Season 3, Episode 273 · Hands-On Tech (Audio)
HOT 273: ISP Email - Switch Email Providers Safely
28 Jun 2026 · 13 min
Episode notes
On Hands-On Tech, Eleanor asks Mikah how to transition away from her long-standing ISP email address without losing access to the important accounts tied to it. Don't forget to send in your questions for Mikah to answer during the show! [email protected] Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the…
Transcript
Read the transcript · about 430 words
Jul 1st 2026
AI-generated, human-reviewed.
Switching away from an old email tied to your internet provider is easier than you think—with the right plan, you won’t lose messages or get locked out of your important accounts.
On Hands-On Tech , Mikah Sargent highlighted how to migrate from ISP-based email, why it matters, what your best options are, and how to ensure a smooth transition. Here’s the straightforward advice you need for a hassle-free switch.
Provider-based email accounts (like those ending in @sbcglobal.net or @comcast.net) are tied to your internet contract. If you change providers, you often lose the address—and potentially access to vital services, from your bank and medical portals to online shopping accounts.
Modern, independent email providers offer better security, more features, and the peace of mind that comes from owning your address—no matter which company supplies your internet.
Mikah Sargent found that most people do well with a mainstream provider:
Registering your own custom domain (like yourname.com) gives you the greatest future-proofing, as you can change mail hosts whenever you want but keep the same address.
1. Confirm Retention with Your ISP: Before switching or canceling, call your provider to check if you can keep your old email—avoid raising the topic of leaving to prevent a sales pitch.
2. Set Up Your New Address: Create your new email. If you want full control, consider registering a domain and connecting it to a provider like Fastmail. Most users are well-served by Gmail or Outlook.
3. Enable Forwarding and Import: In your old email settings, set up forwarding to your new address so no messages are lost. Use the import tool on your new provider to bring over existing messages and contacts.
4. Update Accounts by Priority: Start with your recovery email and 2FA settings for essential accounts. Move on to banks, healthcare, and then shopping and entertainment accounts. Prioritize accounts that, if locked, would cause headaches.
5. Monitor and Retire: Let forwarding run for a minimum of 30 days. Watch for any important emails still coming to your old address—update those accounts as needed. Retire the old email only when you’re certain nothing important remains.
Switching away from an ISP email account is a manageable process when you go step by step. Start the migration before canceling your old contract, choose a provider that gives you the most control, and change your login emails for important accounts right away. With this approach, you’ll avoid panic, keep your digital life organized, and never have to face this problem again.
Subscribe to Hands-On Tech for more practical tech advice: https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech/episodes/273
Transcript supplied by the publisher with the episode.
Podcast
Hands-On Tech (Audio)
TWiT · Tech & Science · English
Welcome to Hands-On Tech , where host Mikah Sargent turns tech troubles into tech triumphs. Each episode zooms in on a specific theme, unpacking listener questions with expert analysis and easy-to-follow advice. From decoding the latest gadgets to simplifying everyday tech, Mikah's got you covered.
More from Hands-On Tech (Audio) All episodes →
-
S3 · E278 · 3 Aug 2026 · 22 min
HOT 278: Understanding Battery Percentages - Why the Battery Percentage Shown Isn't Always Accurate
In this episode of Hands-On Tech , Mikah answers a listener's question about whether his phone's battery percentage is an accurate measurement, why it seems to stay at 100% for a long time before suddenly dropping to dead, and whether battery recalibration is a real fix. Send in your questions for Mikah to answer, and any products you'd like Mikah to take a look at, to [email protected] ! Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only…
-
S3 · E277 · 26 Jul 2026 · 14 min
HOT 277: Battery Overcharging Myths - Is Keeping Your Devices Plugged In Bad?
On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah settles a household debate about whether it's harmful to keep a laptop plugged in all the time, and whether battery charge limit settings are worth using. Send in your questions for Mikah to [email protected], and he'll answer them in a future episode! Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss…
-
S3 · E276 · 19 Jul 2026 · 19 min
HOT 276: Smart TV's ACR Tracking - Stop Your TV From Spying!
In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers Denise's question about whether her smart TV is tracking what she watches and how to stop it. Send in your questions for Mikah to [email protected], and he'll answer them in a future episode! Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT…
-
S3 · E275 · 12 Jul 2026 · 17 min
HOT 275: USB-C Cable Confusion - Decode Your USB-C Cable Mess
In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers Doug's question about why identical-looking USB-C cables can have wildly different charging and data speeds, and how to tell them apart. Send in your questions for Mikah to [email protected], and he'll answer them in a future episode! Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this…
-
S3 · E274 · 5 Jul 2026 · 15 min
HOT 274: Smart Home Recommendations - Matter & Thread Explained
On this episode of Hands-On Tech , Marcus asks Mikah whether Matter and Thread are the real solution to smart home ecosystem lock-in, or just more marketing hype. Don't forget to send in your questions for Mikah to answer during the show! [email protected] Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in…
-
S3 · E272 · 21 Jun 2026 · 17 min
HOT 272: Robocalls - Stopping Robocallers
In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Jim asks Mikah how to effectively reduce the overwhelming volume of spam texts and robocalls he's been receiving on his iPhone, and for advice to help his wife with the same issue, who uses Android. Send in your questions for Mikah to [email protected], and he'll answer them during the show! Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today:…
-
S3 · E271 · 14 Jun 2026 · 20 min
HOT 271: Telegram & Security - Is Telegram Secure?
In this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, Clint wants to know whether Telegram is truly safe to use or not. Don't forget to send in your questions for Mikah to answer during the show! [email protected] Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord . Sponsor: shopify.com/hot
-
S3 · E270 · 7 Jun 2026 · 24 min
HOT 270: Troubleshooting External Storage - Optimizing Your External Drive's Performance
On this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, listener Lenny asks Mikah for advice on how to get the best performance out of an external SSD connected to his MacBook Pro. Don't forget to send in your questions for Mikah to answer during the show! [email protected] Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in…
-
S3 · E269 · 31 May 2026 · 14 min
HOT 269: Windows Home Server - Reviving an Old Windows Home Server
On this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, David asks Mikah whether his old, out-of-service Windows Home Server is worth bringing back online now that he has a fast fiber internet connection, and what the best way to set it up would be. Don't forget to send in your questions for Mikah to answer during the show! [email protected] Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today:…
Take it with you
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
