Gmailify: What the Hell Is it?

Recently, the Gmail rolled out a new feature in the Gmail Android app that they call Gmailify. But what is it really, and why is it beneficial?


Simply put, Gmailify allows you get all of the same perks and benefits of Gmail, without the need to switch your accounts completely. Using the Gmailify feature in the mobile app, you will essentially link your Yahoo!, Hotmail or Outlook accounts to your Gmail account. What does this really give you though? With this feature you get the following:

• The power of Gmail's spam protection
• Email organization
• Automatic sorting in labels (such as Social, Updates, Promotions)
• Better and faster search capabilities
• Travel related emails will automatically show in your Google Calendar
• One simple interface for all of your email
• Better mail notification on mobile

In addition to the above list, Gmailify enables your other emails to have a 2-way sync with the original provider. So any emails or actions will be reflected in both Gmail and the original provider - folders, filtering, etc. 

The best part of this feature for me is that once you set this up in the Gmail mobile app, everything that happens here, is also reflected in Inbox by Gmail, which simply means that Inbox is no longer just for @gmail.com or Apps for Work accounts. That is a pretty huge deal. 

Enabling this feature is very simple with easy to follow instructions. First step is to add your Yahoo/Outlook/Hotmail account to the Gmail app. Click on the three horizontal bars on the top left and click the down arrow next to the current account to expand the menu. Choose Add account and then select Personal (IMAP/POP). You will be prompted to add the email address, and it will then provide you an opportunity to enter the password (make sure you check off keep me signed in). The next screen will display the permissions that are being granted, choose Yes. The app will automatically add the appropriate server settings and then ask you some questions about syncing and notifications, answer as appropriate. The account with then be created. 

Now to Gmailify, you will now click the three horizontal lines on the top right to open the menu, and scroll to the bottom and tap settings. Choose the account you want to Gmailify and in the middle of the next screen you will see Link Account, tap on that. You will be prompted to sign in and you will see the permissions screen again. Once done, everything will sync up and this account will now be linked, not only in the mobile app, but you will see it in Gmail on the desktop and Inbox on both desktop and mobile and you will be able to send from this account from either program.

If you change your mind, you can easily go back into the app settings, select the account and at the bottom  is an Unlink account option. If you choose that, you will be prompted to keep or delete copies of those emails on your Gmail account. If you choose to delete, tehy will only delete from Gmail, not from the original location.

The real question though is, why are you using anything other than Gmail ;)

Hope you find this helpful. 

For more information directly from the Gmail team, see the Help Center article here.