How to Import Roundcube to Gmail

  

Nick Rogers
Published: May 13, 2026 • Import • 6 Min Read

Roundcube is a webmail interface bundled with most shared hosting plans. However, it depends on the underlying IMAP server provided by your host. Moving your Roundcube mail to Gmail means pulling it over IMAP or POP3 from that host. After that, you push it into Gmail’s mailbox.

This guide walks through three tested methods. Also, it covers the Gmail App Password setup you’ll need for any IMAP transfer.

Why Import Roundcube to Gmail?

Many users want to consolidate mail in one place. Therefore, Gmail is a popular destination. It offers strong search, mobile access, and 15 GB of free storage.

Also, you might be leaving your current host. In that case, you need to pull the mail out before the account closes. Once the messages are in Gmail, you can read them from any device.

What You Need Before You Start

• Your Roundcube login (email address and password)
• The IMAP server for your Roundcube host (usually mail.yourdomain.com on port 993 with SSL)
• A Gmail account with 2-Step Verification turned on
• A Gmail App Password from myaccount.google.com/apppasswords

Not sure of your Roundcube IMAP server? Check your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin). Look under Email Accounts > Configure Email Client. Your host lists the exact server name and port.

Method 1: Pull Roundcube into Gmail with Mail Fetcher

Gmail has a built-in feature called Mail Fetcher. It signs into your Roundcube account over POP3 and downloads the messages. The transfer runs in the background, so you don’t need any desktop software.

Set up Mail Fetcher

1. Sign in to Gmail and click the gear icon. Then choose See all settings.
2. Go to the Accounts and Import tab.
3. Next to Check mail from other accounts, click Add a mail account.
4. Enter your Roundcube email address and click Next.
5. Choose Import emails from my other account (POP3) and click Next.
6. Fill in your Roundcube username, password, POP server (often mail.yourdomain.com), and port 995 with SSL.
7. Tick Leave a copy of retrieved messages on the server if you want a safety net. Also tick Always use a secure connection (SSL).
8. Click Add Account. Gmail starts pulling new messages every few minutes.

Limitations of Mail Fetcher

However, Mail Fetcher has a few constraints. It only pulls Inbox messages, not Sent or custom folders. Also, it works over POP3, so it can be slow on large mailboxes. Therefore, use it for ongoing mail forwarding rather than a one-shot archive.

Method 2: Move Roundcube Mail to Gmail with Thunderbird (Free)

Mozilla Thunderbird is the most flexible free option. It connects to both accounts at once, so you can drag any folder from Roundcube straight into Gmail. As a result, every message lands in Gmail with full headers and attachments.

Add both accounts to Thunderbird

1. Install Mozilla Thunderbird from thunderbird.net.
2. Click Account Settings > Account Actions > Add Mail Account. Add your Roundcube account first.
3. Use the IMAP settings from your host (typically mail.yourdomain.com, port 993, SSL/TLS, normal password).
4. Repeat the Add Mail Account step for Gmail. Use your Gmail address and the App Password you generated.
5. For Gmail, use imap.gmail.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS.

Drag messages from Roundcube to Gmail

1. Expand the Roundcube folder list in the left pane.
2. Open the folder you want to move (Inbox, Sent, or any custom label).
3. Press Ctrl + A to select all messages.
4. Drag the selection onto the Gmail folder you want as the destination. For example, drop them into Gmail’s All Mail or a new label.
5. Thunderbird uploads the messages over IMAP. Watch the progress at the bottom.
6. Repeat for every Roundcube folder you want to keep.

Method 3: Use a Dedicated Roundcube to Gmail Import Tool

For multi-account jobs or large mailboxes, a dedicated tool is faster. It handles authentication, batching, and folder mapping for you. EmailBakup connects to Roundcube over IMAP, then uploads each message to Gmail with attachments and folder structure preserved.

Steps

1. Download and install EmailBakup for Windows or macOS.
2. 
3. Click Add Account and choose IMAP from the provider list.
4. Enter your Roundcube email address, password, and the IMAP server from your host.
5. 
6. Once the folder tree loads, tick the folders you want to move. You can also preview any message before transferring.
7. 
8. Click Export, then choose Gmail from the email service section.
9. 
10. Enter your Gmail address and the App Password. Then click Save.
11. 
12. The tool starts uploading. Watch the progress on screen. When it finishes, log into Gmail to confirm the imported folder.

Which Method Should You Choose?

Pick Method 1 if you just want new Roundcube mail to flow into Gmail going forward. It’s the easiest setup, but it skips your Sent folder.

Pick Method 2 if you want a free, one-time move of every folder. It needs Thunderbird and some drag-and-drop work, but it’s flexible.

Pick Method 3 if you have several Roundcube accounts or thousands of messages. It runs unattended and preserves folder structure automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Roundcube IMAP server?
There’s no single Roundcube server. Roundcube is just the web interface. The IMAP server comes from your host. Therefore, check your hosting control panel for the exact server name. It’s usually mail.yourdomain.com on port 993 with SSL.

Why do I need a Gmail App Password?
Google blocks regular passwords for IMAP and POP3 connections from third-party apps. Therefore, you have to generate a 16-character App Password under your Google security settings. Use that password in place of your normal one.

Will my Roundcube folders be preserved in Gmail?
Method 2 and Method 3 both preserve folder structure. Gmail treats folders as labels, so each Roundcube folder appears as a Gmail label. Method 1 only pulls the Inbox.

How long does the import take?
Plan on roughly 1 GB per 30 to 45 minutes over IMAP. The bottleneck is Gmail’s upload throttling, not your bandwidth.

Can I import multiple Roundcube accounts to one Gmail?
Yes. Method 3 lets you add several Roundcube accounts in one job. Each one uploads to the same Gmail destination. Alternatively, run Method 2 once per Roundcube account.