Add a Gmail account in three steps
You can add a Gmail account to your phone, tablet, or computer in a few minutes. The steps differ slightly depending on what device you use, but the basic process is the same: open your email settings, choose to add an account, enter your Gmail address and password, and let the device connect.
Gmail works on Android phones, iPhones, Windows computers, and Mac computers. You can also use Gmail in a web browser without installing anything — just go to gmail.com and sign in. Adding it to your device means your email arrives automatically and you can read it offline.
Before you start, make sure you have your Gmail address and password. If you have two-step verification turned on (a security feature that requires a code from your phone when you sign in), you will need to create a special password just for this device. We explain that step below.
Key Takeaways
- On Android phones, open Settings, tap Accounts, select Add Account, choose Google, and enter your Gmail address and password.
- On iPhones and iPads, go to Settings, tap Mail, select Accounts, choose Add Account, pick Google, and sign in with your Gmail credentials.
- On Windows computers, open Settings, go to Accounts, select Email & Accounts, click Add Account, choose Google, and sign in.
- If you have two-step verification on your Gmail account, you must create an app password instead of using your regular password.
- After you add the account, your device will read your recent emails and new messages will arrive automatically.
Add Gmail to an Android phone
Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap Accounts (on some phones it may say Accounts and Backup or Users and Accounts). Tap Add Account, then select Google from the list.
Enter your full Gmail address (the part before @gmail.com) and tap Next. Enter your password and tap Next again. Android will ask you to review Google's terms and privacy policy — tap I Agree to continue. Your phone will now read your Gmail and set it as your default email account.
If you have two-step verification turned on, you will see an error message saying your password is incorrect. This is normal. Instead of your regular password, you need to create an app password. See the section below on how to do that.
Add Gmail to an iPhone or iPad
Open the Settings app. Tap Mail, then tap Accounts, then tap Add Account. Select Google from the list of email providers. You will be taken to a Google sign-in screen.
Enter your full Gmail address and tap Next. Enter your password and tap Next. Google will ask you to allow the Mail app to access your account — tap Allow. Your iPhone or iPad will now read your Gmail and add it to your Mail app.
If you have two-step verification on, you will need an app password instead. Follow the steps in the section below to create one, then come back and use that password instead of your regular one.
Add Gmail to a Windows computer
Open the Settings app (press the Windows key and type Settings, then press Enter). Click Accounts on the left side. Click Email & Accounts. Click Add Account.
Select Google from the list. A browser window will open and take you to Google's sign-in page. Enter your Gmail address and password, then follow the prompts to allow Windows to access your account. Once you finish, your Gmail will appear in the Mail app and the Calendar app on your computer.
If two-step verification is on, use an app password instead of your regular password when the sign-in page appears.
Add Gmail to a Mac computer
Open System Settings (click the Apple menu and select System Settings). Click Internet Accounts on the left side. Click the + button at the bottom. Select Google from the list.
A browser window will open. Enter your Gmail address and password, then allow the system to access your account. Once you finish, your Gmail will sync with the Mail app, Calendar app, and Contacts app on your Mac.
If you have two-step verification enabled, create an app password first and use that instead of your regular password.
Create an app password if you have two-step verification
Two-step verification is a security feature that requires you to enter a code from your phone when you sign in to Gmail. It protects your account, but it means you cannot use your regular password on other devices. Instead, you create a special password just for that device.
Go to myaccount.google.com in a web browser and sign in with your Gmail address and password. Click Security on the left side. Scroll down to App passwords and click it. You may need to sign in again.
Select Mail from the first dropdown and select your device type (Android, iPhone, Windows, or Mac) from the second dropdown. Click Generate. Google will show you a 16-character password. Copy this password and paste it into your device when prompted, instead of using your regular Gmail password.
What to do if your password does not work
If you enter your password and get an error message, first check that you typed it correctly. Passwords are case-sensitive, which means capital letters matter. If you are sure it is correct, you may have two-step verification turned on and need an app password instead.
If you have forgotten your Gmail password, go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and follow the steps to reset it. Google will ask you to verify your identity by entering a recovery email address or phone number you set up earlier. Once you reset your password, you can use it to sign in on your device.
If you still cannot sign in after resetting your password, your account may have been compromised. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, and look for any unfamiliar devices or activity. You can sign out of all other sessions by clicking Manage all your Google Accounts and then Security.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add multiple Gmail accounts to one device?
Yes. Repeat the steps above for each account you want to add. On Android and iPhone, you can switch between accounts in the Mail app by tapping the account name at the top. On Windows and Mac, each account will appear as a separate folder in your Mail app.
Will my emails read to my device or stay only in Gmail?
Your device will read recent emails (usually the last 30 days) and will read new emails as they arrive. The emails stay in both places — on Gmail's servers and on your device. If you delete an email on your device, it will also be deleted from Gmail.
Do I need to create a new Gmail account or can I add an existing one?
You can add any Gmail account you already own. You do not need to create a new one. If you do not have a Gmail account yet, you can create one at accounts.google.com/signup.
What is the difference between adding Gmail and just using gmail.com in a browser?
Adding Gmail to your device means emails arrive automatically and you can read them offline. Using gmail.com in a browser requires you to be online and you have to manually refresh to see new emails. Adding it to your device is more convenient if you check email often.
Why does my device keep asking for my password?
Your device may be set to forget your password after a certain amount of time for security reasons. Check your Mail app settings and look for an option like "Require Password" or "Security". You can usually change how often it asks. If it keeps asking even after you just entered it, your password may be incorrect or your account may have a security issue.