Migrate Email from cPanel to TrekMail

Most hosting control panels provide an IMAP connection for every mailbox. TrekMail can use that connection to copy selected folders into a TrekMail mailbox. This guide is for one mailbox. For several mailboxes, see Migrate from cPanel (Bulk).

The import copies mail. It does not close or delete the mailbox at the old provider. Keep that mailbox available until you have checked the result and completed your email cutover.

Before you begin

The import tool is available on Starter and higher plans. Create the TrekMail destination mailbox before you start, and gather the connection details for the old mailbox.

You need:

• the old mailbox's full email address;
• its mailbox password, not the password used to sign in to cPanel or the hosting account;
• the incoming IMAP server, port, and security setting from the old provider; and
• access to the old mailbox for as long as the import runs.

Before you start a single import, finish or cancel existing migration work. A running or paused bulk batch also uses the account's import capacity.

Find the old mailbox settings

Sign in to the old hosting account and open cPanel. The wording differs between hosts, but look for Email Accounts, then choose the mailbox and open Connect Devices, Configure Mail Client, or a similarly named page.

Copy the values in the secure incoming-mail or IMAP section. Do not guess from a provider name. Hosting companies can use different server names for different plans and domains.

If there is no cPanel, the old provider's mail-client setup page normally lists the same five values.

Start the import

1. In TrekMail, open Import and stay on Single Import.
2. Choose Other for a cPanel or custom IMAP mailbox.
3. Enter the incoming server, port, security setting, mailbox email, and password from the old provider. Leave Username blank when it is the same as the mailbox email.
4. Select Check connection. This confirms the credentials and lists the source folders. It does not copy messages yet.
5. Select the folders you want. You can include every folder or leave out folders such as Spam or Trash.
6. Keep Skip duplicates selected unless you have a specific reason not to. It helps when you repeat an import after a partial run.
7. Optionally set Only import emails after if you need recent mail only.
8. Select the TrekMail destination mailbox, review the summary, and choose Start import.

The import continues in the background. You can leave the page and return to Import history later.

Check progress and finish safely

The history entry shows the current stage and any error message. An import can be queued, checked, planned, importing, paused, completed, failed, or cancelled. The label can change while TrekMail prepares folders and copies messages.

When the import is complete:

1. Open the TrekMail destination mailbox and check several folders, including Inbox, Sent, and a custom folder if you have one.
2. Compare the folders you selected with the source. An import only copies the folders you selected and mail after the optional date filter.
3. If the result says that only part of the import completed, use the Continue action shown on that history entry after resolving the issue.
4. Plan or complete the MX change for new incoming mail. See Required DNS Records.
5. Keep the old mailbox active until you have confirmed both the imported history and new incoming delivery. Then close it according to your cutover plan.

Troubleshooting

The connection check fails

Start with the values on the old provider's mail-client page. A wrong hostname, port, security setting, mailbox password, or username causes most connection failures. Reopen that page and copy the values again instead of relying on a remembered setting.

If the source provider offers an app password for mail clients, use that in place of the normal mailbox password. If the provider blocks external IMAP access, ask its support whether IMAP access must be enabled for the mailbox.

There is a certificate or security error

Confirm that the server name and security setting match the old provider's instructions. Do not turn off encryption simply to make the connection work. Ask the source provider for the correct secure IMAP settings.

The import seems slow or stops

The time depends on the number and size of messages, the folder structure, and limits at the source provider. Leave the old mailbox available and check the status message in Import history. If it reports a provider connection or login problem, correct that issue before retrying. Do not share the source mailbox password in a support request.

Some messages are missing

Check the selected folders and any Only import emails after date first. If you repeated an import with Skip duplicates selected, messages already copied may be skipped on the next run. Also check whether the old provider stores messages in a folder with a different name than expected.