# Import mail into webmail

> Bring your old mail into a webmail mailbox from another provider or a file, and follow each import until it finishes.

Source: https://www.coritan.com/docs/mail/webmail/import/

In the dashboard:

- /webmail/settings/import: https://www.coritan.com/webmail/settings/import

An *import* copies mail into the mailbox you have open, from another mail server or from a file. You start one on the **Import** tab of webmail settings, at [www.coritan.com/webmail/settings/import](https://www.coritan.com/webmail/settings/import). The import runs on our side, so it goes on after you close the page. Messages keep their folders, their read and flagged state and their own dates, and nothing changes on the other server.

The same imports can be started from the Mail Hosting panel, as [Move existing mail into a mailbox](/docs/mail/mail-hosting/move-mail-in/) describes.

## Before you begin

- Open the mailbox the mail should go into. With more than one mailbox, [switch to it](/docs/mail/webmail/sign-in/#switch-between-mailboxes) first.
- Own the mailbox or be able to send from it. Someone who **Can only read** the mailbox has no **Import** tab.
- Make sure the mailbox has room for the mail. An import pauses when the mailbox is full. The storage line at the foot of the sidebar shows how much is used.
- For another server, have the old mailbox's address and password, and turn on IMAP there. Many providers want an *app password* made in their own settings, and the hint under **Provider** says what each one needs.
- For a file, have the mail as an mbox file, a single `.eml` message, a zip or tar of mail or Maildir folders, or a cPanel backup.

## Open the Import tab

In webmail, select **Settings** at the foot of the sidebar, then the **Import** tab.

## Import from another mail server

1. Under **From another mail server**, choose where the mail is now in **Provider**, such as `Yahoo Mail` or `iCloud Mail`. For a server the list does not name, choose `Another IMAP server` or `cPanel`, then enter the server's name in **Server**.
2. In **Username**, enter the old mailbox's sign-in name, usually its full address. In **Password**, enter its password or app password.
3. To copy the old Trash or Spam folders too, turn on **Also bring Trash** or **Also bring Spam**.
4. Select **Start the import**.

We try the password first, so a wrong one fails straight away. When it works, we show `The import has started. It goes on with this tab closed.` and the import appears under **Imports**. The old server must offer IMAP over TLS on port `993`. We use the password for this import only, then forget it.

Webmail brings all of the old mailbox's mail. To bring only the mail from some dates, start the import [with the API](/docs/mail/mail-hosting/move-mail-in/#with-the-api) instead.

## Import from Gmail or Microsoft 365 by signing in

When **Provider** offers **Gmail: sign in with Google** or **Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com: sign in with Microsoft**, you can sign in on the provider's own page and give us no password. The access ends with the import.

1. In **Provider**, choose one of those two.
2. Optionally, turn on **Also bring Trash** or **Also bring Spam**.
3. Select `Continue with Google` or `Continue with Microsoft`, and sign in there.

You come back to the **Import** tab, and we show `Signed in. The import has started, and goes on with this tab closed.` If the sign-in did not work, the message says why. To import from Gmail without signing in, choose `Gmail with an app password` and make an app password in your Google account.

## Import from a file

1. Under **From a file**, choose the file in **File**.
2. In **Put its mail in**, name the folder for mail that the file keeps in no folder, such as an mbox or an `.eml`. It is `Imported` by default.
3. For a cPanel backup, enter the mailbox you want in **Mailbox in a cPanel backup**. Leave it empty to import the mailbox with this mailbox's own address.
4. To copy the file's Trash or Spam folders too, turn on **Also bring its Trash** or **Also bring its Spam**.
5. Select **Upload and import**. A bar shows how much has uploaded. Keep the page open until the upload finishes.

When the upload ends, we show the file's name followed by `is uploaded. Its mail is on its way in.` A file can be up to 2 GB by default. The note under **From a file** gives the limit that applies to your mailbox. [Move existing mail into a mailbox](/docs/mail/mail-hosting/move-mail-in/#import-from-a-file) lists the kinds of file we read and what we take from each.

## Follow an import

Each import under **Imports** names its source, shows its status and counts its messages: how many came in, how many were already here, how many were left out and how many the mailbox refused. The list updates by itself every 5 seconds while an import is waiting or running.

| Status | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| **Waiting to start** | Queued to start. |
| **Importing** | Copying mail now. |
| **Paused** | Stopped for now. You paused it, the mailbox is full, or an error interrupted it. |
| **Done** | Every message has been copied. |
| **Stopped** | It failed. The row says why. |
| **Cancelled** | You cancelled it. |

We leave out messages marked deleted, messages larger than 50 MB and messages an earlier import already brought. [Where the mail goes](/docs/mail/mail-hosting/move-mail-in/#where-the-mail-goes) says which folder each old folder goes into.

## Pause, resume or cancel an import

- To pause an import that is waiting or running, select **Pause** on its row.
- To go on with a paused import, select **Resume**. It goes on from where it stopped.
- To stop an import for good, select the X at the end of its row, then confirm with **Cancel import**. The mail that has come in already stays in the mailbox.

Running the same import again is safe. Messages already copied count as already here and are not copied twice.

## Troubleshooting

`3 imports are under way into this mailbox; wait for one to end`
: A mailbox takes three imports at a time, counting waiting and paused ones. Wait for one to finish, or cancel one.

`Too many requests for this action. Please wait and try again.`
: A mailbox takes up to 20 import attempts a day, counting those the old server refused and those started from the Mail Hosting panel. Try again later.

`The mailbox is full. Make room in it, then resume the import.`
: An import stops when the mailbox reaches its quota. Delete mail you do not need, or ask whoever manages the mailbox for more room, then select **Resume**. For a Mail Hosting mailbox, see [Change a mailbox's quota](/docs/mail/mail-hosting/mailboxes/#change-a-mailbox-s-quota).

`The import stopped on an error. Resume it to go on from where it was.`
: Something interrupted the import, such as the old server closing the connection. Select **Resume**.

`Could not load the imports`
: Select **Try again**. If it keeps failing, reload the page.

There is no **Import** tab
: You can only read this mailbox. Ask its owner to change your access to **Can read, organize and send**.

The old server refused the sign-in, or a file was not read
: [Move existing mail into a mailbox](/docs/mail/mail-hosting/move-mail-in/#troubleshooting) explains each of those messages.

## Related

- [Move existing mail into a mailbox](/docs/mail/mail-hosting/move-mail-in/)
- [Import contacts](/docs/mail/webmail/contacts/#import-contacts)
- [Change webmail settings](/docs/mail/webmail/settings/)