Google is set to shut down two Gmail features this month, meaning some users may lose access to their emails.
Starting in January, Gmail will no longer provide support for the following features:
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Gmailify
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Check mail from other accounts
How Gmail users will be impacted by the shutdown
Gmailify
Gmailify is a feature that allows users to get the benefits of Gmail (like spam filters and notifications on your mobile) for non-Gmail accounts (Yahoo, Outlook, etc.) by linking them together.
However, from January, Google will be removing these benefits from third-party emails.
Those using third-party accounts will no longer be able to access the likes of:
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Spam protection
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Better email notifications on mobile
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Inbox categories
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Faster search with advanced search operators
Despite the removal of these services, Google Support adds: “You can continue to read and send emails from your other account in the Gmail app for Android, iPhone, and iPad, which uses a standard IMAP connection.”
Check mail from other accounts
Gmail will also no longer support checking emails from third-party accounts through POP (Post Office Protocol) on your computer.
Currently, you can use ‘check mail from other accounts’ to access emails from the likes of Outlook, Apple Mail, and Thunderbird.
However, this option will be discontinued by Google this month.
So you don’t lose access to your emails from other providers, Google Support advises users to either:
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Set up automatic forwarding (web)
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Add your account to the Gmail app (mobile)
Google Support adds: “You can continue to read and send emails from your other account in the Gmail app for Android, iPhone, and iPad, which uses a standard IMAP connection.”
Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/01/08/alat-by-wema-to-roll-out-major-app-upgrade-in-2026/
It continued: “If you have a work or school account, your administrator can help migrate your email data into Google Workspace.”
Google to allow users to change Gmail address in major update
Google is also set to launch a major update in 2026, which will allow users to change their email address.
Currently, once a Gmail address has been selected, you are unable to change it unless you open a totally new account.
However, this could be about to change, according to 9to5Google .
Discussing the change, a Google support document said: “The email address associated with your Google Account is the address you use to sign in to Google services.”
It added: “If you’d like, you can change your Google Account email address that ends in gmail.com to a new email address that ends in gmail.com.
“You will receive emails at both your old and new email addresses.
“Data saved in your account, including photos, messages, and emails sent to your old email address, will not be affected.”
At the moment, there is no information regarding when this update could be seen by users.
It is also important to note that this “announcement” has only been made in a support document written in Hindi.
This suggests that India could be the first to get the update, before it makes its way to the UK.
