Changing your email configurations from a host server like HostGator to Google Workspace involves several steps, including setting up your Google Workspace account, configuring DNS records, and migrating existing email data. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Sign Up for Google Workspace

1. Go to the Google Workspace website: Visit Google Workspace.
2. Start your free trial: Click on “Start Free Trial” and follow the instructions.
3. Choose your plan: Select the Google Workspace plan that suits your needs and budget.
4. Create your account: Fill in your business name, the number of employees, and your current email address.
5. Set up your domain: Enter the domain name you are using with HostGator.

Step 2: Verify Your Domain with Google

1. Access your Google Workspace Admin Console: Log in at admin.google.com.
2. Go to Domains: Click on “Domains” and then “Manage domains”.
3. Start the verification process: Click “Add a domain” or “Verify a domain” and follow the prompts.
4. Obtain the verification record: Google will provide a TXT verification record.
5. Log in to your HostGator cPanel: Access your HostGator account and navigate to the cPanel.
6. Edit DNS settings: Go to “Domains” > “Zone Editor”. Add the TXT record provided by Google.
7. Verify the record: Return to your Google Admin console and confirm verification by clicking “Verify”.

Step 3: Update MX Records to Use Google Workspace

1. Access MX entry settings in HostGator: In the cPanel, find and click on “MX Entry” under the “Mail” section.
2. Change the MX records: Remove existing MX entries and replace them with the Google Workspace MX records:
   • Priority 1 – ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM.
   • Priority 5 – ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM.
   • Priority 5 – ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM.
   • Priority 10 – ALT3.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM.
   • Priority 10 – ALT4.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM.
3. Save changes: Ensure all changes are saved correctly.

Step 4: Configure Email Delivery

1. Set up email routing: In Google Admin console, ensure that email routing is set to direct emails to Google Workspace.
2. Check for any additional settings: Such as SPF and DKIM records, and configure them as recommended by Google.

Step 5: Migrate Existing Emails

1. Choose a migration method: Decide if you will use Google’s Data Migration Service or another method like IMAP migration.
2. Prepare your HostGator email: Make sure IMAP is enabled and you know the account credentials.
3. Set up the migration in Google Workspace: Follow Google’s migration guides based on your chosen method.

Step 6: Test and Go Live

1. Send test emails: Send emails to and from the new Google Workspace email to ensure everything is set up correctly.
2. Inform your team: Make sure all users know how to access their new Google Workspace emails.
3. Monitor email flow: Check for any delivery issues and contact Google support if needed.

Step 7: Decommission Old System

1. Confirm no data loss: Ensure all emails are migrated and accessible on Google Workspace.
2. Close down old email services: You might want to close or redirect services from HostGator to avoid confusion.

Helpful Tips:

• Keep your old email system running in parallel for a short time to ensure no emails are lost during the transition.
• Regularly back up your emails during the migration phase.

This guide will help you transition from HostGator to Google Workspace efficiently. Remember, each step might take some time, so plan accordingly.