How to migrate from Gmail to Reeva
By Reeva Team · May 22, 2026
If you’re moving from Gmail to a private inbox, the good news is that you don’t have to leave anything behind. Because Reeva speaks IMAP, SMTP and JMAP natively, your existing mail folders can be copied over with a standard mail client.
1. Create your Reeva account
Sign up at app.reeva.me. Start on the Free plan or pick a paid plan if you want a custom domain right away.
2. Enable IMAP on Gmail
In Gmail, go to Settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP and turn IMAP on. Generate an app password under your Google account security settings — you’ll use it in place of your regular Gmail password.
3. Add both accounts to a desktop mail client
Thunderbird is free and works well for this. Add two accounts:
- Gmail (IMAP) — host
imap.gmail.com, port 993, your Gmail address, app password. - Reeva — host
imap.reeva.me, port 993, your Reeva address and password.
4. Drag and drop your folders
In Thunderbird’s folder pane, select your Gmail folders (Inbox, Sent, important labels) and drag them onto your Reeva account. Thunderbird copies them over IMAP. Big mailboxes can take a while — leave it running.
5. Calendar and contacts
Export your Google Calendar as .ics (Settings → Import & export → Export) and import it on
the Reeva Calendar. Contacts: export from Google as .vcf and import in Reeva.
6. Forward new mail temporarily
Set up a Gmail filter to forward all incoming mail to your Reeva address while you update your contacts and accounts. Once nothing important is hitting your Gmail, turn the forward off and close the door.
7. Update your important services
Change your address with banks, government accounts and recovery emails first. Then move through your password manager systematically.
That’s it. You own your mail, your domain stays portable, and you can leave Reeva the same way you arrived — over open protocols.