Moving your email to a new platform can feel like a daunting task, but imagine having all your communications in one place, easily searchable, and with Gmail's powerful features at your fingertips! If you're looking to consolidate your digital life and bring your legacy Verizon.net email into the world of Gmail, you've come to the right place. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, making it as smooth as possible.
Before we dive in, it's important to understand a key point: Verizon retired its direct email service in 2017. Existing Verizon.net email addresses were largely migrated to AOL Mail or, in some cases, Yahoo Mail. This means that when you add your Verizon.net email to Gmail, you'll actually be connecting to the AOL or Yahoo servers that now manage your Verizon.net address. Don't worry, the process is still straightforward!
Let's get started on bringing your Verizon.net emails home to Gmail!
The Comprehensive Guide: How to Add Verizon.net Email to Gmail
There are two primary ways to integrate your Verizon.net email with Gmail: importing existing emails and contacts and setting up Gmail to send mail "as" your Verizon.net address. We'll cover both for a complete solution.
Step 1: Prepare Your Verizon.net (AOL/Yahoo) Account
Before you touch Gmail, let's make sure your Verizon.net (now AOL or Yahoo) account is ready for the connection.
Sub-heading 1.1: Confirm Your Current Email Provider
First, confirm whether your Verizon.net email is managed by AOL Mail or Yahoo Mail. If you regularly log in to your Verizon.net email, observe the branding. It will typically be very clear if it's an AOL or Yahoo interface. This information is crucial for setting up the correct server settings later.
Sub-heading 1.2: Generate an App Password (Crucial for Security!)
For security reasons, many email providers, including AOL (which handles most Verizon.net emails), require you to generate a "third-party app password" when connecting to other email clients like Gmail. Your regular Verizon.net/AOL/Yahoo password likely won't work directly.
Here's how to get one (for AOL, which is the most common for Verizon.net):
Log in to your AOL Mail account (using your Verizon.net email address and password) at mail.aol.com.
Go to your Account Security page. You might find this under your profile settings or by searching for "account security" within AOL Mail.
Look for an option like "Generate app password" or "Manage app passwords."
Follow the prompts to generate a new app password. This will be a random string of characters (e.g.,
abcd efgh ijkl mnop).Important: Copy this password immediately! You won't see it again once you close the window. Paste it into a temporary text document or a secure note. This is the password you'll use in Gmail, not your regular account password.
If your Verizon.net email is managed by Yahoo, the process for generating an app password will be similar. Look for "Account security" and "Generate app password" within your Yahoo Mail settings.
Step 2: Import Existing Verizon.net Emails to Gmail
This step will pull all your current emails from your Verizon.net (AOL/Yahoo) inbox into your Gmail account. Be aware that this process can take several hours or even a few days, depending on the volume of emails.
Sub-heading 2.1: Access Gmail Settings
Open your Gmail account in your web browser (mail.google.com).
Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner.
Select "See all settings" from the dropdown menu.
Sub-heading 2.2: Initiate the Import Process
In the Settings page, navigate to the "Accounts and Import" tab.
Under "Import mail and contacts," click on "Import mail and contacts."
A new pop-up window will appear. Enter your full Verizon.net email address (e.g.,
yourname@verizon.net) and click "Continue."The next screen will ask you to enter the password for your Verizon.net account. This is where you'll paste the app password you generated in Step 1.2, not your regular password.
Click "Continue."
Sub-heading 2.3: Configure Import Options
You'll now see options for importing. We recommend selecting:
Import contacts: If you have contacts associated with your Verizon.net email that you want in Gmail.
Import mail: This is essential for bringing over your old emails.
Import new mail for the next 30 days: This is a very useful feature that will continue to pull in any new emails sent to your Verizon.net address for a month, giving you time to transition everyone to your Gmail address.
You might also see an option to "Leave a copy of retrieved messages on the server." It's generally a good idea to check this, especially during the initial import, as it acts as a backup.
Click "Start Import."
You'll get a confirmation message stating that the import has started and may take some time. Click "OK."
Gmail will now begin the process of fetching your emails. You can close the settings window and continue using Gmail as usual. The imported emails will appear in a new label (folder) in your Gmail sidebar, typically named after your Verizon.net address.
Step 3: Set Up Gmail to Send Mail "As" Your Verizon.net Email
This step allows you to send emails from your Gmail account but have them appear to recipients as if they came from your Verizon.net address. This is incredibly convenient for maintaining your old identity while enjoying Gmail's sending capabilities.
Sub-heading 3.1: Navigate Back to Accounts and Import
Return to your Gmail account (mail.google.com).
Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right.
Select "See all settings."
Go to the "Accounts and Import" tab.
Sub-heading 3.2: Add Another Email Address
Under the "Send mail as" section, click on "Add another email address."
A new pop-up window will appear. Enter your name (how you want it to appear to recipients) and your full Verizon.net email address (e.g.,
yourname@verizon.net).Important: Make sure the box next to "Treat as an alias" is checked. This will ensure that when you reply to an email sent to your Verizon.net address, the reply automatically comes from that address.
Click "Next Step >>"
Sub-heading 3.3: Configure SMTP Settings
This is where you'll need the specific server settings for your Verizon.net email (remember, it's now managed by AOL or Yahoo).
Here are the most common settings for Verizon.net (via AOL):
SMTP Server:
smtp.verizon.net(orsmtp.aol.comifsmtp.verizon.netdoesn't work)Port:
465Username: Your full Verizon.net email address (e.g.,
yourname@verizon.net)Password: The app password you generated in Step 1.2
Security: Select "SSL" (Secure Sockets Layer)
If your Verizon.net email is managed by Yahoo, you might need to use these settings (though AOL is more common for legacy Verizon.net addresses):
SMTP Server:
smtp.mail.yahoo.comPort:
465or587(try 465 first with SSL, then 587 with TLS if 465 fails)Username: Your full Verizon.net email address
Password: Your app password
Security:
SSLorTLS
Fill in these details in the pop-up window:
SMTP Server: Enter the appropriate SMTP server (e.g.,
smtp.verizon.net).Port: Select
465.Username: Enter your full Verizon.net email address.
Password: Paste the app password.
Select "SSL" for the security setting.
Click "Add Account."
Sub-heading 3.4: Verify the Email Address
Gmail will send a verification email to your Verizon.net address.
Go to your Verizon.net (AOL/Yahoo) email account (or wait for the email to be imported into your Gmail if the import process is still ongoing).
Find the verification email from Gmail.
Click the verification link or copy the confirmation code and paste it back into the pop-up window in Gmail.
Click "Verify" or "Confirm."
Congratulations! You can now send emails from Gmail appearing as your Verizon.net address. When composing a new email, you'll see a dropdown menu in the "From" field allowing you to choose between your Gmail address and your newly added Verizon.net address.
Essential Tips for a Smooth Transition
Patience is Key: Importing a large volume of emails can take time. Don't be alarmed if you don't see all your old emails immediately.
Update Your Contacts: Once you're comfortable, start informing important contacts about your new primary Gmail address.
Check Spam/Junk Folders: During the import, some emails might mistakenly end up in Gmail's spam folder. Keep an eye on it.
Regularly Check Your Verizon.net Account (Initially): For the first month, continue to log into your Verizon.net (AOL/Yahoo) account directly, just to ensure no important emails are being missed or to catch any issues with the forwarding/import.
Consider a Forwarding Rule: While Gmail's import feature covers 30 days of new mail, you can also set up a forwarding rule directly in your AOL Mail or Yahoo Mail settings to ensure all future emails sent to your Verizon.net address are automatically forwarded to your Gmail. This provides a more permanent solution than the 30-day import.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check if my Verizon.net email is linked to AOL or Yahoo?
The easiest way is to try logging into mail.aol.com and mail.yahoo.com with your Verizon.net email address and password. The one that works is your current provider. Alternatively, observe the branding on the webmail interface you typically use.
How to generate an app password for AOL Mail (Verizon.net)?
Log in to your AOL Mail, go to "Account Security" or "Security Settings," and look for an option to "Generate app password" or "Manage app passwords." Follow the on-screen instructions to create and copy the unique string.
How to find the correct SMTP server settings for Verizon.net email?
For Verizon.net email (now often handled by AOL), the common SMTP server is smtp.verizon.net or smtp.aol.com with Port 465 and SSL encryption. The username is your full Verizon.net email address, and the password is the app password.
How to troubleshoot if imported emails are not appearing in Gmail?
First, be patient, as large imports take time. Check your Gmail's "All Mail" label and any new labels created for the imported mail. Also, verify your internet connection and ensure you used the correct app password during the import setup.
How to ensure future emails to my Verizon.net address go to Gmail?
After the initial import, it's best to set up an email forwarding rule directly within your AOL Mail or Yahoo Mail settings. This will automatically send all new emails from your Verizon.net address to your Gmail address.
How to change the "From" name when sending emails from my Verizon.net alias in Gmail?
In Gmail, go to Settings (gear icon) > See all settings > Accounts and Import. Under "Send mail as," find your Verizon.net entry, click "edit info," and change the name.
How to remove my Verizon.net email from Gmail if I no longer need it?
In Gmail, go to Settings (gear icon) > See all settings > Accounts and Import. Under "Send mail as" and "Check mail from other accounts," you'll find options to "delete" or "unlink" the Verizon.net account.
How to stop getting new emails from Verizon.net after the 30-day import period?
If you enabled "Import new mail for the next 30 days," it will stop automatically. If you also set up a forwarding rule in AOL/Yahoo, you'll need to disable that rule in your AOL Mail or Yahoo Mail settings.
How to use my Verizon.net contacts in Gmail after importing?
Once contacts are imported, they will typically appear in your Google Contacts. You can access Google Contacts directly (contacts.google.com) or from the Google Apps waffle menu in Gmail.
How to prioritize my Gmail address over my Verizon.net alias when composing new emails?
In Gmail, go to Settings (gear icon) > See all settings > Accounts and Import. Under "Send mail as," select your primary Gmail address and check the box that says "Make default."
