Why You’re Seeing Connection Timeouts (and What to Do)
Summary
If you’ve recently tried to add a non-Gmail mailbox inside Gmail on the web using “Check mail from other accounts (POP3)” and you’re getting errors like:
- “Connection timed out”
- “There was a problem connecting to the server”
- Settings work in other apps, but not in Gmail web
…this is no longer just a “wrong server/port/password” issue.
Google has announced that Gmail will stop supporting POP-based mail fetching (“Check mail from other accounts”) during 2026, and new setups are being restricted starting in early 2026. As a result, even correct POP settings may fail, time out, or be blocked in Gmail web.
This post explains what changed, what the error means, and the best alternatives that will keep working.
What’s Changing in Gmail
Gmail on the web historically offered a feature called:
Settings → Accounts and Import → Check mail from other accounts (POP3)
This feature allowed Gmail to pull mail from another provider using POP.
Google is now ending support for this POP fetching feature. The rollout affects:
- People who are setting it up for the first time
- People who are editing/re-adding an account
- People who may suddenly see it stop working later in 2026
The key point:
✅ This impacts Gmail web “mail fetching.”
✅ It does NOT mean your email provider is broken.
✅ It does NOT mean POP/IMAP is dead everywhere.
❌ It means Gmail web will no longer act as a POP client to fetch mail for you.
Why You’re Seeing “Connection Timed Out”
When Gmail web blocks or restricts POP fetching, it often presents as a generic connectivity error such as:
“Connection timed out… There may be a problem with the settings you added…”
This is misleading because your settings can be correct and still fail.
Common reasons you’ll see this now:
- Gmail is restricting POP fetching for new setups
- Gmail is gradually removing this feature
- Less common: network/VPN/firewall blocks certain mail ports (995/993/587)
Who Is Impacted
You’re impacted if you:
- Want to read another email account inside Gmail (web browser) using POP
- Are trying to “import” mail continuously into Gmail
- Are reconfiguring an older account fetch rule and it suddenly fails
You may not be impacted if you:
- Use the Gmail mobile app to add another mailbox (IMAP flow)
- Use Outlook/Apple Mail/Thunderbird for IMAP/Exchange
- Use forwarding into Gmail
Recommended Fixes (That Will Keep Working)
Option 1 (Best): Enable Automatic Forwarding to Gmail
Instead of Gmail pulling mail via POP, configure your email provider to push (forward) mail into Gmail.
Benefits
- Reliable
- Instant delivery
- Works long-term (not dependent on Gmail POP fetch)
Typical setup
- In your email provider dashboard/webmail:
- Enable Forwarding
- Forward all incoming messages to your Gmail address
- (Optional) Keep a copy in the original mailbox
If you use a managed email product (e.g., hosted email or Microsoft 365 through a reseller), forwarding is usually available in the provider dashboard or mailbox settings.
Option 2: Add the Account in the Gmail Mobile App Using IMAP
If your goal is simply “read and reply from the same Gmail app,” do this:
- Open Gmail app (Android/iPhone)
- Add account → “Other”
- Choose IMAP
- Use your provider’s IMAP settings
Benefits
- Still supported
- Works even when Gmail web POP fetching is removed
Option 3: Use a Standard Email Client (IMAP / Exchange)
If you prefer desktop workflow:
- Outlook
- Apple Mail
- Thunderbird
These clients are designed for IMAP/Exchange and are not tied to Gmail’s POP fetching feature.
What About “Send Mail As” in Gmail?
Many users want two things:
- Receive mail into Gmail
- Send replies as the custom domain email address
Even if you switch to forwarding for receiving, you can often still configure Gmail to send as your domain email using SMTP (depending on provider policies and authentication).
If your SMTP setup is blocked, the most reliable alternative is:
- Send from your provider’s webmail (or Outlook/M365)
- Or use a client that supports your provider’s authentication method
Quick FAQ
Q: Are my POP/IMAP server settings wrong?
Not necessarily. Gmail web POP fetching can fail even when settings are correct.
Q: Does this mean my email provider is down?
No. The same account may work fine in Outlook/Apple Mail/Gmail mobile app.
Q: Will existing POP fetching keep working forever?
No. Google has announced it will be fully turned down in 2026.
Q: What’s the best long-term setup?
Forwarding → Gmail for receiving + (optional) Send Mail As if your provider supports SMTP sending from Gmail.
Action Plan (Simple)
- Stop trying to set up POP fetching in Gmail web (it’s being deprecated).
- Choose one of these:
- ✅ Forwarding into Gmail (best)
- ✅ Add account in Gmail mobile app via IMAP
- ✅ Use a desktop email client via IMAP/Exchange
- If you need “reply from my domain”:
- Try “Send mail as” (SMTP) if supported, or
- Use provider webmail/client for sending
Final Note
If you’re currently blocked in Gmail web and seeing timeouts, this is likely expected behavior due to Google’s rollout. The solution is not “try 10 different ports” — the solution is to move to forwarding or IMAP-based access (mobile app / email client), which will continue working.
I’m a DevOps/SRE/DevSecOps/Cloud Expert passionate about sharing knowledge and experiences. I am working at Cotocus. I blog tech insights at DevOps School, travel stories at Holiday Landmark, stock market tips at Stocks Mantra, health and fitness guidance at My Medic Plus, product reviews at I reviewed , and SEO strategies at Wizbrand.
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