Importing mail from other mailboxes

The mail importer allows you to forward email from your other mailboxes to your Yandex mailbox.

Note. If you are an administrator of a company, you can import several mailboxes at once.
  1. Create a mail fetcher
  2. Import messages from another Yandex mailbox
  3. Selecting the email import folder
  4. Configure mail import
  5. Using the address of linked mailbox
  6. Functionality of imported emails
  7. Mail import doesn't work

Create a mail fetcher

  1. In the upper-right corner, click  → All settings.
  2. Select Mail importer.
  3. Choose the mailbox you want to import email from: Mail.ru, Gmail, or Outlook.
  4. Choose an account or log in.
  5. Grant Yandex access to your mailbox in another mail service.
    Note. Yandex needs to access your mailbox to collect emails from it. Yandex doesn't perform any actions with your mailbox without your consent.
  6. If the connection with the other mailbox is successfully established, you will see the corresponding message.
    Note. By default, the importer is configured for IMAP. In this case, you can't choose a folder to import email to: IMAP can't import email to a specified folder because it copies the entire folder structure. To import email to a specific folder, delete the importer and manually configure a POP3 importer.
If you can't connect the mail importer with the server automatically
  1. Click Server connection settings .
  2. Enter the name of the mail server and port number manually. You can get the values of these parameters from the mail support service where your mailbox is located.

Email is first imported a few minutes after setting up the importer. The importer accesses the other mail server from several times per hour to once every few days. You cannot manually set or change the import time. It depends on the protocol used (POP3 or IMAP) as well as the operating features of the server that email is imported from. This is why email may be delayed.

Import messages from another Yandex mailbox

To set up the email importer:

  1. In the upper-right corner, click  → All settings.
  2. Select Mail importer.
  3. Click .
  4. Enter the mailbox address from which you want to receive mail.
  5. Click Continue.
  6. In the window with access rights for external applications that appears, log in to the mailbox that you specified earlier.
  7. Save changes.

All emails, both new and old, will be imported in your mailbox.

By default, you'll receive all mail in the Inbox folder. You can set up a specific folder for incoming mail using mail processing rules.

Note. If you want to use another mail service to collect email from your Yandex mailbox, enable access to your mailbox: From the imap.yandex.com server via IMAP (learn more here).

Selecting the email import folder

You can't select a folder for email import if you configured the mail importer using the IMAP protocol. This is because the protocol copies the folder structure in its entirety, which means that email can't be imported to a designated folder. However, you can change the protocol to POP3 or set up message filters.

Configuring the POP3 protocol
  1. Open the email import settings page.
  2. Click the address of the mail importer.
  3. Click Delete.
  4. Confirm deletion.
  5. Create a new importer using POP3.

After that you can select a folder for collecting email.

Setting up a filter

The email rule automatically moves emails from the importer to a specific folder. For example, if you collect email from the cheshire.katze@yandex.com mailbox, create a filter like this:

  1. Set cheshire.katze@yandex.com for the To: parameter.
  2. Turn on the Move to folder option and then select the folder from the list on the right.

To learn more, see Automatic message sorting by folder.

Configure mail import

  1. In the upper-right corner, click  → All settings.
  2. Select Mail importer.
  3. Click on the the name of the mail fetcher in the list of connected mailboxes.

  4. Click Options. Here you can set up the filters for the messages collected and the parameters for connecting to the server.
    Note. If you configured the importer for IMAP, you can't change the protocol to POP3. However, you can remove the IMAP mail importer and manually configure a new one with POP3.

To disable mail import, go to the Mail importer page and click Disable.

If the mail importer is no longer needed, click on the name, then click Delete.

Using the address of linked mailbox

In Yandex Mail, you can choose an address to send messages from. For this purpose, you can use the address of the mailbox that you collect messages from.

  1. Add the address on the Email addresses page in Yandex ID and confirm access to it.
  2. Set up mail import from this mailbox. Enter the full address as your username, for example cheshire.katze@forestmail.com.
Note. If you want to send messages on behalf of another Yandex mailbox, you don't have to configure the mail importer.

If you can't send messages from an address hosted on another mail service even though the mail importer is set up correctly, it means that this service's security rules do not allow sending messages through third-party services, including Yandex Mail.

Functionality of imported emails

All features of standard mail apply to collected emails as well, but there are caviats:

Deleting messages

If you delete an imported email, it will only be erased from the recipient mailbox. It will not be deleted from the mailbox it was originally sent to.

Mail processing rules

Filters only apply to email in your Inbox. If a message is imported into another folder, filters do not apply.

Blacklist

Blacklisting doesn't work for messages you imported from another mailbox. You can only blacklist these messages by logging into their original mailbox and setting up blacklisting there.

Mail import doesn't work

This walk-through will guide you in troubleshooting the issues related to mail import. Before you start, open Yandex Mail in a new tab to follow the instructions.

Select a problem:

Did the importer collect emails before?

  1. Disable mail import by clicking Disable on the Mail importer page.
  2. Wait 2 or 3 hours.
  3. Turn email importing on again.

Change the password in the mailbox that you want to collect messages from. Wait 2 or 3 hours for the new password to start working.

Re-connect the mail importer with the new password:

  1. Go to Mail importer.
  2. Click on the name of the mail importer in the list of connected mailboxes and then click Configure.
  3. Click Server connection settings .
  4. Enter a new password in Connection settings.
  5. Click Save changes.
Messages are not collected from Gmail

If you have set up collecting messages from Gmail:

  1. Set Less secure apps to Allow less secure apps on the Sign in and Security page.
  2. Grant access to the mail importer on the Google accounts page.
  3. If you use two-step authentication to log in to your Google account, create an application passwordcreate an application password for the mail importer.

Re-connect the mail importer with the new password:

  1. Go to mail collection settings.
  2. Click on the name of the mail importer in the list of connected mailboxes and then click Configure.
  3. Click Server connection settings .
  4. Enter a new password in Connection settings.
  5. Click Save changes.

  1. Make sure that POP3 or IMAP access is enabled in the settings of your Yandex mailbox:

    1. In the upper-right corner, click  → All settings.
    2. Select Interface.
    3. Select Email clients.
    4. Select the required protocol.
    5. Save the changes.

  2. Make sure that POP3 or IMAP access is enabled in the settings of the mailbox the emails are collected from.

    Rambler
    1. In the bottom-left corner, click .
    2. Choose Email clients in the menu on the left.
    3. Enable the I want to access my mailbox using a mail client option.
    4. Enter the CAPTCHA and click Send.
    Gmail
    1. Go to Gmail settings and click Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
    2. In POP Download (Status) click Enable POP for all mail (even mail that's already been downloaded).
    3. In the IMAP Access (Status) click Enable IMAP.
    4. Click Save changes.
    Mail.ru

    For Mail.ru, access to IMAP and POP3 is activated automatically.

    Outlook.com (hotmail.com)

    Outlook.com can only send emails using POP. To activate POP access:

    1. In the upper-right corner, click .
    2. Select Settings.
    3. In the Manage accounts section click the Connect devices and apps with POP link.
    4. Select Enable.
    5. In the Deleting downloaded messages section, choose Don't allow devices or apps to delete messages from Outlook.com . If an application or device is set up to delete messages, Outlook.com will move them to a special POP folder instead.
    6. Click Save.
    Yahoo

    Yahoo! mail can only send emails using POP. This protocol is enabled by default.

    If your mail service is not available in the list, contact support for information.

    There may have been problems on the side of the mail service that receives forwarded mail. To solve the problem, set up forwarding from the mailbox messages are imported from. Before setting up forwarding, disable the mail importer on Yandex. Otherwise, you'll be receiving each message twice.

    To find out how to set up mail forwarding from another mailbox to your Yandex mailbox, read the Help section for the other mail service.




  1. Make sure that POP3 or IMAP access is enabled in the settings of your Yandex mailbox:

    1. In the upper-right corner, click  → All settings.
    2. Select Interface.
    3. Select Email clients.
    4. Select the required protocol.
    5. Save the changes.

  2. Make sure that POP3 or IMAP access is enabled in the settings of the mailbox the emails are collected from.

    Rambler
    1. In the bottom-left corner, click .
    2. Choose Email clients in the menu on the left.
    3. Enable the I want to access my mailbox using a mail client option.
    4. Enter the CAPTCHA and click Send.
    Gmail
    1. Go to Gmail settings and click Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
    2. In POP Download (Status) click Enable POP for all mail (even mail that's already been downloaded).
    3. In the IMAP Access (Status) click Enable IMAP.
    4. Click Save changes.
    Mail.ru

    For Mail.ru, access to IMAP and POP3 is activated automatically.

    Outlook.com (hotmail.com)

    Outlook.com can only send emails using POP. To activate POP access:

    1. In the upper-right corner, click .
    2. Select Settings.
    3. In the Manage accounts section click the Connect devices and apps with POP link.
    4. Select Enable.
    5. In the Deleting downloaded messages section, choose Don't allow devices or apps to delete messages from Outlook.com . If an application or device is set up to delete messages, Outlook.com will move them to a special POP folder instead.
    6. Click Save.
    Yahoo

    Yahoo! mail can only send emails using POP. This protocol is enabled by default.

    If your mail service is not available in the list, contact support for information.

    Check if the mailbox settings allow emails to be downloaded from specific folders or for a specific period of time.

    The Outlook.com mail service (hotmail.com, live.com) only allows emails to be forwarded from the Inbox folder. If you have email stored in a different folder, move them to your Inbox.


  1. Make sure that POP3 or IMAP access is enabled in the settings of your Yandex mailbox:

    1. In the upper-right corner, click  → All settings.
    2. Select Interface.
    3. Select Email clients.
    4. Select the required protocol.
    5. Save the changes.

  2. Make sure that POP3 or IMAP access is enabled in the settings of the mailbox the emails are collected from.

    Rambler
    1. In the bottom-left corner, click .
    2. Choose Email clients in the menu on the left.
    3. Enable the I want to access my mailbox using a mail client option.
    4. Enter the CAPTCHA and click Send.
    Gmail
    1. Go to Gmail settings and click Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
    2. In POP Download (Status) click Enable POP for all mail (even mail that's already been downloaded).
    3. In the IMAP Access (Status) click Enable IMAP.
    4. Click Save changes.
    Mail.ru

    For Mail.ru, access to IMAP and POP3 is activated automatically.

    Outlook.com (hotmail.com)

    Outlook.com can only send emails using POP. To activate POP access:

    1. In the upper-right corner, click .
    2. Select Settings.
    3. In the Manage accounts section click the Connect devices and apps with POP link.
    4. Select Enable.
    5. In the Deleting downloaded messages section, choose Don't allow devices or apps to delete messages from Outlook.com . If an application or device is set up to delete messages, Outlook.com will move them to a special POP folder instead.
    6. Click Save.
    Yahoo

    Yahoo! mail can only send emails using POP. This protocol is enabled by default.

    If your mail service is not available in the list, contact support for information.

    Make sure that you entered your password correctly. Type it into a text editor, and then copy and paste it into the password field. If you're sure you entered the correct password, but the mail importer still won't work, try logging in to the mailbox you want to import mail from.


The mail import speed depends on how many emails are in the mailbox it's collecting mail from, as well as how the server where it is located is working. Delays in mail collecting may also occur due to certain features of the protocols the importer uses.

To get your emails instantaneously, set up forwarding from your other mailbox to your Yandex Mail. Before setting up forwarding, disable the mail importer. Otherwise, you'll be receiving each message twice.

You cannot select a folder for email imported if you configured the mail importer using the IMAP protocol. This is because that protocol does not allow emails to be imported into a designated folder; it copies the folder structure in its entirety. To switch to POP3:

  1. Open the Mail importer page.
  2. Confirm deletion.
  3. Create a new importer using POP3.

After that you can select a folder for collecting email.

  1. Make sure that POP3 or IMAP access is enabled in the settings of your Yandex mailbox:

    1. In the upper-right corner, click  → All settings.
    2. Select Interface.
    3. Select Email clients.
    4. Select the required protocol.
    5. Save the changes.

  2. Make sure that POP3 or IMAP access is enabled in the settings of the mailbox the emails are collected from.

    Rambler
    1. In the bottom-left corner, click .
    2. Choose Email clients in the menu on the left.
    3. Enable the I want to access my mailbox using a mail client option.
    4. Enter the CAPTCHA and click Send.
    Gmail
    1. Go to Gmail settings and click Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
    2. In POP Download (Status) click Enable POP for all mail (even mail that's already been downloaded).
    3. In the IMAP Access (Status) click Enable IMAP.
    4. Click Save changes.
    Mail.ru

    For Mail.ru, access to IMAP and POP3 is activated automatically.

    Outlook.com (hotmail.com)

    Outlook.com can only send emails using POP. To activate POP access:

    1. In the upper-right corner, click .
    2. Select Settings.
    3. In the Manage accounts section click the Connect devices and apps with POP link.
    4. Select Enable.
    5. In the Deleting downloaded messages section, choose Don't allow devices or apps to delete messages from Outlook.com . If an application or device is set up to delete messages, Outlook.com will move them to a special POP folder instead.
    6. Click Save.
    Yahoo

    Yahoo! mail can only send emails using POP. This protocol is enabled by default.

    If your mail service is not available in the list, contact support for information.

    Select your Yandex Mail address:

    Have you used two-factor authentication?

    Even if two-factor authentication is disabled, you need to use app passwords to connect the mail importer on another mail service. Create a special password following these instructions and enter it in the mail import settings of the other mail service.

    If two-factor authentication is enabled, you need to use app passwords to connect the mail importer on another mail service. Create a special password following these instructions and enter it in the mail import settings of the other mail service.

    Contact our support team using the form below. Describe your problem in detail and specify which recommendations from Help didn't solve the problem.

    Have you used two-factor authentication?

    Even if two-factor authentication is disabled, you need to use app passwords to connect the mail importer on another mail service. Create a special password following these instructions and enter it in the mail import settings of the other mail service.

    Also specify the following settings:

    • mail server address — imap.yandex.com;
    • connection security — SSL
    • port — 993

    If two-factor authentication is enabled, you need to use app passwords to connect the mail importer on another mail service. Create a special password following these instructions and enter it in the mail import settings of the other mail service.

    Also specify the following settings:

    • mail server address — imap.yandex.com;
    • connection security — SSL
    • port — 993

    Please ensure the following options are set in the fetcher settings:

    • mail server address — imap.yandex.com;
    • connection security — SSL
    • port — 993

If you don't see your issue in the list, please contact our support team using the form below.