Migrating Airmail to a New Mac - Keeping Accounts, Settings, Calendar and Contacts

When switching to a new Mac, many users worry about losing their Airmail accounts, custom settings, signatures, calendar entries, and contacts. The good news is that Airmail is designed to make this transition straightforward. This article explains exactly what is preserved automatically and what you should plan for before migrating.

Good news first — nothing is deleted on the server

When you set up Airmail on a new Mac, your messages, calendars, and contacts continue to live on the server side (Gmail, iCloud, Exchange, IMAP, etc.). Removing or reinstalling Airmail does not delete anything from your accounts. Reinstalling the app simply means downloading those messages again on the new device.

What is preserved automatically

Account credentials for OAuth-based services (Gmail, iCloud, Microsoft 365) can be re-authenticated on the new Mac with a few clicks. Mail messages stored on IMAP, Exchange, or Gmail servers will reappear after re-adding the account. Calendar events and contacts that are part of these accounts (iCloud, Google, Exchange) sync automatically through macOS, so they are independent of Airmail. Standard system fonts, themes shipped with Airmail, and default actions are restored when you reinstall the app.

What may need to be reconfigured

Custom Airmail settings such as swipe gestures, custom themes, custom signatures, smart folders, snooze defaults, and integrations with third-party apps may not transfer automatically unless you use one of the migration options below. Local-only IMAP folders or messages saved exclusively on your Mac are also not on the server and require attention.

Option A — Use macOS Migration Assistant

The simplest method is Apple's Migration Assistant, which copies your full user environment to the new Mac, including the Airmail application, its preferences, and any local data. After running Migration Assistant, open Airmail on the new Mac. In most cases all accounts, settings, signatures and customizations are already in place. You may be asked to re-authenticate some accounts, which is normal.

Option B — Use iCloud Sync inside Airmail

Airmail offers an iCloud Sync option that stores your accounts and preferences in iCloud. To use it, on your old Mac open Airmail > Preferences > General (or iCloud) and enable iCloud Sync. Wait until the sync completes. On the new Mac install Airmail, sign in with the same Apple ID, enable iCloud Sync in Airmail again, and your accounts and preferences will be restored. For this to work, iCloud Drive must be enabled and Airmail must appear in the iCloud apps list.

Option C — Manual setup

If you prefer a clean start, simply install Airmail on the new Mac, add your accounts one by one, and re-create your favorite settings. This is more time-consuming but guarantees a clean configuration. Your messages, calendar, and contacts will reappear from the server side as soon as the accounts are added.

Calendar and contacts — important note

Calendar and contacts are not stored inside Airmail. They are managed by macOS and tied to your accounts (iCloud, Google, Exchange). On the new Mac, sign in to those accounts in System Settings > Internet Accounts and your calendar entries and contacts will sync automatically. Airmail will then show calendar events and contact details when reading and composing messages.

Before you migrate — a short checklist

Make sure all your accounts are using server-side storage (IMAP/Gmail/Exchange/iCloud) and not POP, which downloads messages locally. Confirm that recent calendar and contacts changes have synced on the old Mac. If you use custom signatures, themes, or rules, take a screenshot or note of the configuration. Make sure the latest version of Airmail is installed on both Macs to avoid compatibility issues.

Need help with the migration?

If you have any doubt, please contact our support team at support@airmailapp.com before removing Airmail from the old Mac. We can guide you through the migration step by step and help you verify that everything has transferred correctly.

Updated on: 05/08/2026