How do I migrate email between servers using IMAP?


Pillarian does not have a way to move an individual POP/IMAP mailbox from one account to another. This can be done manually using common email programs that support IMAP such as Microsoft Outlook. The instructions below will describe the steps to be taken to move the mail from one mailbox to another mailbox (even on a different server) via the IMAP Protocol.

The instructions below will use the terms 'source mailbox' and 'target mailbox'. The source mailbox is the mailbox you want to copy the mail items from. The target mailbox is the mailbox you want to copy the mail into.

Before you begin, please verify that the following things have been done:

  • You have created a new Mailbox for mail to be moved into.
  • You have the login credentials for both the source mailbox and the target mailbox.
  • There is mail in the source mailbox on the server, if you download the mail via POP, there will be little to no mail to move.

Instructions using Microsoft Outlook 2007

Note: It is suggested that you perform these steps in a new profile or backup your current mail profile. To create a new profile, use your 'Mail' Control

Panel under Start > Control Panel

  1. Under Tools > Account Settings... create a New email account that uses IMAP to connect to your source mailbox
  2. Verify that you can view the messages in your Inbox and other folders
  3. Under Tools > Account Settings... create a New email account that uses IMAP to connect to your target mailbox

    At this point, you should see two mailboxes under your Mail Folders pane.

  4. From your source mailbox, click on 'Inbox'
  5. Use 'Select All' to select all the mail within the Inbox
  6. From the Edit menu, choose 'Copy to Folder...'
  7. Select the Inbox from your target mailbox and click Ok

You will now see the messages you selected, being copied to your target mailbox. Once this is done, you will want to complete the same process for any additional folders you want to copy to the target mailbox, such as Drafts, Junk Items, and Sent Items.

Instructions using Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0

Note: It is suggested that you perform these steps in a new profile or backup your current mail profile. To create a new profile, please review:

Profile Manager
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_Manager

  1. Under Tools > Account Settings..., use Add Account to add an email account that uses IMAP to connect to your source mailbox
  2. Verify that you can view the messages in the Inbox and other folders
  3. Under Tools > Account Settings..., use Add Account to add an email account that uses IMAP to connect to your target mailbox

At this point, you should see 2 accounts listed under your All Folders pane.

  1. From your source mailbox, click on 'Inbox'
  2. Use 'Select All' to select all the mail within the Inbox
  3. From the Messages menu choose Copy > Target Account > Inbox > Copy Here

You will now see the messages you selected, being copied to your target mailbox. Once this is done, you will want to complete the same process for any additional folders you want to copy to the target mailbox, such as Drafts, Junk Items, and Sent Items.

Instructions for Mac Mail

Note: It is suggested that you perform these steps in a new Accounts that can be setup under Preferences.

  1. Under Mail > Preferences, use '+' button to add an email account that uses IMAP to connect to your source mailbox
  2. Verify that you can view the messages in the Inbox and other folders
  3. Under Mail > Preferences, use '+' button to add an email account that uses IMAP to connect to your target mailbox

At this point, you should see 2 accounts listed under your Accounts pane.

  1. Under 'Inbox', click on your source mailbox
  2. Use 'Select All' to select all the mail within the Inbox
  3. From the Messages menu choose Copy To > Inbox > target mailbox

You will now see the messages you selected, being copied to your target mailbox. Once this is done, you will want to complete the same process for any additional folders you want to copy to the target mailbox, such as Drafts, Junk Items, and Sent Items.

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