Opening email on your device

To read an email, you first need to open the email program or app where your messages arrive. On most devices, this means finding and clicking the email icon — usually an envelope symbol — on your home screen, desktop, or in your applications menu. Once you click it, the program launches and shows you a list of messages.

The exact location of this icon depends on what device you use. On a phone or tablet, look for an envelope on your home screen or in your app drawer. On a computer, look for an icon on your desktop or in your taskbar at the bottom of the screen. If you cannot find it, search your device for the name of your email program — for example, "Outlook" or "Gmail" — and the search will show you where it is.

When the email program opens for the first time, it may ask you to sign in with your email address and password. This is normal. Once you sign in, the program remembers you, and you will not have to do this every time.

Key Takeaways

  • Open your email program by clicking its icon — usually an envelope — on your home screen, desktop, or in your applications menu.
  • When you open the program, you see a list of messages in your inbox, with the newest messages usually at the top.
  • To read a single message, click or tap on it once, and the full text will appear on the right side of the screen or in a new window.
  • If you cannot find your email program, search your device by name — such as "Gmail", "Outlook", or "Mail" — and your device will show you where it is.

Finding your inbox and reading a message

Once the email program is open, you see a list of messages. This list is usually called your inbox. The newest messages appear at the top, and older messages are below them. Each line in the list shows the sender's name, the subject of the message, and the date it arrived.

To read a message, click or tap on it once. The full text of the email will then appear — either on the right side of your screen (on a computer) or in a new window (on a phone or tablet). You can now read the entire message, including any text the sender typed and any files they attached.

If you want to go back to your list of messages, click the back arrow or the inbox name at the top of the screen. This takes you back to the list so you can choose another message to read.

Understanding what you see in an email

When you open a message, you see several pieces of information at the top. The From line shows who sent it. The To line shows who it was sent to — usually you. The Subject line is the title the sender gave the message. The Date shows when it arrived.

Below this information is the body of the email — the actual message the sender wrote. If the sender included files, photos, or documents, these appear as attachments, usually shown as clickable items at the bottom of the message or in a separate section marked "Attachments".

Some emails are plain text. Others are formatted with colors, different font sizes, or images embedded in the message itself. All of these display automatically when you open the message — you do not need to do anything special to see them.

Opening email on a web browser instead

You do not have to use an email program installed on your device. You can also read email by going to a website in your web browser. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail all work this way — you visit their website, sign in with your email address and password, and read your messages directly in the browser.

To do this, open your web browser (such as Chrome, Safari, or Edge), go to the website for your email provider, and sign in. Your inbox will appear just as it does in the email program. The steps for reading a message are the same: click on a message in the list, and it opens so you can read it.

This method is useful if you are on a computer that does not have an email program installed, or if you are traveling and using someone else's device. You can read your email from any device with a web browser, as long as you know your password.

What to do if your email does not open

If you click the email icon and nothing happens, the program may not be installed on your device, or it may need to be updated. Check your device's app store or software settings to see if an update is available. If the program is not installed at all, you can read it from your device's app store for free.

If the program opens but shows no messages, you may not be signed in. Look for a "Sign In" button or link, usually at the top of the screen, and enter your email address and password. If you do not remember your password, most email providers have a "Forgot Password" link on their sign-in page that will walk you through resetting it.

If you still cannot see your messages after signing in, try closing the program completely and opening it again. This often fixes temporary problems. If the problem continues, try opening your email through a web browser instead, which sometimes works when the program does not.

Organizing your inbox as you read

Once you have read a message, you have several options for what to do with it. You can leave it in your inbox, move it to a folder, or delete it. Most email programs have buttons or menu options for these actions — usually marked as a folder icon, a trash icon, or a three-dot menu.

Creating folders helps you keep messages organized by topic or person. For example, you might create a folder for messages from your landlord, another for bills, and another for family. To move a message to a folder, right-click on it (or tap and hold on a phone) and look for a "Move" option, then choose the folder you want.

Deleting a message removes it from your inbox, though most programs keep deleted messages in a "Trash" or "Deleted Items" folder for a period of time in case you change your mind. You can usually recover a deleted message by opening the trash folder and moving it back to your inbox.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to sign in every time I open my email?

You should not have to sign in every time if you are using an email program on your own device. The program remembers your sign-in information. If you are signing in every time, look for a checkbox that says "Remember me" or "Keep me signed in" when you enter your password, and check it. On a shared device, you may need to sign in each time for security.

What is the difference between my inbox and my other folders?

Your inbox is where new messages arrive by default. Other folders are places you create or that the program creates automatically — such as "Sent" (messages you sent), "Drafts" (messages you started but did not send), and "Trash" (deleted messages). You can create your own folders to organize messages by topic.

Can I open email on more than one device?

Yes. You can sign in to your email on your phone, your computer, and a tablet all at the same time. Each device will show the same inbox and messages. When you read a message on one device, it may still show as unread on another device until that device refreshes, but the message itself is the same across all devices.

How do I know if an email has an attachment?

Most email programs show a small paperclip icon next to a message in the inbox list if it has an attachment. When you open the message, the attachment appears at the bottom, usually as a clickable file name or icon. You can click it to open or read the file.

What should I do if I accidentally delete an important email?

Open your Trash or Deleted Items folder — usually found in the folder list on the left side of your email program. Find the message you deleted, right-click on it, and look for a "Restore" or "Move" option. Select it and choose your inbox to bring the message back.