Gmail, will also be discontinued.
Users who currently rely on Gmail to manage work or other non-Google emails should note that linked accounts will stop syncing after the change. Personal Gmail accounts, such as myemail@gmail.com, will remain fully functional and unaffected.
For those impacted, Google recommends alternative options:
- Switch to a different email client – Applications like Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird fully support syncing professional email accounts.
- Set up via IMAP/SMTP – Users can manually configure their accounts in another client to maintain uninterrupted email access.
By adopting these alternatives, Gmail users can continue sending and receiving emails without disruption once the new policy takes effect.
