Moving from Hotmail to Gmail is one of the most popular email migrations today. Gmail’s clean interface, great spam protection and deep integration with Google services makes it a no brainer for anyone looking to upgrade. If you’ve used Hotmail (or Outlook.com/Live.com) for years and want all your emails and contacts in Gmail, this guide will show you how to transfer your Hotmail account to Gmail, forward new messages, import old mail and even add your Hotmail inbox inside Gmail.
Why move from Hotmail to Gmail in 2025
Gmail has evolved into more than just an email platform. Its search is super fast, it works across devices and connects to services like Google Drive, Calendar and Meet. Hotmail is still working but many users prefer Gmail’s reliability and productivity features. Transferring your Hotmail account means you keep all your important emails and contacts and get all the advanced features of Gmail.
Three Proven Ways to Transfer Hotmail to Gmail
When people talk about Migrate Hotmail to Gmail, they usually mean one or more of the following methods. Each offers different benefits depending on whether you need only new mail forwarded, old messages imported, or a full two-way connection.
Forward Hotmail to Gmail
What: Sends all new Hotmail mail to Gmail.
Pros: Easy setup, free, never miss a new message.
Cons: Won't move past mail; some delays.
Import Mail & Contacts
What: Transfers your entire Hotmail inbox and contacts to Gmail.
Pros: Migrates your entire history into Gmail, keeps all your contacts in one spot.
Cons: Big inboxes can take days or hours; folder hierarchy will be different.
Add Hotmail to Gmail (POP/IMAP or Gmailify)
What: Enables Gmail to send and receive on your behalf using your Hotmail address.
Pros: Get both accounts in one inbox; respond using Gmail but display your Hotmail address.
Cons: Involves turning on POP/IMAP and entering credentials; a couple more steps to configure.
You can use a single method or combine them. For example, forward new mail while also importing your old messages for a complete migration.
Step-by-Step: Transfer Your Hotmail Account to Gmail
Follow these steps for an easy and hassle-free migration.
1. Tidy Up Your Hotmail Inbox
First, tidy up your Hotmail account. Remove spam, get rid of unnecessary mails and arrange important folders. A tidy inbox accelerates the transfer and keeps Gmail neat.
2. Forward New Mails to Gmail
Log in to your Hotmail or Outlook.com account.
Click the gear icon for Settings, then View all Outlook settings, then Mail → Forwarding.
Turn on forwarding, type in your Gmail address and select to save a copy of forwarded messages in Hotmail.
This will make any new message which comes to Hotmail appear in Gmail where you can avoid scanning two mailboxes.
3. Import Old Emails and Contacts
Now transfer your email past to Gmail:
In Gmail on the desktop browser, click the gear icon and select See all settings.
Navigate to the Accounts and Import tab.
Under Import mail and contacts, choose Import from another address and log in using your Hotmail credentials.
Choose to import mail and contacts and allow Gmail to copy it all in the background.
Large mailboxes will take hours or even a day but you can use Gmail while the import process continues.
4. Add Hotmail Inside Gmail (Optional)
To manage both accounts in one inbox and send emails using your Hotmail address, set up POP/IMAP or Gmailify:
In Gmail Settings, open Accounts and Import and click Add a mail account under “Check mail from other accounts.”
Enter your Hotmail address and password.
Choose if you want to label incoming messages and enable “Send mail as” your Hotmail address.
Now you can reply to messages in Gmail and have recipients see your Hotmail address—perfect if you want to keep that identity active.
5. Update Your Contacts and Accounts
Notify important contacts of your new Gmail address. Update email information on banking websites, subscriptions and social networks. Consider setting up an auto-reply in Hotmail for a few months telling people you’ve switched to Gmail.
Tips for a Smooth Migration
Check Storage Space: 15 GB common on Gmail, Drive, and Photos. If you've got years of giant attachments in Hotmail, clean them up or subscribe to Google One for additional storage.
Watch Folder Mapping: Some personal Hotmail folders will appear as labels or under "All Mail" in Gmail.
Avoid Spam Issues: When you send mail from Gmail as your Hotmail address, complete verification when prompted so messages won't get sent to spam.
Be Patient with Large Imports: If you have tens of thousands of emails, the import will take several hours. Gmail will continue bringing emails in the background.
Leave Hotmail Open: Even after moving, leave the account open so late senders may still find you.
Conclusion
Moving from Hotmail to Gmail in 2025 is more than just an email change – it’s an upgrade to a faster, more secure and better integrated platform. By forwarding new mail, importing old mail and optionally add Hotmail account into Gmail you can merge years of correspondence into one tidy inbox without losing contacts or attachments. It’s free and runs in the background so you can keep working while Gmail does the work. Afterward update saved email addresses, adjust linked accounts and leave Hotmail active for a bit. With Google’s search, storage and app integration your email will be future proof.
