Move your old email yourself

HostBring doesn't move old email for you, but you can copy it yourself in a few steps. Do this before you switch your MX record, so nothing arrives in the wrong place while you copy.

Way 1: Thunderbird (works with almost any old provider)

This copies whole folders, including sent mail.

1. Install Thunderbird on your computer.
2. Add your old email account to Thunderbird (your old provider's IMAP settings).
3. Add your new HostBring address too. See Set up Thunderbird.
4. In the old account, open a folder (for example Inbox), select all messages (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), right-click and choose Copy To → (your HostBring account) → Inbox.
5. Repeat for Sent and any other folders you want to keep.
6. Wait until Thunderbird finishes copying, then check the messages in HostBring webmail.

Way 2: Gmail or Google Workspace

Use Thunderbird as above. When you add your Google account, Thunderbird opens a Google sign-in window; sign in there. If your Google account uses 2-step verification and the sign-in window doesn't appear, create an App password in your Google Account settings and use it as the password.

Then copy the folders across exactly as in Way 1. Gmail "labels" appear as folders.

Way 3: Import files into HostBring webmail

If your old provider lets you export your email as .eml files or an .mbox file, you can import them in webmail.

1. Export your mail from the old provider as .eml or .mbox.
2. Log in at webmail.hostbring.com and open the folder you want to import into, for example Inbox.
3. In the message list toolbar, open More (the … button) and choose Import.
4. Choose the file and click Import.

Each upload can be up to 25 MB. For a large mailbox, Thunderbird (Way 1) is easier.

After copying

1. Check a few old messages in HostBring webmail.
2. Switch your MX record on your domain page (the last step in the wizard).
3. Keep your old account for a few days, in case something arrives late.