Yahoo Mail → Gmail / Google Workspace
Migrate Yahoo to Gmail: Complete IMAP Migration Guide
Want to migrate Yahoo to Gmail? This guide walks you through moving your Yahoo Mail to Gmail or Google Workspace while preserving folders and avoiding downtime.
Yahoo
Gmail
Prerequisites
- Active Yahoo Mail account with IMAP access enabled
- Destination Gmail / Google Workspace mailbox for each user
- App passwords for both Yahoo and Gmail (see instructions below)
How to Get App Passwords
Yahoo Mail App Password
Step-by-step instructions:
- Sign in to your Yahoo Account Security page
- Under "External connections", click Create app password
- Enter "Migrate Wizard" as the app name in the text field
- Click Generate password
- Copy the generated password immediately – use this as the Yahoo IMAP password
- Click Done
Tip: Use a browser you've regularly signed into Yahoo with (avoid Incognito/Private mode) for best results. App passwords remain active even if you change your main account password.
Gmail / Google Workspace App Password
Step-by-step instructions:
- Go directly to Google App Passwords
- If prompted, enable 2-Step Verification first (required for app passwords)
- Choose "Mail" as the app and "Other (Custom name)" as the device
- Enter "Migrate Wizard" as the custom name and click "Generate"
- Copy the 16-character password – you'll use this in Migrate Wizard
Using App Passwords in Migrate Wizard
- Use the Yahoo email address as the source username and Gmail address as the destination username.
- Use the respective app password for each side (Yahoo and Gmail).
- Yahoo IMAP server:
imap.mail.yahoo.com. - Gmail IMAP server:
imap.gmail.com.
Recommended Migration Strategy
1Migrate a Single Mailbox First
Start with one Yahoo mailbox and check the Gmail inbox afterwards: folders, unread state, and search should all behave as expected.
2Scale to a Small Pilot
Once the first mailbox looks good, migrate 3–5 more accounts and monitor performance and any rate limiting from Yahoo. Adjust concurrency in Migrate Wizard if necessary.