Email Unbundled
Switching broadband should be simple — but your email needs a plan
Changing broadband provider is much easier now thanks to One Touch Switch, where (in most cases) you only need to contact your new provider and they manage the switch.
However, if your current provider also supplies your email address (for example name@btinternet.com, name@sky.com, name@virginmedia.com, name@talktalk.net), that email may not automatically move with your broadband. Broadband switching and email continuity are two separate things.
The key risk: losing access to accounts
If you lose access to an ISP-provided inbox, you can also lose access to the services linked to it: banking, shopping, utility accounts, password resets, and two-factor codes. This is usually the biggest “switching stress” point — and it’s avoidable.
What could happen to your email when you leave
Depending on the provider and your setup, you may experience one or more of the following:
Mailbox closure after you disconnect
(sometimes with a time window to access messages)
Reduced functionality
(for example, webmail-only access)
Deletion due to inactivity policies
(regular logins required to maintain email account)
Unbundling your email
Choose a “forever” email address first
Pick an email that isn’t tied to your broadband provider (e.g., a mainstream email service, or your own domain managed independently).
Move your logins before you switch broadband
Start with the essentials: banks, GOV.UK/HMRC, mobile providers, utilities, Apple/Google, and any service using 2FA.
Confirm current provider switching implications
Just like switching your broadband or phone number, all implications regarding unbundling your email address should be considered. If your email is with your current provider, read our provider-by-provider guide before you switch.
Back up what matters
Save the emails you need (receipts, contracts, important threads) and export contacts if you rely on them. If your provider offers forwarding, set it up for a short transition.
Back up what matters
Save the emails you need (receipts, contracts, important threads) and export contacts if you rely on them. If your provider offers forwarding, set it up for a short transition.
BT, Sky, Virgin Media or TalkTalk — what happens to my email?