IMAP Migration Settings

EdbMails offers a Settings option for IMAP migration that puts every choice about a run in one place before you start. It works across all IMAP servers, including Gmail, Outlook, Zoho Mail, Zimbra, and cPanel. The first run always transfers everything, while subsequent runs move only fresh changes. You can tighten the comparison to check items one by one, or start a clean re-migration to an empty target. The same window shapes what transfers: filter messages by received date, subject, attachment, sender, recipient, CC, BCC, or read status, split large exports into smaller PST files, drop oversized emails or attachments, carry message text without its attachments, and set aside standard or custom folders you would rather skip. Everything below explains what each option does and when it helps.

Incremental Migration

Incremental (Delta) migration is active by default on every run. Run the migration again between the same source and target, and EdbMails checks the source against what has already moved, then transfers only the messages that are new or have changed since the previous run. This is what makes repeat runs safe: you can migrate again to pick up mail that landed after your last pass, and nothing is duplicated on the target.

Migrate by Individually Comparing Each Item in the Target

For most migrations, the default incremental check is enough to move any missing or pending items. When you turn on this option, EdbMails compares every item that was already migrated against the target one by one, instead of using the standard incremental check. This makes the migration more thorough but also slower, so use it when you want to be sure every item is verified and don't mind the extra time.

Migrate without Incremental Check

Use this option when you want to migrate mailboxes or folders that you already migrated before, usually after clearing their contents from the target server. EdbMails skips the comparison with your earlier migration, but still runs the re-migration incrementally so that duplicate items are not created on the target.

Include / Exclude Filters and More

The Settings button beside this option opens a window for setting precisely what moves during the migration. Whatever you choose here takes effect across all export and migration operations, so it is the place to go whenever you want only part of a mailbox carried over.

Include / Exclude Filters for Export and Migration

Tick this checkbox to migrate by a condition instead of moving the entire mailbox, then decide whether matching items should be included or excluded.

Include: Migrates only the items that meet your filter criteria, keeping the transfer limited to the data you actually want.

Exclude: Leaves out the items that meet your filter criteria and migrates everything else.

Filters: The following filters are available to customize your migration operation:

• Date Filter: Include or exclude items based on the date they were received. You can define an 'After Date', a 'Before Date', or both to migrate items within a particular date range.
• Subject: Include or exclude items based on the email or calendar subject.
• Attachments: Include or exclude items based on the names of attachments contained in emails.
• From: Include or exclude emails sent by specific senders.
• To: Include or exclude emails sent to specific recipients.
• Messages: Include or exclude emails based on their read or unread status.
• Cc: Include or exclude emails based on specific CC addresses.
• Bcc: Include or exclude emails based on specific BCC addresses.
• Apply filters if all the conditions match (AND condition): Filters are applied only when all specified conditions are satisfied.
• Apply filters if any one of the conditions match (OR condition): Filters are applied when at least one of the specified conditions is met.

Split PST file upon reaching its size

This option applies when you are exporting to a PST file. Enter a size in GB, and once a PST file reaches that size, EdbMails starts a new one. This keeps your PST files at a manageable size instead of creating one very large file. By default, each mailbox gets its own PST file.

Exclude email or its attachments if the size is greater than

Enter a size in MB, and any email or attachment larger than that is left out of the migration. This is a useful way to skip unusually large emails or attachments and keep the migration lighter, which helps when the target has limited storage.

Migrate emails without migrating attachments

Enable this to move the message body on its own and leave the attached files behind. The emails still transfer in full text form, which trims the total migration size and conserves storage where attachments are not needed..

Allow EdbMails to automatically manage migration throttling

This option is enabled by default. During migration, mail servers apply throttling limits that can slow down or stop the transfer of data. EdbMails automatically stays within these limits and adjusts its migration speed as needed, so your migration keeps running smoothly without any manual effort.

Create separate PST files for every selected folder / subfolder

When exporting to PST, this gives each selected folder and subfolder its own PST file rather than merging them together. It is the option to use when you want the export split cleanly by folder, so individual folders are simple to hand off or review later.

Migrate the mailbox root-level folders

A few items live at the root of the mailbox, outside the normal folder tree, under containers like 'Top of Personal Folders' or 'Top of Information Store'. Enable this to fold those root-level folders into the migration so nothing sitting outside the usual structure gets missed.

Exclude Standard / Custom Folders

Use the Exclude Standard / Custom Folders button to single out standard or custom folders that should stay out of the migration. 'Deleted Items', 'Conversation History', and 'Junk Email' are excluded to begin with, and you can add further standard folders or type in custom folder names to exclude alongside them.

Include folder types

Here you choose which kinds of items are migrated. All takes in everything, or you can pick specific types: Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and Tasks. Select only what you need, for instance, mail on its own without contacts or calendar data.

Click the 'Save' button to apply the settings.