What you need before you start

Creating a Gmail account takes about ten minutes and requires only three things: a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge), a phone number or existing email address, and a password you haven't used anywhere else. You do not need to read anything or pay money. Gmail is free.

The phone number or existing email serves one purpose: Google uses it to verify you are a real person and to help you recover your account if you forget your password later. If you have neither, you can still create an account, but the process takes longer because Google will ask you additional questions about your account history.

Pick a password that is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (like ! or @). Do not use your name, your birthday, or words from a dictionary. Write it down somewhere safe — not in a text file on your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to accounts.google.com/signup and fill in your first name, last name, desired Gmail address, and a strong password.
  • Google will send a verification code to your phone number or backup email, which you must enter to confirm the account is yours.
  • After verification, you can when ready start using Gmail to send and receive email from any web browser or phone app.
  • Save your Gmail address and password in a safe place, because you will need them to sign into Gmail and to recover your account if you forget your password.

Step 1: Go to the Gmail signup page

Open any web browser and go to accounts.google.com/signup. You will see a form with fields for your first name, last name, username (your Gmail address), password, and password confirmation. Do not go to gmail.com directly — that page assumes you already have an account.

The username field is where you choose your Gmail address. Type the name you want before the @ symbol. For example, if you type "sarah.martinez", your full Gmail address will be "sarah.martinez@gmail.com". Gmail will tell you when ready if that name is already taken. If it is, try adding a number or a middle initial.

Step 2: Fill in your personal information

Type your first and last name exactly as you want them to appear when you send email. This is not your username — it is the name that shows up in the "From" line when someone receives your message. You can change it later if you make a mistake.

In the password field, type a password that no one else knows and that you have not used on any other website. Google will show you a strength meter as you type — aim for "Strong" (shown in green). A strong password is hard to guess because it mixes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

In the "Confirm password" field, type the same password again. If the two do not match exactly, Google will not let you continue.

Step 3: Verify your phone number or email

After you click "Next", Google will ask you to enter a phone number or an existing email address. This is how Google confirms that you are a real person and not a computer program creating fake accounts. Type a phone number where you can receive text messages, or type an email address you already use and can access right now.

Google will send a six-digit code to your phone or email. Open the text message or check your email inbox, find the code, and type it into the field on the Google page. If you do not see the code within a few minutes, click "Resend" to request a new one.

If you chose a phone number and do not receive a text, try clicking the option to receive the code as a voice call instead. If you chose an email and do not see the code, check your spam or junk folder — sometimes verification emails end up there by mistake.

Step 4: Add recovery information (optional but recommended)

Google will ask if you want to add a recovery phone number or email address. This is separate from the phone or email you just used to verify your account. A recovery method is a second way to get back into your account if you forget your password or lose access to your main phone number.

You can skip this step and add recovery information later, but doing it now takes 30 seconds and saves you trouble later. If you have a second phone number or a different email address, add it now. If you only have one phone number and one email, you can skip this and come back to it when you have a second option.

Step 5: Review the terms and finish

Google will show you its terms of service and privacy policy. You do not need to read all of it — the key point is that Google stores your email and uses information about what you email to show you targeted advertisements. If you do not want Google to see your email content, Gmail is not the right choice for you.

Click "I agree" to accept the terms. Your account is now created. Google will take you to your inbox, which will be empty. You are ready to send and receive email.

How to sign back in and use your account

The next time you want to use Gmail, go to gmail.com or accounts.google.com and click "Sign in". Type your full Gmail address (the one ending in @gmail.com) and your password. If you are on a personal computer you trust, you can check the box that says "Stay signed in" so you do not have to type your password every time.

On a shared computer or a public computer (like at a library), do not check "Stay signed in". Always click "Sign out" when you are done so the next person cannot access your email.

If you forget your password, click "Forgot password?" on the sign-in page. Google will send a code to your phone number or recovery email, and you can use that code to create a new password. This is why saving your recovery information matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Gmail address after I create the account?

No. Your Gmail address is permanent and cannot be changed. You can create a new Gmail account with a different address if you want, but you cannot rename an existing one. Choose carefully before you click "Create account".

What if someone already took the Gmail address I want?

Try adding a number, a dot, or your middle initial to the name. For example, if "john.smith" is taken, try "john.smith1" or "john.m.smith". Gmail treats dots as invisible, so "john.smith" and "john.s.mith" are the same address — but "john.smith1" is different.

Do I have to use my real name for my Gmail address?

No. Your Gmail address can be anything you want — it does not have to match your real name. However, the name you enter in the "First name" and "Last name" fields is what appears when you send email, so people will see that. You can use a nickname or a business name if you prefer.

Is Gmail safe? Will Google read my emails?

Gmail is find in the sense that hackers cannot easily break in. However, Google's computers read your emails to show you targeted ads based on what you write about. If you want email that Google does not read, you need a different email service. Gmail is free because advertising is how Google makes money.

Can I use Gmail on my phone?

Yes. read the Gmail app from the Apple App Store (for iPhone) or Google Play Store (for Android), open it, and sign in with your Gmail address and password. The app works the same way as the website version. You can also access Gmail through your phone's built-in email app by going to Settings and adding your Gmail account there.