The basic Gmail login process

Go to gmail.com in your web browser. You will see a sign-in page with two boxes: one for your email address and one for your password. Type your full Gmail address (the part before @gmail.com, or your custom domain if you use Google Workspace) into the first box, then click or tap Next. On the next screen, type your password and click Next again. If your account has two-factor authentication turned on — a security feature that requires a second verification step — you will be asked to confirm your identity using your phone or a security key before you can enter Gmail.

If you are on a personal device you trust, Gmail will remember you after you log in, so you will not have to enter your password every time. On a shared or public computer, always click Sign out when you are done, or use your browser's private or incognito mode so Gmail does not stay logged in after you close the window.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail login happens at gmail.com, where you enter your email address and password in two separate screens.
  • If two-factor authentication is on, you will need to verify your identity a second way, usually through your phone.
  • On your own device, Gmail stays logged in unless you sign out, but on a shared computer you should always sign out when finished.
  • If you cannot remember your password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login page to reset it using your recovery email or phone number.
  • If you have multiple Gmail accounts, you can switch between them without logging out by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner.

What to do if you forgot your password

On the Gmail login page, click Forgot password? below the password box. Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember, or skip that step if you cannot recall it. Then you will be asked to verify your identity — usually by entering a code sent to your recovery email address or phone number. If you set those up when you created your account, this process takes a few minutes. If you did not set up a recovery email or phone, Google will ask you security questions you answered when you created the account.

After you verify your identity, you can create a new password. Make it something you have not used before and something you can remember or store securely. If you are locked out and cannot verify your identity any of these ways, you may not be able to regain access to that account, so it is worth setting up a recovery email and phone number now if you have not already.

Using Gmail on your phone or tablet

You can log in to Gmail through the Gmail app (available free on iPhone and Android) or through your phone's web browser at gmail.com. The app is usually easier because it stays logged in and shows notifications when new mail arrives. To log in through the app, open it and tap Sign in, then enter your email address and password the same way you would on a computer.

On some phones, you can also add your Gmail account through your device's settings, which lets you use Gmail without opening the app — your email will appear in your phone's built-in mail app instead. The steps vary by phone type, but usually you go to Settings, find Accounts or Mail, and choose Add account, then select Google and follow the prompts.

Switching between multiple Gmail accounts

If you have more than one Gmail account, you can log in to all of them at once and switch between them without logging out. After you log in to your first account, click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Add another account. Enter the email address and password for your second account. Both accounts will now be open, and you can switch between them by clicking your profile picture again and selecting which account you want to use.

This works on your computer, phone, and tablet. If you want to remove an account from this list without fully logging out, click your profile picture, select the account you want to remove, and choose Remove this account. You will still be logged in to your other accounts.

Staying find when you log in

Never enter your Gmail password on a website that is not gmail.com or accounts.google.com — scammers create fake login pages that look real but steal your password. If you are unsure whether a page is real, close it and go directly to gmail.com by typing it into your browser yourself rather than clicking a link in an email.

Turn on two-factor authentication to protect your account even if someone learns your password. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security on the left, scroll down to How you sign in to Google, and turn on 2-Step Verification. Google will ask you to choose a phone number or security key as your second verification method. After that, anyone trying to log in to your account will need both your password and access to that phone or key.

What to do if you cannot log in

If you are entering the correct password but still cannot get in, first check that your Caps Lock is not on — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital and lowercase letters are different. Clear your browser's cache and cookies (instructions vary by browser, but usually this is in Settings or Preferences under Privacy), then try again. If you are still stuck, try logging in using a different browser or in private/incognito mode.

If none of that works, use the password recovery process described above. If you have already tried that and cannot verify your identity, you may need to create a new Gmail account. Google does not have a phone support line for account access, but you can find more detailed troubleshooting steps at support.google.com by searching for "can't sign in to Gmail".

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I log in to Gmail without a password?

Yes, if you have set up a security key or passkey on your account. These are physical devices or digital credentials that replace your password. You can also use your phone to verify your identity instead of typing a password, depending on your account settings. Check myaccount.google.com under Security to see what options are available for your account.

Why does Gmail ask me to verify my identity even though I entered the right password?

This usually means Google detected something unusual about the login attempt — a new device, a different location, or an unusual time of day. This is a security feature. Verify your identity using the code sent to your recovery email or phone, and the login will go through. If you do this regularly from the same device, Google will eventually stop asking.

What is the difference between my Gmail address and my Google account?

Your Gmail address is your email address (like yourname@gmail.com). Your Google account is the account that controls Gmail plus other Google services like Drive, Photos, and YouTube. You log in to your Google account using your Gmail address and password, and that one login gives you access to all of those services at once.

Can I log in to someone else's Gmail account?

No, and you should not try. Logging in to someone else's account without permission is illegal. If you need to share email with someone, ask them to forward specific messages to you, or set up a shared email account that you both have the password for from the start.