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Yahoo and Gmail are both reliable email communication platforms. However, from the security point of view, Google offers a more secure framework. Yahoo’s history of data breaches and the frequency of advertisements it displays compel users to transfer emails from Yahoo to Gmail. Other than security, Google’s interface and G Suite application integration offer a better overall experience to users.
Migrating from Yahoo to Gmail is a simple process when you know the correct way. In this blog, you will find the most popular methods to move Yahoo mails to Gmail with complete emails and attachments. For the transfer, we will use Google’s built-in functionalities. However, before you start moving to Gmail, make sure to backup Yahoo mail data to avoid permanent data loss.
Why User Transfer Emails from Yahoo to Gmail?
Check out the top reasons to move your Yahoo mails to Gmail:
- Gmail and Yahoo have friendly interfaces, but Gmail is more convenient and popular than Yahoo Mail.
- Yahoo Mail’s free version shows more ads than Google’s free version.
- Gmail supports significantly more languages in comparison to Yahoo, making it more versatile.
- In Gmail, using Google Chat, one can instantly message an online contact. However, Yahoo has no dedicated chat application.
- Google AI integration is more developed and easier to use than Yahoo’s AI features.
- Google’s mobile application is easier to use and reliable, helping users to access Google’s services without PC.
Best Methods to Move Emails from Yahoo to Gmail
Although Yahoo is constantly upgrading its performance and service experience, many users are still choosing to transfer emails from Yahoo to Gmail. Luckily, this data transfer is completely free using the methods given below:
Method 1: Import Yahoo Email to Gmail
Google allows users to directly import emails from Yahoo to Gmail without the need for any third-party application. The steps to import Yahoo are:
Step 1: Log in to the Gmail account and click on the settings icon.
Step 2: Next, click on See all settings.
Step 3: Go to the Accounts and Import section in the setting window.
Step 4: Here, click on Import mail and contacts.
Step 5: Next, a window will appear. Here, type your Yahoo mail address and click on the Continue button.
Step 6: Sign in to your Yahoo account and then click Agree on the permission window.
Step 7: Select the import options according to your requirement and Start import button to begin importing Yahoo Email to Gmail.
Gmail will create a new label for your Yahoo emails. You can view all the imported emails under this label. However, depending upon the mailbox size, it could take days to import all the messages.
Note: Emails may not appear instantly in your Gmail account. It can take up to 2 days for the messages to appear.
Method 2: Forward Yahoo Email to Gmail
Another method you can try is email forwarding. This will enable Yahoo Mail to automatically send all the incoming emails to target Google account. However, you cannot transfer emails from Yahoo to Gmail that are currently present in Yahoo Mail using this method. Steps to forward emails are:
Step 1: Go to your Yahoo Mail account and click on Settings button and select Settings option. 
Step 2: Click Accounts option from left pane and select the mailbox account that you want to move from Yahoo mails to Gmail. 
Step 3: Enter the Gmail email address in the Access your Yahoo Mail elsewhere section and click Verify. 
Step 4: Sign in to the target Google account. Open the verification link from Yahoo and verify the email address.
Step 5: Return to Yahoo and save the changes. 
Limitations of the Manual Method
The above methods are free but are not 100% reliable. A few drawbacks of the free Yahoo email to Gmail methods are:
- At a time, you’ll be able to import only a single Yahoo mailbox into Gmail. You won’t be able to transfer mailboxes from multiple Yahoo accounts.
- You cannot perform any filtering; unwanted emails will also get imported. Therefore, the process might take extra time.
- No folder mapping option is available, which messes up the data hierarchy.
The import methods only transfer the present data and support receiving new emails only for the next 30 days.
Advanced IMAP Migration Tool to Move Emails from Yahoo to Gmail
For an effortless Yahoo mails to Gmail data transfer, you should use a reliable IMAP migration tool like Kernel Migration for IMAP. The tool allows for migrating single or multiple Yahoo mailboxes without data loss to a Gmail account. Built-in file/folder filters to help you migrate only the important and required data items.
This mailbox migration tool supports all the free and paid plans of Yahoo and Google and provides an error-free email transition while maintaining the original folder hierarchy. The manual methods only move emails & attachments, but with this advanced tool, you can move every mailbox item from Yahoo to Google.
Conclusion
Now you know the simplest methods to transfer emails from Yahoo to Gmail. Choose any method you find most suitable or use both in combination (first import, then enable email forwarding). Make sure to back up your Yahoo mails to protect your emails. For a quick and hassle-free Yahoo email migration, use the Kernel Migration for IMAP. You can download and try the tool for free with the trial version.
