To migrate a Gmail mailbox to a new email service, InfoSwitch needs temporary access to the source mailbox. The recommended method is to generate a Gmail app password: a unique code, different from your regular Google password, that you can revoke after the migration.
Key Point
You must generate one app password per Gmail mailbox to migrate. If your organization is migrating 10 Gmail addresses, each account owner must create their own app password and send it to InfoSwitch with the corresponding email address.
What Is a Gmail App Password?
An app password is a code generated by Google to allow a specific tool to connect to your account. During a migration, it lets InfoSwitch access your emails over IMAP without knowing your main Google password.
This code is designed for software and services that use a classic email address and password connection. It can be deleted at any time from your Google account, for example once the migration is complete.
Prerequisites Before You Start
- Access to the relevant Gmail account: you must be able to sign in to the mailbox being migrated.
- 2-Step Verification must be enabled on the Google account.
- IMAP access must be allowed in Gmail if it is not already enabled.
Do Not Send Your Google Password
InfoSwitch does not need your regular Google password. Only send the app password generated for the migration.
Step 1: Enable 2-Step Verification
Google only shows app passwords when 2-Step Verification is enabled on the account.
- Open myaccount.google.com/security
- Sign in with the Gmail address to migrate
- In the How you sign in to Google section, click 2-Step Verification
- Follow Google's instructions to configure a verification method: Google prompt, authentication app, SMS, or security key
- Check that 2-Step Verification is shown as enabled
If 2-Step Verification is already enabled, you can go directly to the next step.
Step 2: Generate the Gmail App Password
Open the app passwords page
Go to myaccount.google.com/apppasswords while signed in to the Gmail account being migrated.
Confirm your identity
Google may ask for the account password again or require a 2-Step Verification confirmation before showing the page.
Name the access
Use a clear name, for example InfoSwitch Migration. This will help you recognize the access later.
Create and copy the password
Click Create. Google will display a 16-character password. Copy it immediately.
Important
Google only displays this password once. If you close the window without copying it, you will need to delete that access and generate a new one.
Step 3: Enable IMAP in Gmail
For the migration to read emails, IMAP access must be enabled in Gmail.
- Open Gmail with the account to migrate
- Click the Settings icon, then See all settings
- Go to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab
- In the IMAP access section, select Enable IMAP
- Click Save Changes
Information to Send to InfoSwitch
For each Gmail mailbox to migrate, send InfoSwitch the following information through the secure channel agreed with your contact:
| Information | Example |
|---|---|
| Gmail address to migrate | first.last@gmail.com |
| App password | The 16-character code generated by Google |
| Items to migrate | All emails, or only specific folders if defined in the project |
Migrating Multiple Mailboxes
Repeat this procedure for each Gmail mailbox. A password generated for one address cannot be used to migrate the other accounts.
Gmail Technical Settings Used for Migration
InfoSwitch usually uses Gmail's standard IMAP settings to connect to the source mailbox:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| IMAP server | imap.gmail.com |
| IMAP port | 993 |
| Security | SSL/TLS |
| Username | Full Gmail address |
| Password | Gmail app password |
If the "App Passwords" Menu Does Not Appear
Several reasons can explain why this option is missing:
- 2-Step Verification is not enabled: enable it first from Google security settings.
- The account uses Google Advanced Protection: this mode can block app passwords.
- The account belongs to a Google Workspace organization: the administrator may have disabled this feature.
- The 2-Step Verification method is too restrictive: some configurations based only on security keys can prevent password creation.
In that case, contact your Google Workspace administrator or your InfoSwitch contact to choose the right access method for the migration.
After the Migration: Revoke Access
Once the migration is complete and validated, you can delete the app password created for InfoSwitch:
- Go back to myaccount.google.com/apppasswords
- Find the access named InfoSwitch Migration
- Click Delete or the trash icon
This only cuts off the access created for the migration. It does not change your main Google password and does not delete any emails.
Ready to migrate to Infomaniak?
Contact us for a free 15-minute audit. We will analyze your situation and provide you with a personalized quote.
Request a free audit