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The email entry needs a bit more explanation. I've been wanting to get off gmail as well, but how do I actually do it? - I have a bunch of accounts that use my

The email entry needs a bit more explanation. I've been wanting to get off gmail as well, but how do I actually do it? - I have a bunch of accounts that use my gmail as the login, and inevitably some that aren't in my password manager. - People will email my gmail Is there some explanation about what to do to make a clean break?

benrapscallion 6y ago
So I imported all my old Gmail emails into Fastmail (they offer an easy UI to do this) and set up forwarding from Gmail to Fastmail for new email. I will add more text to my blog post to clarify this. Sorry the post was a bit rushed and I certainly didn’t think it would make it to the front page of HN!
stephc_int13 6y ago
Same here, leaving Gmail is clearly the most painful and difficult part of this process. I don't think it can be done quickly, but you have to start somewhere, and use the forwarding features of gmail.
johnbrodie 6y ago
My wife and I just did this. I've been using a custom domain for years, so it was just a matter of changing MX records to Fastmail. My wife only used her @gmail address, so it was a bit more involved. Essentially: - Set up new email at your service of choice - Import whatever old email from gmail that you want to keep - Go through whatever list you have (password manager, your brain, etc) and update email addresses (as a bonus rotate passwords while you're at it) - For a few weeks, regularly look at both your new and old email. As something comes into gmail, either unsubscribe or update your email for that sender, and delete it. - A few weeks later, nothing remains to switch over (at least nothing of importance).
netizen-9748 6y ago
IMO the best way to do it is change the contact info in all the accounts you still use from your old gmail to your new address. Tell the people who do email you to use your new email instead
Daniel_sk 6y ago
- set automatic email forwarding from your Gmail to your new email service (just buy a domain and use Fastmail or something similar). It's in the Settings and it's easy - some services like Fastmail have a one click email import Transfer all emails and then delete any content on Gmail - go through all existing services and change your email address, most services allow you to do it. If it's not possible then consider closing and reopening account - never use 3rd party logins (Google, Facebook) - start replying to emails with your new address, people will update the contacts over time, you have to start somehow - you can keep your old Gmail address around for a long time, it doesn't cost you anything
eevilspock 6y ago
I have a custom domain with Gandi.net, which also provides a number of free email addresses per domain registered. If the free Gandi email doesn't meet your needs, you can upgrade to their other packages, switch to Fastmail or other. The advantage of owning your own domain is covered in another thread. Since I can switch to another domain registrar, I'm not even tied to Gandi. But Gandi seems like one of the better registrars. They are French.
rakoo 6y ago
I am currently in the "process" of migrating, and like you I have a zillion accounts, some of which I've forgotten. I've stolen this from somewhere here on HN I think: - I did _not_ setup mail forwarding. First because I don't want Google to know I'm leaving, and I don't want them to know what my new address is. - like all big changea, the switch to a new, custom domain name is a good moment to make some cleaning. By not forwarding mail I'm curating my existing life to only the things I actually care about. If I haven't received a mail from a specific site in years, maybe that site isn't that important after all - most emails I receive are from some account on some website, so I know I have to migrate this account - but I still might receive important mail from people who still use this old adress. I just copy/paste the content from a client connected to the new adress and reply The issue is that this kind of transition might last for a long time. I haven't decided yet how long I'm going to do it though.

benrapscallion 6y ago

So I imported all my old Gmail emails into Fastmail (they offer an easy UI to do this) and set up forwarding from Gmail to Fastmail for new email. I will add more text to my blog post to clarify this. Sorry the post was a bit rushed and I certainly didn’t think it would make it to the front page of HN!

stephc_int13 6y ago

Same here, leaving Gmail is clearly the most painful and difficult part of this process. I don't think it can be done quickly, but you have to start somewhere, and use the forwarding features of gmail.

johnbrodie 6y ago

My wife and I just did this. I've been using a custom domain for years, so it was just a matter of changing MX records to Fastmail. My wife only used her @gmail address, so it was a bit more involved. Essentially: - Set up new email at your service of choice - Import whatever old email from gmail that you want to keep - Go through whatever list you have (password manager, your brain, etc) and update email addresses (as a bonus rotate passwords while you're at it) - For a few weeks, regularly look at both your new and old email. As something comes into gmail, either unsubscribe or update your email for that sender, and delete it. - A few weeks later, nothing remains to switch over (at least nothing of importance).

netizen-9748 6y ago

IMO the best way to do it is change the contact info in all the accounts you still use from your old gmail to your new address. Tell the people who do email you to use your new email instead

Daniel_sk 6y ago

- set automatic email forwarding from your Gmail to your new email service (just buy a domain and use Fastmail or something similar). It's in the Settings and it's easy - some services like Fastmail have a one click email import Transfer all emails and then delete any content on Gmail - go through all existing services and change your email address, most services allow you to do it. If it's not possible then consider closing and reopening account - never use 3rd party logins (Google, Facebook) - start replying to emails with your new address, people will update the contacts over time, you have to start somehow - you can keep your old Gmail address around for a long time, it doesn't cost you anything

eevilspock 6y ago

I have a custom domain with Gandi.net, which also provides a number of free email addresses per domain registered. If the free Gandi email doesn't meet your needs, you can upgrade to their other packages, switch to Fastmail or other. The advantage of owning your own domain is covered in another thread. Since I can switch to another domain registrar, I'm not even tied to Gandi. But Gandi seems like one of the better registrars. They are French.

rakoo 6y ago

I am currently in the "process" of migrating, and like you I have a zillion accounts, some of which I've forgotten. I've stolen this from somewhere here on HN I think: - I did _not_ setup mail forwarding. First because I don't want Google to know I'm leaving, and I don't want them to know what my new address is. - like all big changea, the switch to a new, custom domain name is a good moment to make some cleaning. By not forwarding mail I'm curating my existing life to only the things I actually care about. If I haven't received a mail from a specific site in years, maybe that site isn't that important after all - most emails I receive are from some account on some website, so I know I have to migrate this account - but I still might receive important mail from people who still use this old adress. I just copy/paste the content from a client connected to the new adress and reply The issue is that this kind of transition might last for a long time. I haven't decided yet how long I'm going to do it though.