How to Migrate Emails from One cPanel to Another? Complete Guide

  

Rollins Duke   Contributor

Published On August 19th, 2026 • 11 Min Read

4.9based on 1207 user reviews

Quick Answer: You can migrate emails from one cPanel to another by either copying mail directories manually using the File Manager/FTP or using IMAP-based automated software solutions. The manual method is more suited for small email migrations (less than 50 emails), while automated solutions can be used by anyone transferring a lot of emails from one cPanel to another at once, as there are no chances of losing data during the migration process.

Why Transfer cPanel Account to Another Server?

In this article, we will discuss a few common scenarios when it is necessary to migrate emails from one cPanel account to another:

• Switching hosts: Moving an entire website from one server to another, along with emails
• Server Upgrades: Migrating to a new level cPanel hosting account
• Domain restructuring: Merging several domains and using only one cPanel account for all
• Recovering accounts: Moving emails due to problems with cPanel account
• Multi-tenancy migration: Clients’ emails are moved to their own accounts

All cases are different, but in the end, the process of migrating emails is pretty much the same.

Methods to Migrate Emails from One cPanel to Another

Prerequisites Before You Start

It is important that you consider the following factors before you begin to migrate emails from one cPanel to another:

Access:

• Ensure you have primary access to both the Source account and the Destination account.
• Have a username and password for both cPanels if applicable.

Email Information:

• If you have to use IMAP, know the account username and password.
• Have a list of email accounts involved in the migration.
• Know the size of email accounts you want to migrate.

Technical Requirements:

• Obtain a good Internet connection during the conduction of the mail.
• It is advisable to create a backup for the mailboxes involved in the migration.
• Make sure your Firefox/Chrome browser is updated as cPanel is only supported by these browsers.
• Get an FTP client if you use manual process to transfer files.

DNS Preparation:

• Make sure you take note of the current MX record configurations related to your domain.
• Plan to make changes to the MX records beforehand by reducing the TTL to 300 seconds.

Tip: Create a test email account on the Destination account on cPanel to check if you succeed in migrating the account successfully.

Method 1: Manually Migrate Emails from One cPanel to Another (File Manager/FTP)

This approach is for simple migrations where one needs to move email files from one server to another manually.

Step-by-step procedure for manual migration

Step 1: Access the cPanel Email Directory of the Source

1. Log in to the cPanel account of the source.
2. Go to File Manager.
3. Click on the Settings button at the top right corner.
4. Check the box for “Show Hidden Files”.
5. Click on the Save button to save the settings.

Step 2: Find the Email Files

1. The email files can be located at /home/username/mail/ in File Manager.
2. You will see folders for the different domains like domain.com/, mail.domain.com/, etc. in that main folder.
3. In each specific domain folder, you will look for:
4. Maildir format: Once in the domain folder, nested folders with names like new, cur, tmp, .Drafts, .Sent, etc. can be found
5. Or mbox format: where you will find files like Inbox, Sent, Archive, etc.

Note: Directory structure indicates the email storage format:

• Maildir format = multiple individual email files
• MBOX format = single file per folder

Step 3: Obtain Email Files

Option A: Via File Manager (Best for Smaller Accounts)

1. Access File Manager and enter the domain folder with emails.
2. Right click and then select the Compress option.
3. Choose ZIP as the format.
4. Let the program finish compressing the files.
5. Get the ZIP file on your PC.

Option B: Via FTP (Preferred for Bigger Accounts)

1. Collect the FTP credentials from the source cPanel interface.
2. Open cPanel and click on FTP Accounts.
3. Create a new account or use an old one.
4. Install and use an FTP client.
5. Log in to your FTP server using the source account credentials.
6. Go to the /mail/ folder.
7. Get your emails on your PC

Remark: Using FTP is faster and gives you the possibility to see how much you have been uploading in real time.

Step 4: Add cPanel Accounts to the Destination cPanel

1. Log in to the control panel of the destination cPanel.
2. Click on Email >> Email Accounts.
3. Create a new email account for each person you’re migrating, as follows:
   • Add the same username (before @).
   • Add the same domain name (after @).
   • Add the reliable password (temporary, users will be able to change it later)
4. Confirm each account creation to migrate emails from one cPanel to another.

Step 5: Enter Destination’s cPanel File Manager

1. Go to File Manager of the destination cPanel.
2. Find the section /home/newusername/mail/.

Note: You will find the folders created for the email accounts recently.

Step 6: Upload Mail Files

1. In the File Manager, look for and open the folder of your domain name.
2. Click on the button Upload.
3. Choose and upload the file that you have compressed previously or the folders for mail.

In case of ZIP upload, right click on the file:

1. Choose the command Extract from the menu.
2. Pick the destination folder as /home/newusername/mail/domain.com/.

Step 7: Set Permissions on Files

1. Stay at File Manager in target account.
2. Use right mouse button on mail folder >> Modify Permissions.
3. Set as 755 (or 750 for security).
4. Choose option “Apply for all files and directories”.

Step 8: Launch Mailbox Repair Utility

1. Open target cPanel >> Home >> Mail Repair Utility.
2. Choose domain.
3. Press Run Repair.
4. Wait for completion.

This step is VERY IMPORTANT because it renews the mailbox database and repairs indexing.

Step 9: Check cPanel to cPanel Migration

1. Access webmail in the target account.
2. See if emails are visible in inbox.
3. Confirm that the folder structure is preserved.
4. Check whether emails are readable.
5. Looking for missing files.

Method 2: Use a Professional cPanel to cPanel Migration Tool (Recommended)

For organizations and individuals requiring the quickest and safest way to migrate emails from one cPanel to another, Email Backup Software provides direct access to the cPanel account and allows you to migrate to another cPanel account with a few clicks.

Reasons for using the dedicated cPanel to cPanel migration tool include:

• cPanel Login: Direct login to a cPanel account, which allows one to immediately transfer emails from one cPanel account to another.
• No data loss guarantee: Use of the highest level of encryption, which guarantees the retention of all email content.
• Batch Migration: Ability to migrate several cPanel accounts to another at once by uploading a CSV file.
• Fast processing: The entire process takes very little time even for migrating bulk of emails from one cPanel account to another.
• Special options: Migrate emails based on date, sender, subject, and other characteristics.
• Automatic synchronization of data as scheduled: You can schedule the entire cPanel to cPanel migration process to run daily, weekly, or monthly automatically.
• Available customer support: 24/7 customer support is provided.

How to Transfer cPanel Account to Another Server?

1. Start the suggested cPanel to cPanel migration tool and locate the “Webmail“.
2. Enter your cPanel email address and password along with IMAP host and port number, and click login.
   
3. Select the required folders from your cPanel mailboxes that you want to migrate to another cPanel account.
   
4. Use Advanced Filters to migrate specific cPanel emails according to date range, from, to, folders, words, etc.
   
5. Automate the cPanel to cPanel migration process using the Schedule Feature and schedule it for days, weeks, or months.
   
6. Select IMAP from the Saving option and enter the other cPanel account details along with IMAP server details.
   
7. Hit the Backup button to start the process.

Method 3: Move from One cPanel Account to Another Via IMAP

This technique relies on the IMAP protocol for automatic synchronization of emails without requiring any file handling.

Requirements of the IMAP Technique

• The IMAP protocol must be enabled on both cPanel accounts (often the case as IMAP protocol is automatically configured)
• The passwords for the email accounts must be known
• Potentially using IMAP synchronization software or copying manually.

Steps to migrate emails from one cPanel to another

Step 1: Check email accounts

1. Access mail accounts in the source cPanel.
2. Write down email addresses and passwords
3. Set up a basic spreadsheet containing
4. Email, Password, and Date of Migration Status

Step 2: Select IMAP Transfer Method

Option A: Via Desktop Application (ImapSync)

1. Make use of ImapSync (free, open-source software).
   • Windows users: Go to imapsync.lamiral.info for download.
   • Mac/Linux users: Use the package manager for installation instead.
2. Make sure to install and run ImapSync.
3. Enter the details of the source account.
4. Fill in the following:
   • Server: source.server.com (or another host)
   • Username: full email address
   • Password: email password
   • IMAP Port: 993 (SSL).
5. Fill in the details of the destination account:
   1. Server: destination.server.com
   2. Username: full email address
   3. Password: email password
   4. IMAP Port: 993 (SSL)
   5. Optional: Filters can be used.
6. You can select folders.
7. Filters and date ranges can be applied as well.

Option B: Use Outlook/Thunderbird to Migrate cPanel to cPanel

Use desktop email clients to migrate emails from one cPanel to another:

1. Add a Source Email to Thunderbird or Outlook
   • Access Email >> Account >> Add Mail Account.
   • Use IMAP.
   • Server value is mail.sourceserver.com
   • Port value is 993 (SSL).
2. Add Destination Email in Outlook or Thunderbird
   • Access Email >> Account >> Add Mail Account.
   • Use IMAP.
   • Server value is mail.destinationserver.com
   • Port value is 993 (SSL).
3. Drag and Drop Emails
   • Select the emails from the source account.
   • Drag the selected emails to folders in the destination account and wait for completion of synchronization.
4. Verify if all folders were transferred properly.

Option C: Method of Migration through cPanel (If Available)

Some web hosting service providers provide their clients with tools for migration:

1. Go to cPanel >> Email >> Email Migration (if available)
2. Insert information from the source server.
3. Insert information from the destination server.
4. Choose accounts to perform migrations.
5. Finally, press the button Start Transfer.

Method 4: cPanel to cPanel Migration Using Advanced Command-Line (For Technical Experts Only)

If you have SSH access or are migrating to the same server:

Using rsync Command

# First, SSH into source server
ssh user@sourceserver.com

# Create backup directory
mkdir -p /home/backup/emails_backup

# Backup source emails
rsync -avz /home/sourceuser/mail/ /home/backup/emails_backup/

# Copy to destination (if on same server)
rsync -avz /home/backup/emails_backup/ /home/destuser/mail/

# Fix permissions
chown -R destuser:destuser /home/destuser/mail/
chmod -R 750 /home/destuser/mail/

Using cPanel Scripts

# Log in via SSH as root
ssh root@sourceserver.com

# Run cPanel mail backup script
/scripts/mailperm username

# If migrating entire account, use:
/scripts/pkgacct username
# Then restore on destination: /scripts/restorepkg

Warning: These commands require SSH access and should be used cautiously. Always backup cPanel emails first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I keep using my cPanel account while migrating to another cPanel account?

While performing the other methods, you may face some interruptions. However, if you migrate emails from one cPanel account to another using the tool, you can independently continue using your accounts.

Q2: What’s the maximum number of email accounts that can be migrated from one cPanel to another?

cPanel has no pre-defined limit on migrating accounts. Practical limits are bound by available data space and bandwidth. Using the dedicated cPanel to cPanel migration tool, you can migrate several cPanel accounts to another cPanel account at once.

Q3: Is it possible to migrate all emails from one cPanel account to another in bulk?

Yes, using the professional cPanel to cPanel migration tool, you can easily transfer all the emails from one cPanel account to another in bulk at once.

Conclusion

The process to migrate emails from one cPanel to another is easy if you use the correct approach and preparation. Be sure to keep backups, perform a test migration, and check emails and folders, as well as update DNS records after you have ensured everything is working correctly. If you prefer an easier solution, the specialized cPanel to cPanel migration tool is an excellent solution that simplifies the email migration process with its batch migration options.

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