What a Gmail alias is and why you might want one
A Gmail alias is an alternate email address that sends and receives mail to your main Gmail inbox. When you create an alias, messages sent to that address arrive in the same inbox as your primary Gmail address, and you can reply from either one. Gmail does not charge for aliases, and you can create up to 10 of them per account.
People use aliases to separate work email from personal mail without managing two accounts, to sign up for services without giving out their real address, or to test how their name looks in different formats. An alias keeps everything in one inbox but lets you control which address appears when you send a message.
The technical term for what Gmail calls an alias is a "send-as" address. You are not creating a separate account — you are adding another address that points to the same mailbox.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail aliases are alternate addresses that deliver to your main inbox and cost nothing to create.
- You add an alias by going to Settings, then Accounts and Import, then "Add another email address you own".
- Gmail sends a confirmation email to the new alias address, and you must click the link in that email to set up it.
- Once active, you can choose which address to send from when you compose a new message.
- You can have up to 10 aliases per Gmail account, but each one must be a real email address you control.
Step-by-step: Creating your first alias
Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner, then select Settings. Click the Accounts and Import tab. Under "Send mail as", click Add another email address you own.
A popup window will appear. Type the name you want to appear when you send from this alias — for example, "James Rodriguez" or "J. Rodriguez". Then type the email address you want to use as the alias. This address must be real and must be one you can access. Click Next Step.
Gmail will ask whether you want to treat this as an alias (recommended) or send mail through a different email provider. Choose Treat as an alias. Click Create alias. Gmail will send a confirmation email to the alias address you just entered.
Confirming your alias with the verification email
Check the inbox of the email address you just added as an alias. Gmail sends a message with the subject line "Gmail confirmation code". Open that email and look for a confirmation code — usually a string of numbers and letters.
Go back to Gmail Settings, click Accounts and Import, and find the alias you just created under "Send mail as". It will show a status of "Pending verification". Click Verify email address. Paste or type the confirmation code from the email Gmail sent you. Click Verify.
Your alias is now active. The status will change from "Pending verification" to show the address as ready to use. This usually takes a few seconds after you enter the code.
Sending messages from your alias
When you compose a new email in Gmail, look at the "From" field. By default it shows your primary Gmail address. Click on the address to open a dropdown menu showing all your aliases. Select the one you want to send from.
The person who receives your email will see the alias address in the "From" line, not your primary Gmail address. When they reply, the message goes to your main Gmail inbox. You can reply from the same alias address, and the conversation will stay connected to that alias in your sent mail.
If you want one alias to be your default sending address, go back to Settings, click Accounts and Import, find the alias under "Send mail as", and click Make default. Every new message will then send from that alias unless you manually change it.
What email address can you use as an alias
Your alias must be a real email address that you own and can access. You cannot use a fake address or one belonging to someone else. The address does not have to be from Gmail — it can be from Yahoo, Outlook, your work email, or any other provider.
If you want to use an address from a different email provider, you must be able to receive the confirmation email at that address. Gmail will not let you verify an alias if you cannot access the inbox where the confirmation code is sent.
You can use the same alias across multiple Gmail accounts if you want, but each Gmail account will need to verify it separately. Each account will receive its own confirmation email.
Managing and removing aliases
To see all your aliases, go to Settings, click Accounts and Import, and look at the "Send mail as" section. Each alias you have created will be listed there with its verification status.
To remove an alias you no longer use, find it in the "Send mail as" list and click Delete. Gmail will ask you to confirm. Once deleted, you cannot send from that address anymore, but emails you already sent from it stay in your sent mail folder.
You can rename the display name of an alias without deleting it. Click Edit info next to the alias, change the name, and click Save changes. The next time you send from that alias, the new name will appear in the "From" field.
Common reasons aliases do not work
If your alias shows "Pending verification" and will not verify, the most common cause is a typo in the confirmation code. Check the email Gmail sent you and make sure you are copying the code exactly, including capital letters and numbers that look similar (like the number 1 and the letter I).
If you never received the confirmation email, check your spam or junk folder. Gmail's confirmation emails sometimes get filtered. If it is not there, go back to Settings, click Accounts and Import, find the unverified alias, and click Resend verification email.
If you are trying to add an alias but Gmail says the address is already in use, that address may already be connected to another Gmail account. Each email address can only be an alias on one Gmail account at a time. You would need to remove it from the other account first, or use a different address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive mail sent directly to my alias address?
Yes. When someone sends an email to your alias address, it arrives in your main Gmail inbox just like mail sent to your primary address. You do not need a separate inbox or account to receive alias mail.
What happens to emails I sent from an alias if I delete it?
Emails you already sent from the alias stay in your Sent Mail folder and keep the alias address in the "From" line. Deleting the alias only stops you from sending new messages from that address — it does not erase your sent history.
Can I use a Gmail address as an alias for another Gmail account?
Yes, but you must verify it. Gmail will send a confirmation code to the Gmail address you are adding as an alias. You can use the same Gmail address as an alias on multiple accounts, as long as you verify each one separately.
Do people know when I am using an alias instead of my main address?
Yes, they see the alias address in the "From" line of your email. If you want to keep your main address private, using an alias is one way to do that, but the person receiving the email will know which address you sent from.
Can I set up an alias without verifying it?
No. Gmail requires verification before you can send from an alias. You must receive and enter the confirmation code Gmail sends to the alias address before it becomes active.