How to Set Up Gmail

By
Lauren Funaro
August 18, 2023
min read
Updated
September 19, 2023
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Introduction

Welcome to Gmail, where efficient email communication meets user-friendly simplicity.

If you're new to Gmail or looking to ensure you're making the most of its features, you're in the right place.

We've built you step-by-step guides to answer your most frequently asked Gmail questions — so you can get up and running in no time.

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How to make a new Gmail account

  1. Open your web browser and go to the Gmail website (www.gmail.com).
  2. Click on the "Create account" link.
  3. Fill out the required information, including your first and last name, desired email address (username), and password. You'll also need to confirm the password.
  4. Google will check the availability of the email address you entered. If it's available, you can proceed.
  5. Provide your phone number for account recovery and security purposes. Google will send you a verification code to that number.
  6. Enter the verification code you received on your phone to verify your phone number.
  7. Optionally, you can provide a recovery email address for added security.
  8. Complete any additional steps, such as setting up your Google profile picture and agreeing to Google's terms of service and privacy policy.
  9. Click on the "Next" or "Continue" button to complete the account creation process.

How to log into Gmail

  1. Open your web browser and go to the Gmail website (www.gmail.com).
  2. Enter your Gmail email address (username) and click on the "Next" button.
  3. Enter your Gmail account password and click on the "Sign in" button.
  4. If you have two-step verification enabled, you'll need to enter the verification code sent to your phone or other trusted device.

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How to check your Gmail account

  1. After logging into Gmail, you'll be taken to your Gmail inbox, where you can see your received emails.
  2. To read an email, simply click on the subject line of the email in the inbox.
  3. You can use the navigation bar on the left side to access different categories like Primary, Social, Promotions, and more.
  4. To compose a new email, click on the "Compose" button located in the top-left corner of the Gmail interface.
  5. To search for specific emails, use the search bar at the top of the page.
  6. You can manage your emails by using options like archiving, deleting, marking as read/unread, and applying labels.

How to request access to your Gmail account

If you're looking to grant someone access to your Gmail account, you can do this by adding them as a delegate. Delegates can read, send, and delete messages on your behalf.

  1. Open your Gmail account.
  2. Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select "See all settings."
  3. Navigate to the "Accounts and Import" tab.
  4. In the "Grant access to your account" section, click on "Add another account."
  5. Enter the email address of the person you want to grant access to and click "Next Step."
  6. Follow the prompts to complete the process.

How to create email lists on Gmail

  1. Open Gmail and click on the "Google Apps" icon (grid of squares) in the upper-right corner.
  2. Select "Contacts" from the list of Google apps.
  3. In the Contacts screen, click on "Create contact" on the left sidebar.
  4. Enter a name for the contact, but use something that indicates it's a group (e.g., "Family Group" or "Work Team").
  5. Click on the "Edit" button (pencil icon) next to the "Email" field.
  6. Enter the email addresses of the people you want to include in the email list, separating each address with a comma.
  7. Click "Save."

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How to set an Out of Office reply in a Gmail account

  1. Open your Gmail account.
  2. Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select "See all settings."
  3. Navigate to the "General" tab.
  4. Scroll down to the "Vacation responder" section.
  5. Toggle the "Vacation responder on" option.
  6. Set the start and end dates for your out-of-office period.
  7. Enter your vacation message in the text box.
  8. You can choose whether to send responses to people in your contacts or to anyone who emails you.
  9. Optionally, you can also choose to send responses only to people in your organization if you're using a G Suite (now Google Workspace) account.
  10. Click "Save Changes."

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How to create a filter in Gmail

Filters help you automatically organize, label, or forward emails based on specific criteria.

  1. Open your Gmail account.
  2. Click on the search bar at the top.
  3. Click on the down arrow on the right side of the search bar to open the search options.
  4. Define the criteria for your filter, such as sender, subject, or keywords.
  5. Click on the "Create filter" link.
  6. Choose what action you want the filter to perform, such as applying a label, marking as important, archiving, or forwarding.
  7. Configure the action settings based on your preference.
  8. Click "Create filter."

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How to add a signature in Gmail

  1. Open your Gmail account.
  2. Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select "See all settings."
  3. Navigate to the "General" tab.
  4. Scroll down to the "Signature" section.
  5. Choose whether you want to use the same signature for all email addresses associated with your account.
  6. Enter your signature text in the text box. You can format it using the provided options.
  7. Optionally, you can use the checkboxes to add your signature above quoted text in replies and to remove the "--" line that's automatically added before your signature.
  8. Click "Save Changes."

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How to "Undo Send" in Gmail

  1. After sending an email, you'll see a notification at the top of the screen that says "Your message has been sent." Alongside that, there's an "Undo" link.
  2. Click the "Undo" link immediately after sending.
  3. The sent email will be brought back into the compose window, allowing you to make changes or further edits.

Read the full guide here ➜

How to change the "Undo Send" time period in Gmail

  1. Open your Gmail account.
  2. Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select "See all settings."
  3. Navigate to the "General" tab.
  4. Look for the "Undo Send" section.
  5. You'll see an option labeled "Send cancellation period." You can choose between 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds.
  6. Select the time period you prefer.
  7. Click "Save Changes."

Read the full guide here ➜

In conclusion

Gmail's user-friendly interface and powerful tools help you communicate faster, and easier than ever. Use it to stay connected, productive and in control. Here's to efficient emailing and a clutter-free inbox!

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