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
- Open your web browser and go to the Gmail website (www.gmail.com).
- Click on the "Create account" link.
- 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.
- Google will check the availability of the email address you entered. If it's available, you can proceed.
- Provide your phone number for account recovery and security purposes. Google will send you a verification code to that number.
- Enter the verification code you received on your phone to verify your phone number.
- Optionally, you can provide a recovery email address for added security.
- Complete any additional steps, such as setting up your Google profile picture and agreeing to Google's terms of service and privacy policy.
- Click on the "Next" or "Continue" button to complete the account creation process.
How to log into Gmail
- Open your web browser and go to the Gmail website (www.gmail.com).
- Enter your Gmail email address (username) and click on the "Next" button.
- Enter your Gmail account password and click on the "Sign in" button.
- If you have two-step verification enabled, you'll need to enter the verification code sent to your phone or other trusted device.
How to check your Gmail account
- After logging into Gmail, you'll be taken to your Gmail inbox, where you can see your received emails.
- To read an email, simply click on the subject line of the email in the inbox.
- You can use the navigation bar on the left side to access different categories like Primary, Social, Promotions, and more.
- To compose a new email, click on the "Compose" button located in the top-left corner of the Gmail interface.
- To search for specific emails, use the search bar at the top of the page.
- 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.
- Open your Gmail account.
- Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select "See all settings."
- Navigate to the "Accounts and Import" tab.
- In the "Grant access to your account" section, click on "Add another account."
- Enter the email address of the person you want to grant access to and click "Next Step."
- Follow the prompts to complete the process.
How to create email lists on Gmail
- Open Gmail and click on the "Google Apps" icon (grid of squares) in the upper-right corner.
- Select "Contacts" from the list of Google apps.
- In the Contacts screen, click on "Create contact" on the left sidebar.
- Enter a name for the contact, but use something that indicates it's a group (e.g., "Family Group" or "Work Team").
- Click on the "Edit" button (pencil icon) next to the "Email" field.
- Enter the email addresses of the people you want to include in the email list, separating each address with a comma.
- Click "Save."
How to set an Out of Office reply in a Gmail account
- Open your Gmail account.
- Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select "See all settings."
- Navigate to the "General" tab.
- Scroll down to the "Vacation responder" section.
- Toggle the "Vacation responder on" option.
- Set the start and end dates for your out-of-office period.
- Enter your vacation message in the text box.
- You can choose whether to send responses to people in your contacts or to anyone who emails you.
- 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.
- Click "Save Changes."
How to create a filter in Gmail
Filters help you automatically organize, label, or forward emails based on specific criteria.
- Open your Gmail account.
- Click on the search bar at the top.
- Click on the down arrow on the right side of the search bar to open the search options.
- Define the criteria for your filter, such as sender, subject, or keywords.
- Click on the "Create filter" link.
- Choose what action you want the filter to perform, such as applying a label, marking as important, archiving, or forwarding.
- Configure the action settings based on your preference.
- Click "Create filter."
How to add a signature in Gmail
- Open your Gmail account.
- Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select "See all settings."
- Navigate to the "General" tab.
- Scroll down to the "Signature" section.
- Choose whether you want to use the same signature for all email addresses associated with your account.
- Enter your signature text in the text box. You can format it using the provided options.
- 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.
- Click "Save Changes."
How to "Undo Send" in Gmail
- 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.
- Click the "Undo" link immediately after sending.
- The sent email will be brought back into the compose window, allowing you to make changes or further edits.
How to change the "Undo Send" time period in Gmail
- Open your Gmail account.
- Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select "See all settings."
- Navigate to the "General" tab.
- Look for the "Undo Send" section.
- You'll see an option labeled "Send cancellation period." You can choose between 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds.
- Select the time period you prefer.
- Click "Save Changes."
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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