The fastest way to read your messages
To check your email, open the app or website where your account lives — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, or whatever service you signed up with. On a phone or tablet, tap the app icon. On a computer, go to the website in your browser. Sign in with your email address and password if you are not already logged in. Your inbox appears when ready, showing the newest messages at the top.
The inbox is the default folder where incoming mail lands. Messages stay there until you delete them, move them to another folder, or mark them as read. A small dot or number next to "Inbox" tells you how many unread messages you have — messages you have not opened yet.
If you have not set up an email account yet, you will need to create one first through Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another provider. That takes about five minutes and requires only a password you choose and a recovery phone number or backup email address. Once the account exists, you can check it from any device using the same email address and password.
Key Takeaways
- Your inbox shows all incoming messages with the newest at the top, and a number tells you how many are unread.
- You can check email from a phone app, a tablet app, or a web browser on any computer — the messages are the same across all of them.
- Unread messages have a small dot or highlight so you can see at a glance which ones you have not opened yet.
- Marking a message as read removes the dot but keeps the message in your inbox unless you delete it or move it to a folder.
- If you receive a message that looks suspicious — asking for passwords, money, or personal information — do not click links or reply; move it to spam instead.
Checking email on your phone or tablet
read the official app for your email provider from the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android phones and tablets). Search for "Gmail", "Outlook", or "Yahoo Mail" by name. Open the app after it installs, tap "Sign in", and enter your full email address and password. The app will remember you, so you only have to sign in once.
After you sign in, your inbox opens automatically. Tap any message to read it in full. A small arrow or back button at the top left takes you back to the inbox list. To mark a message as read without opening it, swipe left or right on the message (the exact direction depends on your phone), and look for a "Mark as read" option. On some apps, you can also tap and hold a message to see more options like delete, move, or mark as spam.
If you use multiple email accounts, most apps let you add more than one. Look for a menu icon (three horizontal lines) or your account name at the top, then choose "Add account". You can then switch between accounts by tapping the account name or icon.
Checking email on a computer
Open any web browser — Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox — and go to the website for your email provider. Type gmail.com, outlook.com, or mail.yahoo.com into the address bar. Click "Sign in" and enter your email address and password. Your inbox loads in the main area of the page.
Messages appear in a list on the left or center of the screen. Click any message to read it on the right side. Unread messages usually appear in bold or with a small dot. To mark a message as read, click it once; most providers mark it as read automatically when you open it. To delete a message, click the trash or delete icon (usually a trash can symbol) at the top of the message or next to the message in the list.
If you want to stay signed in so you do not have to enter your password every time, look for a "Keep me signed in" or "Remember this device" checkbox on the sign-in page. On a shared computer, do not check this box — always sign out when you are done by clicking your account name or profile picture and choosing "Sign out".
Understanding what you see in your inbox
Each message in your inbox shows the sender's name or email address, the subject line, and a preview of the first few words. Unread messages have a small dot, a different color background, or bold text so you can spot them quickly. Once you open a message, that marker disappears.
Messages are sorted by date, with the newest at the top. If you want to find an older message, use the search box — usually at the top of the inbox — and type a word from the subject line or the sender's name. The search returns all messages matching what you typed.
Some messages may have a small attachment icon (a paperclip) next to them, meaning the sender included a file. Click the message to open it, then look for the attachment below the message text. You can read it to your computer or phone by clicking it.
Moving messages and using folders
Your email account comes with built-in folders: Inbox for new mail, Sent for messages you have written, Drafts for messages you started but did not send, and Trash for deleted messages. Most providers also include a Spam or Junk folder where suspicious messages automatically land.
To move a message to a different folder, click or tap it, then look for a folder icon or "Move" option. A menu appears showing available folders. Click the folder you want. The message disappears from your inbox and appears in that folder instead. You can create your own folders too — look for a "Create folder" or "New label" option in the folder list, give it a name like "Bills" or "Work", and then move messages into it.
If a message is spam or a scam, move it to the Spam folder instead of just deleting it. This teaches your email provider to filter similar messages in the future. Most providers have a "Report spam" or "Report phishing" option that you can click to help protect other users.
Spotting messages that might be scams
Scam emails often ask you to click a link, reply with personal information, or read an attachment. They may claim you have won something, that your account is locked, that a payment failed, or that you need to verify your identity. Real companies rarely ask for passwords or credit card numbers by email.
Before you click any link in an email, hover your mouse over it (on a computer) to see where it actually goes. If the link says it goes to your bank but the address shown is something else, it is a scam. On a phone, tap and hold the link to see the real address. If something feels wrong — the sender's email address looks odd, the message has spelling mistakes, or it is asking for something unusual — move it to spam without clicking anything.
If you accidentally clicked a suspicious link or downloaded a file, do not panic. Change your email password right away by going to your account settings. If the email claimed to be from your bank, call your bank directly using the number on your card or statement, not a number in the email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see the same message on my phone and computer?
Your email is stored on the provider's servers, not on your device. When you check email from your phone, computer, or tablet, you are all looking at the same account. Changes you make on one device — like reading a message or moving it to a folder — show up on all your other devices within seconds.
What does it mean when an email says "undeliverable" or "bounced back"?
The message you tried to send could not reach the recipient. This usually means the email address was wrong, the recipient's mailbox is full, or their email server rejected it. Check the address for typos and try again, or contact the person through another method to confirm their correct email address.
Can I recover a message I deleted by accident?
Yes, if you deleted it recently. Check your Trash or Deleted Items folder — most providers keep deleted messages there for 30 days before permanently removing them. Click the message, then look for a "Restore" or "Move to Inbox" button. After 30 days, the message is usually gone for good.
How do I stop getting so many unwanted emails?
Move unwanted emails to spam or junk instead of deleting them. This trains your provider to filter similar messages. You can also unsubscribe from marketing emails by looking for an "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the message — click it to remove yourself from that sender's list. Never reply to spam or click "unsubscribe" on messages you think are scams.
What should I do if someone hacked my email account?
Change your password when ready by going to your account settings. If you cannot sign in, use the "Forgot password" option on the sign-in page to reset it. Check your recovery email address and phone number in account settings to make sure they are still yours. If you see messages in your Sent folder that you did not write, your account was accessed — change your password and enable two-factor authentication for extra security.