Gmail to Infomaniak Migration: The Complete 2026 Guide

Gmail is the most widely used email service in the world. But its data collection practices and American hosting are pushing more and more users toward sovereign alternatives. Here\'s how to migrate to Infomaniak while preserving your entire email history.

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Why Leave Gmail?

Gmail offers a free and powerful service, but at what cost?

• Email scanning – Google analyzes the content of your messages for ad targeting
• US hosting – Your data is subject to the Cloud Act and surveillance
• Uncertain GDPR compliance – Legal risk for professionals
• Google ecosystem dependency – Difficult to leave once settled in

Prerequisites Before Migration

1. Create Your Infomaniak Mail Service

Before migrating, you need email hosting with Infomaniak:

• Go to Infomaniak Mail
• Choose the plan that fits your needs (from €1.50/month)
• Link your domain name or use a free @ik.me address to test

2. Enable IMAP on Gmail

Gmail must allow IMAP access for the migration to work:

1. Log into Gmail
2. Click the gear icon → See all settings
3. "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab
4. Enable "Enable IMAP"
5. Save changes

3. Generate an App Password

If you have two-factor authentication enabled on Google (recommended), you need to create an app password:

1. Go to Google App Passwords
2. Select "Mail" and "Other (custom name)"
3. Name it "Infomaniak Migration"
4. Copy the generated password (16 characters)

Method 1: Automated Migration via the Infomaniak Tool

Infomaniak offers a built-in migration tool that greatly simplifies the process:

Method 2: Manual Migration with an Email Client

For full control, you can use an email client like Thunderbird:

Step 1: Set Up Both Accounts in Thunderbird

1. Download and install Mozilla Thunderbird
2. Add your Gmail account (IMAP)
3. Add your Infomaniak account (IMAP)
4. Wait for all emails to download

Step 2: Copy the Emails

1. Select all emails in a Gmail folder (Ctrl+A)
2. Right-click → Copy to → Infomaniak account → Corresponding folder
3. Repeat for each folder

Migrating Contacts and Calendars

Export Contacts from Google

1. Go to Google Contacts
2. Click "Export" in the left menu
3. Select "vCard (for iOS Contacts)"
4. Download the .vcf file

Import into Infomaniak

1. Log into the Infomaniak webmail
2. Go to the Contacts section
3. Click Import and select your .vcf file

Export Google Calendar

1. Go to Google Calendar
2. Settings → Import & export
3. Click "Export" to download an .ics file

Import into Infomaniak

1. Go to the calendar in the Infomaniak webmail
2. Calendar settings → Import
3. Select your .ics file

Set Up Gmail Forwarding

During the transition, forward emails arriving at Gmail to your new address:

1. In Gmail: Settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP
2. Add your Infomaniak address as a forwarding address
3. Confirm via the verification email received
4. Enable automatic forwarding

Switching DNS (for Your Own Domain)

If you use Gmail with your own domain name (Google Workspace), you\'ll need to update DNS records:

Infomaniak automatically configures DKIM and DMARC for optimal deliverability.

Post-Migration Checks

• Check email count – Compare with Gmail to ensure everything was migrated
• Test sending and receiving – Send yourself an email from another address
• Configure your devices – Smartphone, tablet, desktop client
• Update your online accounts – Bank, social media, etc.

How Long Does Migration Take?

Conclusion

Migrating from Gmail to Infomaniak is simpler than it seems. In just a few hours, you can take back control of your data and benefit from Swiss hosting that respects your privacy.

The automated migration tools do most of the work. And if you prefer professional support, InfoSwitch can handle the entire migration for you.

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