If your POP fetch still works, you are not imagining it. Google blocked many new setups and shows warnings, but older configurations can keep running for a while. That does not mean the issue is solved.
The docs describe a 2026 transition and a harder removal toward January 2027, along with Gmailify and later other third-party account pieces. Google owns the exact dates. The useful move is not to plan as if POP will last forever.
What to do while it still works
- Do not delete the Mail Fetcher account “just to test.” You may not be able to recreate it.
- Write down host, username, and whether the source supports IMAP or only POP.
- Build the backup plan with one test mailbox first.
The common mistake is waiting for cutover day. Cutover day always lands at the worst time: month end, a campaign, a trip.
If your plan B is staying in Gmail web, look at a sync tool like GetPopMail with time to spare. If you are moving to Workspace or a desktop client, migrate calmly instead of in a panic.