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Migrate your email from another provider, changing domains
This guide is for migrations where your old and new email addresses use different domains.
E.g. oldaddress@gmail.com you@yourname.com.
Choose this guide if you wish to move data from Gmail, Outlook.com, Yahoo, or any address that uses a different domain name from your Absolute-Email address.
This guide explains how to move your emails, contacts and calendar from another email provider to your Absolute-Email account. Once completed, you will have a full copy of your data in your Absolute-Email account.
You can migrate three things from your old email provider:
- Your emails
- Your address book (contacts)
- Your calendar
Migrate emails
The easiest way to move your emails is to add both accounts to an email app and copy the folders across. This avoids exporting or converting files and works on most devices and email apps including Apple Mail, Outlook desktop, Thunderbird, iOS Mail and Android Mail.
If you don't already use an email app, install any of the apps listed above or another of your choice. If your old email account is already set up in an app, simply use that app. You only need to add your old account if it isn't already set up.
Add both accounts to your email app, ensuring you set them up as IMAP accounts (not POP):
- Your old email account (for example Outlook.com, Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc)
- Your Absolute-Email address [instructions here]
Once both accounts appear side by side in the app, you can migrate your emails:
- Open your email app and make sure both accounts are fully synced.
- In your old account, select the emails or folders you want to move.
- Copy them into the matching folder in your Absolute-Email account (for example, Inbox to Inbox, Sent to Sent).
- The app will upload the copied emails to your Absolute-Email mailbox. Large mailboxes may take some time to finish syncing. If you have a very large mailbox, move emails/folders in smaller batches to avoid timeouts.
- Once done, log in to Absolute-Email Webmail to ensure the number of emails in each folder matches your old account.
- You can now either delete your old account from the app (leaving your Absolute-Email email there if you wish to continue using this app), or delete both accounts from the app/uninstall the app if you prefer to use Absolute-Email Webmail or a different email app.
Migrate contacts
Most email providers allow you to export your contacts as a CSV or vCard (.vcf) file. Below are provider-specific instructions:
Outlook.com / Hotmail
- Sign in at https://outlook.com and click the People icon.
- Select 'Export contacts' > 'Export' > download the CSV file.
Gmail / Google Workspace
- Sign in to Gmail or Google Workspace, then go to https://contacts.google.com.
- Click 'Export' in the left menu.
- Select 'Google CSV' > download the file.
Yahoo Mail
- Sign in at https://mail.yahoo.com and click the Contacts icon.
- Click 'More options' > 'Export'.
- Choose 'Yahoo CSV' > download the file.
iCloud Mail
- Sign in at https://icloud.com and open Contacts.
- Select all contacts > click the gear icon.
- Choose 'Export vCard' (you can import this directly or convert to CSV if preferred).
Zoho Mail
- Sign in at https://mail.zoho.com and open Contacts.
- Click 'More options' > 'Export'.
- Select CSV format > download the file.
Other providers
- Most providers offer a CSV/vCard export option in their Contacts section.
- Look for 'Export', 'Download contacts', or similar wording.
- If unsure, search their help pages for "export contacts".
Once you have the CSV/vCard file, import it into your Absolute-Email address book:
- Log in to Absolute-Email Webmail.
- Click Contacts in the menu.
- Click Import.
- Choose your CSV or vCard (.vcf) file, modify settings as required, and click Import.
- Confirm the field mapping (for example First Name, Last Name, Email Address).
- Click Import to finish.
Your contacts will now appear in your Absolute-Email address book.
Migrate calendar
Most providers allow you to export your calendar as an ICS file. Below are provider-specific instructions:
Outlook.com / Hotmail
- Sign in at https://outlook.com and open Calendar.
- Go to Settings > Calendar > Shared calendars.
- Publish the calendar and download the ICS file.
Gmail / Google Workspace
- Sign in to Gmail or Google Workspace, then go to https://calendar.google.com.
- Click the three dots next to the calendar name and choose 'Settings and sharing'.
- Scroll to 'Export calendar' and download the ICS file.
Yahoo Mail
- Sign in at https://calendar.yahoo.com.
- Click the calendar you want to export.
- Select 'Export' > download the ICS file.
iCloud Mail
- Sign in at https://icloud.com and open Calendar.
- Click the share icon next to the calendar.
- Enable public sharing > copy the link > change 'webcal' to 'https' to download the ICS file.
Zoho Mail
- Sign in at https://calendar.zoho.com.
- Click the calendar name > 'Export'.
- Download the ICS file.
Other providers
- Most providers offer an ICS export option in their Calendar settings.
- Look for 'Export', 'Download calendar', or similar wording.
- If unsure, search their help pages for "export calendar".
Once you have the ICS file, import it into your Absolute-Email calendar:
- Log in to Absolute-Email Webmail.
- Click Calendar in the menu.
- Click the pencil icon next to the name of the calendar you want to import into.
- Select Import/Export.
- Choose Import from file and upload the ICS file.
Your events will now appear in your Absolute-Email calendar.
Set up forwarding from your old provider
Most email providers allow you to forward new emails to another address. This ensures you do not miss messages if you plan to stop using your old address.
Outlook.com / Hotmail
- Go to Settings > Mail > Forwarding.
- Turn on forwarding and enter your Absolute-Email address.
Gmail / Google Workspace
- Go to Settings (gear icon) > See all settings.
- Select Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
- Add a forwarding address.
Yahoo Mail
- Go to Settings > More settings > Mailboxes.
- Select your Yahoo address > 'Forwarding'.
- Enter your Absolute-Email address.
iCloud Mail
- Sign in at https://icloud.com and open Mail.
- Click the gear icon > Preferences.
- Enable 'Forward my email to' and enter your Absolute-Email address.
Zoho Mail
- Go to Settings > Mail accounts.
- Select your account > 'Email forwarding'.
- Add your Absolute-Email address.
Other providers
- Most providers offer forwarding in their Mail or Settings section.
- Look for 'Forwarding', 'Redirect', or similar wording.
- If unsure, search their help pages for "forward email".
Update your online accounts
Where needed, update your email address everywhere you use your old address. E.g. bank accounts, government services, online shops and subscriptions, social media accounts, business listings and stationery.
Migration complete
Your emails, contacts and calendars are now fully imported into Absolute-Email, and forwarding will ensure you don't miss any messages to your old address. Your migration is complete.