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🔄 Email Migrations with IMAPSync in WebHostMost

Quick Intro​

WebHostMost includes a built-in IMAPSync migration tool that makes it easy to transfer emails between your WebHostMost Email accounts and other Email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.). Whether you're moving TO WebHostMost from another host, or FROM WebHostMost to a new provider, IMAPSync handles the migration automatically while preserving folder structure, dates, and attachments.

This guide shows you how to use WebHostMost's IMAPSync tool to migrate emails without losing data or manually downloading/uploading messages.

What is IMAPSync? (Simple Explanation)​

Think of IMAPSync like a moving truck for your emails.

When you switch hosting providers or Email services, you don't want to lose years of emails, right? IMAPSync is a tool that automatically copies all your emails from one Email account to another—like moving furniture from your old house to your new house.

Real-world example:

  • You have 5,000 emails in Gmail ([email protected])
  • You just created a new Email account on WebHostMost ([email protected])
  • Instead of manually forwarding 5,000 emails one by one (nightmare!), you use WebHostMost's IMAPSync tool
  • It connects to Gmail, downloads all 5,000 emails, and uploads them to your WebHostMost Email
  • Done! All emails are now on WebHostMost with original dates, folders, and attachments intact

Why it's called "IMAPSync":

  • IMAP = Internet Message Access Protocol (the technology Email servers use to talk to each other)
  • Sync = Synchronize (copy emails from one place to another)
  • Put together: IMAPSync = "Email copying tool using IMAP protocol"

What makes WebHostMost's IMAPSync special:

  • Built into Web Control Panel (no extra software needed)
  • Works in background (you can close browser and it keeps running)
  • Free to use (included in your WebHostMost plan)
  • Preserves everything (folder structure, dates, read/unread status, attachments)
  • Handles thousands of emails automatically
  • Two-way: Import TO WebHostMost or Export FROM WebHostMost
Think of It This Way

Manually downloading and re-uploading 1,000 emails would take you hours or days. WebHostMost IMAPSync does it automatically in 30-60 minutes while you drink coffee. That's the point.

What is IMAPSync in WebHostMost? (Technical Details)​

IMAPSync is an Email migration tool built into your WebHostMost Web Control Panel that copies emails from one Email server to another using the IMAP protocol.

How it works:

  • Connects to both Email servers (source and destination)
  • Downloads emails from the source server
  • Uploads them to the destination server
  • Preserves folder structure, read/unread status, and dates
  • Keeps attachments intact

WebHostMost IMAPSync can:

  • Import emails TO WebHostMost from another provider (Gmail, GoDaddy, Bluehost, etc.)
  • Export emails FROM WebHostMost to another provider
  • Migrate between WebHostMost Email accounts
  • Transfer thousands of emails automatically

Common Scenarios Where You Need IMAPSync​

Scenario 1: Switching TO WebHostMost from old hosting

Old Host Email ([email protected])  →  WebHostMost Email ([email protected])
     2,500 emails                →       All copied over

You're moving your website from GoDaddy to WebHostMost. You want your old emails on WebHostMost too. Use Import in WebHostMost IMAPSync.

Scenario 2: Leaving WebHostMost for another provider

WebHostMost Email ([email protected])  →  New Host Email ([email protected])
     1,200 emails                   →       All copied over

You're switching to a different hosting provider. Use Export in WebHostMost IMAPSync to take your emails with you.

Scenario 3: Moving from Gmail to WebHostMost

Gmail ([email protected])  →  WebHostMost Email ([email protected])
  10,000 emails         →       Professional Email with all history

You want a professional Email address but keep all your Gmail conversation history. Use Import in WebHostMost IMAPSync.

Scenario 4: Backup WebHostMost emails to Gmail

WebHostMost Email ([email protected])  →  Gmail ([email protected])
     Critical emails                  →       Safe backup copy

You want to backup important business emails to Gmail for extra safety. Use Export in WebHostMost IMAPSync.

Real Business Use Case

Many WebHostMost customers use IMAPSync when:

  • Moving domains between hosting providers
  • Consolidating multiple old Email accounts into one WebHostMost account
  • Creating backups of critical business emails
  • Switching from free Email (Gmail/Yahoo) to professional WebHostMost Email

Important To Know Before You Begin​

important

IMAPSync migrations in WebHostMost require IMAP access to both source and destination Email accounts. Make sure IMAP is enabled on both providers before starting the migration.

Before migrating emails:

  • Create destination Email account first: If importing TO WebHostMost, create the Email account → Creating Email Accounts guide
  • Have credentials ready: You'll need Email addresses and passwords for both source and destination accounts
  • Know IMAP server address: Find the IMAP server for your old/new Email provider (see common providers below)
  • Backup important emails: Download critical emails locally before migrating (just in case)
  • Keep old account active: Don't delete your old Email account until migration completes and you verify all emails transferred
Migration Time

Migration time depends on mailbox size:

  • Small mailbox (< 100 emails): 5-10 minutes
  • Medium mailbox (100-1,000 emails): 30 minutes - 1 hour
  • Large mailbox (1,000+ emails): Several hours or overnight

WebHostMost IMAPSync runs in the background, so you can close the browser and check back later.

What IMAPSync Does NOT Do (Important to Understand)​

IMAPSync only copies emails. It does NOT:

  • Delete emails from source account — Original emails stay in old account (you delete them manually later if needed)

  • Sync contacts or calendar — Only emails are migrated (contacts/calendars need separate export/import)

  • Forward new incoming emails — It's a one-time copy, not ongoing forwarding (use Email Forwarders for that → Setup Forwarders guide)

  • Keep syncing automatically — After migration completes, it stops. New emails sent to old account won't appear in WebHostMost (unless you run IMAPSync again)

  • Create Email accounts — Destination account must already exist in WebHostMost before migration → Creating Email Accounts guide

  • Change Email addresses — If you migrate from [email protected] to [email protected], the emails will show original addresses in "From" field

Summary

IMAPSync = One-time copy of emails from Point A to Point B. Think of it like photocopying documents, not moving them. Original emails stay where they are unless you delete them manually.

Importing Emails TO WebHostMost (From Another Provider)​

Use this option when you want to copy emails FROM another Email provider (Gmail, Outlook, old hosting company) TO your WebHostMost Email account.

When to use Import:

  • Moving from another hosting provider to WebHostMost
  • Switching from Gmail/Outlook to WebHostMost Email
  • Consolidating multiple Email accounts into WebHostMost
  • Backing up external emails to WebHostMost

Step 1: Open IMAPSync in WebHostMost​

  1. Log into your WebHostMost Web Control Panel
  2. Navigate to Email Manager > IMAPSync Migrations
  3. Click the IMPORT E-MAILS button

Step 2: Enter Source Information (Where Emails Are Now)​

Fill in details for the Email account you're copying emails FROM:

FieldWhat to EnterExample
HostIMAP server address of your old Email providermail.oldhost.com or imap.gmail.com
UserYour full Email address at the old provider[email protected]
PasswordPassword for that Email accountyourpassword123
Finding IMAP Server Address

How to find your old provider's IMAP server:

  1. Log into your old hosting control panel or webmail
  2. Look for Email Settings, Account Details, or Email Client Configuration
  3. Find "IMAP Server" or "Incoming Mail Server" address
  4. Common format: mail.yourdomain.com or imap.provider.com
  5. See common providers table below for popular services
  6. Contact your old provider's support if unsure

Step 3: Enter Destination Information (Your WebHostMost Email)​

Fill in where emails should be copied TO (your WebHostMost account):

FieldWhat to Select
UserSelect your WebHostMost Email address from dropdown
AuthenticationChoose "Internal sign-in" (usually pre-selected)
tip

The User dropdown automatically shows all Email accounts you've created in WebHostMost. If your Email isn't listed, you need to create it first → Creating Email Accounts guide

Step 4: Start Migration to WebHostMost​

Click the START MIGRATION button.

What WebHostMost IMAPSync does automatically:

  1. Connects to your old Email provider's IMAP server
  2. Downloads all emails from the source account
  3. Uploads them to your WebHostMost Email account
  4. Recreates folder structure (Inbox, Sent, Drafts, custom folders)
  5. Preserves original dates, read/unread status, and flags
  6. Keeps all attachments intact

Monitor progress:

  • The WebHostMost interface shows real-time progress
  • You'll see which folders are being transferred
  • Email count updates as migration proceeds
Background Migration

For large mailboxes, you don't need to keep the browser open. WebHostMost IMAPSync runs in the background on the server. You can:

  • Close the browser tab safely
  • Log out of WebHostMost Web Control Panel
  • Check back later to see completion status
  • Access your WebHostMost webmail to see emails appearing in real-time

After migration completes:

  • Log into WebHostMost Webmail to verify emails arrived
  • Check folder structure matches your old account
  • Spot-check a few emails to confirm dates and attachments are intact
  • Test sending/receiving from your WebHostMost Email

📧 Access WebHostMost Webmail guide

Exporting Emails FROM WebHostMost (To Another Provider)​

Use this option when you want to copy emails FROM your WebHostMost Email account TO another Email provider (Gmail, Outlook, new hosting company).

When to use Export:

  • Moving from WebHostMost to another hosting provider
  • Switching from WebHostMost Email to Gmail/Outlook
  • Backing up WebHostMost emails to external service
  • Consolidating WebHostMost emails into another account

Step 1: Open IMAPSync in WebHostMost​

  1. Log into your WebHostMost Web Control Panel
  2. Navigate to Email Manager > IMAPSync Migrations
  3. Click the EXPORT E-MAILS button

Step 2: Enter Source Information (Your WebHostMost Email)​

Select which WebHostMost Email account to copy emails FROM:

FieldWhat to Select
UserSelect your WebHostMost Email address from dropdown
AuthenticationChoose "Internal sign-in" (usually pre-selected)
note

The dropdown shows all Email accounts in your WebHostMost account. Select the one you want to export emails from.

Step 3: Enter Destination Information (Where Emails Should Go)​

Fill in details for the Email account you're copying emails TO:

FieldWhat to EnterExample
HostIMAP server address of your new Email providermail.newhost.com or imap.gmail.com
UserYour full Email address at the new provider[email protected]
PasswordPassword for that Email accountyourpassword123
tip

Make sure the destination Email account already exists on the new provider before starting migration. WebHostMost IMAPSync cannot create accounts automatically.

Step 4: Start Migration from WebHostMost​

Click the START MIGRATION button.

What WebHostMost IMAPSync does:

  1. Connects to your WebHostMost Email account via IMAP
  2. Downloads all emails from WebHostMost
  3. Connects to your new provider's IMAP server
  4. Uploads emails to the destination account
  5. Creates folders at destination (if they don't exist)
  6. Preserves folder structure, dates, and attachments

Monitor progress in the WebHostMost interface. The migration runs in the background, so you can close the browser and check back later.

After migration completes:

  • Log into your new provider's webmail to verify emails arrived
  • Check that folder structure matches your WebHostMost account
  • Test sending/receiving from the new Email address

Common Email Providers IMAP Settings​

Use these IMAP server addresses when migrating emails TO or FROM WebHostMost:

ProviderIMAP Server AddressPortSecurity
Gmailimap.gmail.com993SSL
Outlook.com / Hotmailoutlook.office365.com993SSL
Microsoft 365outlook.office365.com993SSL
Yahoo Mailimap.mail.yahoo.com993SSL
AOL Mailimap.aol.com993SSL
Zoho Mailimap.zoho.com993SSL
iCloud Mailimap.mail.me.com993SSL
WebHostMostmail.yourdomain.com993SSL
Gmail App Passwords

If migrating from/to Gmail, you may need to create an App Password instead of using your regular Gmail password. Go to Google Account Settings > Security > App Passwords to generate one.

For other hosting providers:

  1. Log into their webmail or control panel
  2. Look for Settings, Account Settings, or Email Configuration
  3. Find IMAP Settings or Email Client Configuration
  4. IMAP server is usually: mail.yourdomain.com or imap.provider.com
  5. Contact their support if you can't find IMAP settings

📧 Learn about WebHostMost native Email setup

Quick Troubleshooting​

Common issues when using WebHostMost IMAPSync migrations:

Problem: "Authentication Failed" Error​

Quick Fix:

  1. Double-check Email address spelling (including @domain.com)
  2. Verify password is correct (try logging into webmail with same credentials)
  3. For Gmail: Use App Password instead of regular password → Google App Passwords
  4. For WebHostMost: Verify Email account exists → Managing Email Accounts guide
  5. Try again with corrected credentials

Problem: "Connection Refused" or "Can't Connect to Server"​

Quick Fix:

  1. Verify IMAP server address from your Email provider (check common providers table)
  2. Check for typos in server address
  3. Confirm IMAP is enabled on the Email account (some providers disable IMAP by default)
  4. Try port 993 with SSL encryption
  5. Contact provider support if IMAP address is unclear

📧 WebHostMost Email setup guide

Problem: Migration Times Out or Stalls​

Quick Fix:

  1. Large attachments or many emails take time—wait longer (up to several hours for 1,000+ emails)
  2. Check your internet connection stability
  3. WebHostMost IMAPSync continues in background even if page seems stuck
  4. Close browser and come back in 30 minutes to check progress
  5. If truly frozen (no progress after 1+ hour), restart migration in WebHostMost

Problem: Emails Not Appearing After Migration​

Quick Fix:

  1. Log into WebHostMost Webmail and refresh the page (Ctrl+F5)
  2. Check subfolders—emails may be organized in folders (Sent, Drafts, custom folders)
  3. Log out of webmail and log back in
  4. Wait 5-10 minutes for WebHostMost to index new emails
  5. If still missing, run IMAPSync migration again (it won't duplicate emails)

📧 Access WebHostMost Webmail guide

Problem: Only Some Emails Migrated​

Quick Fix:

  1. Some Email providers have folder limits or hidden folders
  2. Run WebHostMost IMAPSync migration a second time—it will copy missed emails
  3. Check source Email account for special folders (Archive, Spam, Trash)
  4. Verify storage quota isn't exceeded on destination account → Email usage tracking

Problem: Migration Works But Very Slow​

Quick Fix:

  1. Migration speed depends on both WebHostMost servers and your old provider's server speed
  2. Large attachments (files, images) transfer slowly—this is normal
  3. Migrating during off-peak hours (night/weekend) may be faster
  4. WebHostMost IMAPSync runs in background, so close browser and check back later
  5. For 10,000+ emails, migration can take 12-24 hours

Best Practices for WebHostMost IMAPSync Migrations​

Before starting migration:

  • Create destination Email account first (if importing TO WebHostMost) → Creating Email Accounts guide
  • Test that you can log into both source and destination Email accounts via webmail
  • Have correct IMAP server addresses and passwords ready
  • Backup critical emails locally (download via IMAP client like Thunderbird) as a precaution
  • Verify IMAP is enabled on both Email accounts (check provider settings)

During migration in WebHostMost:

  • Keep internet connection stable (WebHostMost server does the heavy lifting, but you need connectivity to monitor)
  • For large mailboxes, you can safely close browser—WebHostMost IMAPSync runs in background
  • Don't make changes to source Email account during migration (don't delete emails)
  • Wait for completion message in WebHostMost Web Control Panel

After migration completes:

  • Log into WebHostMost Webmail to verify emails appear correctly
  • Spot-check random emails to confirm dates, attachments, and folder structure
  • Test sending and receiving from your WebHostMost Email → Native Email setup guide
  • Keep old Email account active for 1-2 weeks before deleting (in case you missed anything)
  • Set up Email forwarding on old account temporarily → Setup Forwarders guide

More Email Manager Guides​

Email Setup & Migration:

Email Features & Tools:

Custom Email Servers:

Getting Help:

Need Help with Email Migrations?

If you encounter issues using WebHostMost IMAPSync or need assistance migrating large mailboxes, contact WebHostMost Support—available 24/7!