migration between two GMAIL IMAP accounts (imap.gmail.com)

[Elon Cosla]

Hi,

Does anyone here knows how can I migrate an IMAP folder structure (with sub folders) with messages to another gmail account?

I have donloaded the 'gmail upload toolbox' for mac but realized later that it works only to a google app environment (doesn't support upload to Gmail email account).

[Ursus]

Hi Elon,

If you use Gmail as heavily as I do to basically organize my life, this is definitely going to help you out.  It's taken me days ( a lot of waiting) but none of these answers are all in one location.  This should be the definitive Gmail Migration Post.

Having struggled through a series of tech posts, here's is my most succinct reply in order to migrate completely from one Gmail or Google Account to Another:

• Start with Google Takeout
• Use this to download all of the settings you wish
• It does take a while, but it gives you a consumable archive of your Google Account
• When you select all that you want to backup through TakeOut, don't use the ZIP file option, use one of the other two because they have 50 GB size limits and it makes the file organization easier later
  
• Google+
• There is an additional tool, marked with a small black folder under Google+ Circles int his list
• That will start a Google+ profile migration engine
• It takes a few days, but will allow you to port over your circles and you can delete the second profile later if you wish
• Once you have been notified that the download is available, you can download it from:
• Google DashBoard
• You also should visit the SECURITY section in DashBoard to ENABLE Access for Less Secure Apps
• This will allow you to use the IMAP options in your Gmail account with a client
• GMail
• Mail
• Don't bother with the MBOX import, it doesn't work the wait it is described anywhere else
• Simply use a third-party mail client, like Thunderbird
• Add BOTH of your IMAP Gmail Accounts in the client
• Then, simply drag and drop all of the email folders from one account to the other
• If you have a lot of message, this will take a while
• However, once the folder structure is there, you will notice that you can use your labels again
• It does NOT carry over your label colors
• But the labels are fully functional, so when you add your Filters back in, which is discussed further on in this post, they will function as before
• Contacts
• There are Two Methods for this, both are quick and easy
• CSV Export
• If you want your contacts sooner, as you don't want to wait for TakeOut to finish archiving, simply use the EXPORT feature in your Contacts to export as a CSV file
• You can them IMPORT using the same tool on your new account
• TakeOut (vCard)
• Your contacts are backed up using vCard files which can be imported into Gmail Contacts
• Just use the import tools
• Each Category of contacts is a separate vCard file
• Calendars
• Again, there are Two Methods for this, both are quick and easy
• File Export
• If you want your calendars sooner, as you don't want to wait for TakeOut to finish archiving, simply use the EXPORT feature in your Calendar Settings to export as a file
• You can them IMPORT using the same tool on your new account
• TakeOut (iCal)
• Your Calendars are backed up using iCal files which can be imported into Gmail Calendars under settings
• Just use the import tools
• Each Calendar is a separate iCal file
• The only thing to note here, is that if you wish to maintain separate calendars, you must FIRST create all of the calendars you wish to have and then designate them as you import so that you have a one-to-one (1:1) calendar file experience
  
• This, by the way, is also method to merge calendar files if you choose
• Simply export and then import into a different calendar or all on the same calendar if you wish to consolidate
• Then delete the extraneous calendars
• Labels
• If you use the IMAP method above to import your mail, your Labels will be preserved, EXCEPT the color coding
• Filters
• In your original GMAIL, go to Settings>Filters
• Select the filters you wish to Export
  
• You can select ALL if you choose
  
• Click EXPORT
  
• This creates an XML file to import
  
• In your NEW GMAIL, go to Settings>Filters
• This part is a little annoying
• Click IMPORT FILTERS
• Click Choose File
• Find the file
• Click Upload/Open
• The filters should then Appear ALL selected
• Then click CREATE FILTERS (it's very small and in the bottom middle)
• You also have the option to run the filters on existing mail when they are created
• Then you will see the dialog creating the filters
• Tasks
• The easiest is using a third party service and tool
• EXPORT
• Follow the instructions
• IMPORT
• Follow the instructions
• Voice
• There is a migration tool built into voice to port your number to a new Google account
• This ports you number ONLY
• However, your voicemails and texts and recorded messages are backed up using TakeOut
• Drive
• TakeOut gives you a complete backup
• Simply setup the Google Drive App on your computer with the new account and drop the files in and let them upload

Anyway, I hope this helps.