What Gmail is and how to set one up

Gmail is a free email service run by Google. You create an account by going to google.com/gmail, entering your name and a username you choose, setting a password, and verifying your phone number or recovery email. Once you finish those steps, you have an email address (your username @gmail.com) that you can use to send and receive messages, and Google stores your emails on their servers so you can access them from any device.

The whole process takes about five minutes. You do not need a credit card, and you do not need to own an Android phone or use any other Google product — Gmail works on its own. The account is free to use forever, even if you never pay Google anything.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to google.com/gmail and fill in your name, choose a username, create a password, and verify your phone number or backup email address.
  • Your Gmail address is the username you pick, followed by @gmail.com — for example, sarah.chen.2024@gmail.com.
  • After you create your account, you sign in by going to gmail.com, entering your email address and password, and clicking the sign-in button.
  • If you forget your password, click "Forgot password?" on the sign-in screen and follow the steps to reset it using your phone number or recovery email.

Step-by-step: creating your Gmail account

Open a web browser and go to google.com/gmail. You will see a blue button that says "Create account". Click it. A form will appear asking for your first name and last name — use your real name, because this is what appears when you send emails to other people.

Next, you choose a username. This becomes the first part of your email address. If you want your address to be jane.smith@gmail.com, you type "jane.smith" in the username field. Gmail will tell you if that username is already taken — if it is, try adding a number or a middle initial. Once you find one that is available, click "Next".

Create a password that is at least eight characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (like ! or #). Write it down somewhere safe, or use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password to store it. Click "Next".

Google will ask you to verify your identity by entering a phone number or an existing email address. If you enter a phone number, Google sends a text message with a code — you type that code into the form. If you use a recovery email, Google sends a message to that address with a link you click. Either way takes less than a minute. Once verified, your account is created and you are signed in.

How to sign in to Gmail after you create it

Go to gmail.com in your web browser. You will see two fields: one for your email address and one for your password. Type your full Gmail address (the username you chose, plus @gmail.com) in the first field. Type your password in the second field. Click the blue "Next" button or press Enter on your keyboard.

If you are signing in on a device you use every day, Gmail will ask if you want to stay signed in. If you click "Yes", you will not have to type your password the next time you visit gmail.com on that device — Gmail will remember you. If you are using a shared computer or a public device, click "No" so that other people cannot access your email.

After you sign in, you land on your inbox. This is where new emails arrive. On the left side of the screen, you see folders like "Sent" (emails you sent), "Drafts" (emails you started but did not send), and "Trash" (deleted emails). At the top of the screen is a button that says "Compose" — click that to write a new email.

What to do if you forget your password

Go to gmail.com and click "Forgot password?" below the password field. Gmail asks for the last password you remember. If you cannot remember any password, leave it blank and click "Next". Gmail then asks you to enter a recovery phone number or email address — use whichever one you set up when you created your account.

If you entered a phone number, Google sends a text with a code. Type that code into the form. If you entered a recovery email, Google sends a message to that address with a link — click the link. Once you verify your identity, you can create a new password. Make it different from any password you have used before, and write it down or save it in a password manager.

If you cannot access your recovery phone number or email address, account recovery is much harder. Google has a form at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery where you can answer questions about your account (like what date you created it, or what email addresses you have used to sign in). Recovery can take several days or may not work at all, which is why storing a recovery email or phone number is important from the start.

Keeping your Gmail account find

Use a password that no one else knows and that you do not use for any other website. If a website gets hacked and your password is stolen, hackers can try that same password on your Gmail account. A unique password for Gmail means they cannot get in even if they have your password from somewhere else.

Turn on two-factor authentication (also called 2FA) to add a second layer of security. Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security" on the left, scroll down to "How you sign in to Google", and click "2-Step Verification". Google will walk you through turning it on. After you do, every time you sign in from a new device, Google sends a code to your phone — you have to type that code to finish signing in. This means that even if someone steals your password, they cannot access your account without your phone.

Check your recovery email and phone number once a year to make sure they are still correct. Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info", and look for "Email" and "Phone". If either one is outdated, update it. If your recovery information is wrong and you forget your password, you may not be able to get back into your account.

Using Gmail on your phone

You can check your Gmail on a smartphone by opening the Gmail app (available free on iPhone and Android) or by opening your phone's web browser and going to gmail.com. The app is usually easier because it shows you new emails as they arrive and lets you read them offline.

To sign in on your phone, open the Gmail app, tap "Sign in", enter your email address and password, and follow any prompts. If you turned on two-factor authentication, you will need to enter the code that Google sends to your phone. After you sign in, your emails sync automatically — when you read an email on your phone, it shows as read on your computer too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Gmail address after I create it?

No, you cannot change the username part of your Gmail address once it is created. If you want a different address, you have to create a new Gmail account. You can set up forwarding so that emails sent to your old address automatically go to your new one — go to Settings, click "Forwarding and POP/IMAP", and enter your new address.

What if my preferred username is already taken?

Gmail will tell you when a username is taken. Try adding a number, a period, or an underscore — for example, if sarah.chen is taken, try sarah.chen.2024 or sarah_chen. You can also use a middle initial or middle name. Pick something you can remember and that you do not mind typing into forms.

Is Gmail really free, or does Google charge later?

Gmail is free. Google makes money by showing you ads in Gmail and by using information about your email habits to target ads elsewhere. You never have to pay to send or receive emails, and you never have to upgrade to a paid version unless you want extra storage or business features.

Can I use Gmail without a phone number?

You can use a recovery email address instead of a phone number during account creation. If you do not have another email address, you will need to provide a phone number. Google uses this information to help you recover your account if you forget your password.

What happens if I do not use my Gmail account for a long time?

If you do not sign in to your Gmail account for more than two years, Google may delete it along with all your emails. If you want to keep your account, sign in at least once every two years. You do not have to send or receive emails — just logging in is enough.