Transfer a Gmail mailbox to OVH
Copy your entire Gmail mailbox to OVH, folders and attachments included — no account needed, with the right IMAP settings already set up.
IMAP server and port already filled in for Gmail and OVH — all that's left is to enter your credentials.
IMAP settings for Gmail and OVH
Source mailbox — Gmail
- IMAP server
- imap.gmail.com
- Port
- 993
- Encryption
- SSL/TLS
- App password
- Required
Destination mailbox — OVH
- IMAP server
- ssl0.ovh.net
- Port
- 993
- Encryption
- SSL/TLS
- App password
- Not required in general
Gmail requires an app password: your regular password is rejected over IMAP once 2-step verification is on. Without 2-step verification, Google blocks "less secure app" IMAP connections anyway, so an app password remains the most reliable option.
OVH uses your regular mailbox password; double-check the exact IMAP server in your customer area (often ssl0.ovh.net, sometimes imap.mail.ovh.net depending on the plan).
App password for Gmail: Turn on 2-Step Verification, then generate an app password from your Google account's security settings.
How it works
- Enter the credentials for your Gmail mailbox — the server (imap.gmail.com, port 993) is already filled in, all that's missing is your address and your app password.
- Enter the credentials for your OVH mailbox — same on the destination side (ssl0.ovh.net, port 993).
- Start the transfer — MailSync connects to both mailboxes and copies the messages folder by folder.
- Follow the progress in real time — you can close the page, the operation keeps running in the background.
- Check the result — find all your messages and folders in your OVH mailbox.
What this tool doesn't do
- The operation only works over IMAP: a mailbox reachable only via POP3, or through a closed proprietary connector, can't be used.
- Server-side filtering rules, signatures or auto-replies are not copied: only the messages and their folder organization are.
- Beyond 5GB, finishing the operation requires a one-off payment or the Premium plan.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an app password for Gmail? +
Yes. Turn on 2-Step Verification, then generate an app password from your Google account's security settings. Gmail requires an app password: your regular password is rejected over IMAP once 2-step verification is on. Without 2-step verification, Google blocks "less secure app" IMAP connections anyway, so an app password remains the most reliable option.
Do I need an app password for OVH? +
No, not in the general case. OVH uses your regular mailbox password; double-check the exact IMAP server in your customer area (often ssl0.ovh.net, sometimes imap.mail.ovh.net depending on the plan).
Are messages deleted from my Gmail mailbox? +
No, never automatically. MailSync copies your messages from Gmail to OVH, it doesn't move them: your Gmail mailbox stays intact after the operation. You can empty it yourself once you've checked the copy, if you want to.
How long does a transfer from Gmail to OVH take? +
It mostly depends on the volume of your Gmail mailbox and the write speed accepted by the OVH server. Usually a few minutes for a few hundred messages, longer for a large volume. You can follow progress in real time and close the page.
Is there a volume limit for this transfer? +
The transfer from Gmail to OVH is free up to 5GB. Beyond that, the first 5GB are transferred for free; then finish the operation for 4,99€ excl. VAT (5,99€ incl. VAT) or switch to Premium.
Are my Gmail credentials stored? +
No. Your IMAP credentials are encrypted with libsodium for the duration of the operation, then erased as soon as it finishes. If you're signed in to your MailSync account and choose to save the mailbox, only that one is kept (encrypted); you can delete it at any time.