The simplest way to open email
To open email, you need to launch an email program or app, then sign in with your email address and password. On a computer, this usually means clicking an icon on your desktop or finding the program in your start menu. On a phone or tablet, you tap an app icon on your home screen. Once you sign in, your inbox appears — the folder where incoming messages land.
The program you use depends on what you already have. Windows computers come with Mail built in. Mac computers come with Mail. If you use Gmail, you can open it in a web browser by going to gmail.com, or read the Gmail app on your phone. Outlook, Thunderbird, and Apple Mail are other common programs that work across devices.
The first time you open an email program, it will ask for your email address and password. After that, the program remembers your login and opens directly to your inbox each time you launch it.
Key Takeaways
- Email programs on computers are usually found in your start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac), or you can click a desktop icon if one exists.
- On phones and tablets, tap the email app icon on your home screen — Gmail, Outlook, Mail, or whatever program you set up.
- The first time you open an email program, enter your full email address and password, and the program will save your login for future use.
- If you do not have an email program installed, you can open Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo Mail directly in a web browser without installing anything.
- Your inbox is the main folder you see after signing in — it holds all messages that arrive unless you move them to other folders.
Opening email on Windows
On a Windows computer, the easiest option is the Mail app that comes built in. Click the Start button (the Windows logo in the bottom left corner), then type "Mail" and press Enter. The Mail app opens to your inbox if you have already signed in before, or to a sign-in screen if this is your first time.
If you prefer Outlook, which is part of Microsoft Office, click Start and type "Outlook" instead. Outlook works the same way — it opens to your inbox after you sign in the first time. If you use Gmail, you can also read the Gmail app from the Microsoft Store, or straightforward open any web browser, go to gmail.com, and sign in there without installing anything.
Some people have an email icon pinned to their taskbar (the bar at the bottom of the screen). If you see one, you can click it directly instead of using the Start menu. You can also create a desktop shortcut by right-clicking the program name in the Start menu and selecting "Pin to desktop".
Opening email on Mac
On a Mac, the Mail app comes built in. Click the Finder icon (the blue and white face in your dock at the bottom of the screen), then click Applications in the sidebar. Scroll down to find Mail and double-click it. The Mail app opens to your inbox if you have signed in before, or to a setup screen if this is your first time.
You can also use Spotlight to open Mail faster. Press Command and Space at the same time, type "Mail", and press Enter. If you use Outlook, the same process works — press Command-Space, type "Outlook", and press Enter. For Gmail, you can read the Gmail app from the App Store, or open Safari or another web browser, go to gmail.com, and sign in there.
To make Mail easier to find, you can drag the Mail icon from Applications into your dock. It will stay there permanently, and you can open Mail by clicking it instead of searching each time.
Opening email on iPhone or iPad
On an iPhone or iPad, look for the Mail app icon on your home screen — it usually looks like a white envelope. Tap it to open the app. If you have already set up an email account, your inbox appears when ready. If this is your first time, the app asks you to add an account by entering your email address and password.
If you cannot find the Mail app, swipe left on your home screen to open the search screen, type "Mail", and tap the Mail app when it appears. You can then tap the cloud icon with a down arrow to read it if it is not installed.
For Gmail, you can use the built-in Mail app by adding your Gmail account to it, or read the Gmail app from the App Store and use that instead. Both work equally well. Outlook also has its own app in the App Store if you prefer to use that.
Opening email on Android
On an Android phone or tablet, look for the Gmail app icon on your home screen or in your app drawer — it usually looks like a white envelope with a red "M". Tap it to open the app. If you have already signed in, your inbox appears. If this is your first time, the app asks for your email address and password.
If you cannot find Gmail, swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open the app drawer, scroll to find Gmail, and tap it. You can also search for it by swiping down from the top of your screen and typing "Gmail" in the search box.
If you use Outlook or another email provider, you can read their app from the Google Play Store. Search for the app name, tap Install, and then open it and sign in. You can also open any email account in a web browser — go to gmail.com, outlook.com, or your email provider's website and sign in there without installing an app.
What to do if you do not remember your password
If you try to sign in and the password does not work, click or tap "Forgot password" on the sign-in screen. The email program or website will ask you to verify your identity — usually by sending a code to a backup email address or phone number you set up when you created the account. Follow the steps to reset your password, then sign in again with the new one.
If you do not have access to a backup email or phone number, you may need to contact your email provider's support team directly. For Gmail, go to accounts.google.com and look for the account recovery option. For Outlook, go to account.microsoft.com. For other providers, search for "[your email provider] account recovery" in a web browser.
Opening email in a web browser instead of an app
You do not need to install a program or app to read email. You can open any web browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge — and go directly to your email provider's website. For Gmail, go to gmail.com. For Outlook, go to outlook.com. For Yahoo Mail, go to mail.yahoo.com. Sign in with your email address and password, and your inbox appears.
This method works on any computer or device with internet access. You do not need to read or install anything, and you do not need to remember which program you use — you just open a browser and type the web address. The downside is that you have to sign in each time unless you check the "Remember me" or "Stay signed in" box, and you cannot read email if you are not connected to the internet.
Many people use both methods: they use an app on their phone for quick access, and a web browser on their computer when they want to do more detailed work like organizing folders or searching old messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between opening email in an app and opening it in a web browser?
An app stores your login information, so it opens directly to your inbox each time. A web browser requires you to sign in each time unless you check "Stay signed in", but it works on any device without installing anything. Apps are faster for checking messages quickly. Web browsers are better if you use many different devices or do not want to install software.
Do I need a password every time I open email?
No. After you sign in the first time, the program or app remembers your password and opens directly to your inbox. You only need to enter your password again if you sign out, uninstall the app, or if the program forgets your login for some reason.
Can I open the same email account in more than one program?
Yes. You can sign into Gmail in the Gmail app, the Mail app, Outlook, and a web browser all at the same time. Messages you read in one program will usually show as read in the others within a few minutes, though this depends on how often each program checks for new messages.
What if I see a blank screen after signing in?
The program may still be loading your messages. Wait 10 to 15 seconds. If nothing appears, try closing the program and opening it again. If the problem continues, check that you are connected to the internet and that your password is correct by signing out and signing back in.
Can I open email without an internet connection?
Apps can sometimes show messages you have already downloaded, but you cannot send new messages or read new messages without internet. Web browsers require an active internet connection at all times. If you need to read email offline, use an app and make sure it has downloaded your recent messages before you lose your connection.