Google is preparing a major shift for Gmail users who manage multiple inboxes. The company will end support for the "Send as" option in January 2027, removing the ability to send mail from third-party addresses such as Outlook, Yahoo, Hotmail, or custom domains through Gmail's web and mobile apps.
Alongside this change, Google is also phasing out Gmailify and web-based POP fetching for third-party accounts. Existing users can continue using these tools until the deadline, while new users will no longer be able to add them. Gmail accounts and Google Workspace addresses remain unaffected.
For people who want to keep a unified email workflow, desktop mail clients now stand out as the most practical route. Services such as Apple Mail, Microsoft Outlook, and Mozilla Thunderbird support multi-account setups through IMAP and SMTP, making it easier to send and organize messages from different providers in one place.
Google also notes that third-party extensions promising similar functionality should be approached carefully, since they may require sensitive account access. A safer alternative is to use each provider's own app or website, or to forward messages into a primary inbox for simpler management.
As email tools continue to evolve, users may move toward more flexible clients that blend convenience, security, and cross-platform control in a single digital workspace.
