Website Migration

How to Transfer Your Email to WebFulHost

Re-create mailboxes, move old messages, update DNS and re-point your devices when switching email hosting.

Email migration has three parts: your mailboxes (logins to re-create), your old messages (data to carry across), and your domain DNS (the traffic switch). Do them in order and there's no loss and little fuss.

Part One — create the mailboxes here

In cPanel, create each mailbox exactly as it existed on the old host, with the same address and a new secure password you'll update in your apps afterwards. Also re-create forwards and filters.

Part Two — move the messages

Two ways to carry old mail across (covered by WebFulHost support if you'd rather not DIY):

  • Client-side copy (IMAP): add the old account and the new account to a mail app like Outlook at the same time, then drag folders from old to new. Slow but simple.
  • Server-to-server: an IMAP sync tool (or a friendlier migration built into cPanel on some plans) copies folders wholesale. Fast for large mailboxes.

If your previous host offered a mailbox archive or export in its backup tools, that can be imported via webmail instead.

Part Three — the traffic switch (MX records)

When the above works, update your domain's MX records so new mail starts arriving here. If your domain uses WebFulHost nameservers, edit MX in cPanel's Zone Editor. See DNS Records Explained for the MX row, and expect a few hours for it to apply.

Sequence matters: if you change nameservers (for your website) before the mailboxes here exist, incoming mail starts bouncing. Re-create mailboxes first, or keep your email provider's MX records intact until Part Three.

Part Four — update the devices

Each phone and computer using this email needs its server settings re-pointed to WebFulHost. Use Email Server Settings and the troubleshooting guide if mail arrives oddly afterwards.

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