Gmail allows you to send emails, manage your inbox, and do other basic tasks. Be aware that before you can use it, you'll need to create a Gmail account if you don't already have one.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Send an email
Step 1. Open Gmail
Go to Gmail in your computer's web browser. If you are logged in, it will open your inbox.
If you are not logged in, enter your email address and password at the command prompt
Step 2. Be sure to use the most current version of Gmail
Proceed as follows:
- click on the settings icon
;
- select Try the new Gmail at the top of the drop-down menu;
- If you see Return to the classic version of Gmail in the drop-down menu, it means you are already using the new version of Gmail.
Step 3. Click ＋ New Message
This button is located at the top left of the page. It opens a window New message at the bottom right of the page.
Step 4. Enter the recipient's email address
In the text field TO, type the email address of the person you want to contact.
- To add another person to the text field TO, press the Tab ↹ key after typing the first person's email address.
- If you want to send a copy (CC) or blind copy (Bcc) to someone, click CC (Where Bcc) to the right of the text field TO then enter the person's email address in the field CC (Where Bcc) which appears.
Step 5. Add an object
Click on the text field Object then type what you want to use as the subject line of the email.
In general, it's best to stick with a few words for the subject
Step 6. Enter the body of your message
In the large text field below the field Object, type the message you want to send to the recipient (s).
Step 7. Change the formatting or add attachments
Although optional, you can easily change the look of your message, add an attachment, or upload an image.
- To change the formatting: select the text you want to change by dragging the mouse over it and then click on one of the formatting options at the bottom of the email.
- To send files: click on the paperclip icon
at the bottom of the email then select the files to add.
- To send images: click on the images icon
at the bottom of the email then select the images you want to send.
Step 8. Click Submit
This option is at the bottom of the window New message. Click on it to send your email to the specified recipient.
Part 2 of 5: Manage Emails
Step 1. Open an email
Click the subject of an email to open it in the inbox.
To close an open email, click the left-facing arrow at the top left of the email
Step 2. Search your emails
You can scroll through your inbox to view emails, but you can also click on the search bar at the top of the page and type what you're looking for (such as a subject or sender).
Step 3. Select emails if necessary
If you want to select a group of emails, click on the box next to each relevant email.
- This trick can be useful to move or delete multiple emails at the same time.
- To select an entire page of emails, click the box at the top left of the row of emails.
Step 4. Mark emails as read
Select the emails you want to mark as read, then click the open envelope icon at the top of the inbox.
Opening an email also allows you to mark it as read
Step 5. Archive the emails
Archiving an email allows you to save it without having to keep it in your inbox. Select the email (s) you want to archive then click on the down arrow icon at the top of the page.
- To view archived emails, click on the folder All Posts on the left of the page. You may need to scroll down the menu (or click More to find this option.
Step 6. Delete the emails
To delete emails from your inbox, select them and click on the trash can icon
at the top of the window.
- Deleting emails from your inbox doesn't delete them right away. They are moved to the folder Basket where they remain for 30 days before being automatically deleted.
Step 7. Report emails as spam
Sometimes unwanted emails can find their way to the inbox. To get rid of them, you can mark them as spam by selecting them and then clicking on the icon !
at the top of the inbox. The selected emails will be moved to the folder Spam and all similar emails will go directly to this folder in the future.
You may need to report emails from the same sender as spam multiple times before they stop appearing in your inbox
Step 8. Add a draft
If you are starting to compose an email, but don't have time to finish it, you can save it as a draft while waiting for the word "Recording" to appear at the bottom right of the window. New message then closing the email. You can open it by going to the folder Drafts on the left of the page.
- Like with All Posts, you may need to scroll down the menu or click More to find the folder Drafts.
Part 3 of 5: Create and use labels
Step 1. Know what the labels are for
Labels are Gmail specific folders. When you assign a label to an email, the email in question is added to the label folder in the menu on the left.
Step 2. Open Gmail settings
Click on the star wheel icon
at the top right of the page, then select Settings from the drop-down menu that appears.
Step 3. Go to the Labels tab
You'll find it at the top of the window.
Step 4. Scroll down to the Labels section
This section is at the bottom of the page and contains a list of your custom labels.
If you haven't created any labels yet, this section will be empty
Step 5. Click New Label
The option New wording is at the top of the section Labels. Click on it to open a pop-up window.
Step 6. Enter a label name
In the text field that appears at the top of the pop-up window, type the name you want to give your label.
- If you want to add a label to an existing label (which is similar to placing a new folder inside an existing folder), you must also check the box Nest label under then select a label from the drop-down menu.
Step 7. Click Create
This option is at the bottom of the window.
Step 8. Remove existing labels if necessary
If there are existing labels that you want to remove, do the following:
- scroll the page to the label you want to remove in the section Labels;
- click on To delete to the right of the label;
- choose To delete when prompted.
Step 9. Add emails to a label
Select the emails you want to add to a label then click on the icon
before choosing a label from the drop-down menu that appears.
- You can also create a new label in the drop-down menu by clicking on To create then by entering the name of the label.
Step 10. Display the content of your label
Once you have created a label and added emails, you can view its content by clicking on its name to the left of the inbox.
- To display all your labels, you will need to click More then scroll down the menu to the left of the inbox.
- If you want to remove emails from an inbox label without deleting them, you can archive them.
Part 4 of 5: manage contacts
Step 1. Click on the applications icon
You'll find it at the top right of the Gmail inbox. Click on it to display a drop-down menu with lots of icons.
Step 2. Select More
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu and opens a second page of icons.
Step 3. Choose Contacts
It is the blue and white icon with a silhouette in the shape of a person. Click on it to open your Gmail contacts page.
Step 4. Review your contacts
Depending on whether you've used Gmail before or not, you may see a few contacts listed.
Contacts can be displayed with just their name or as a full profile with their names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses
Step 5. Click on the add icon
It's located at the bottom right and opens a pop-up window.
Step 6. Enter the first and last name of the contact
In text fields First name and name at the top of the pop-up window, enter the contact's first and last name respectively.
Step 7. Type the contact's email address
Enter the contact's email address in the field E-mail.
You can add additional information, such as the contact's phone number or a photo, but it's not required
Step 8. Click Save
This option is located at the bottom right of the window. Click on it to save your contact and add it to your account contact list.
Step 9. Delete a contact
To delete a contact, do the following:
- hover over the name of a contact then click on the box that appears to the left of their name;
- click on ⋮ at the top right of the page;
- select To delete in the drop-down menu;
- choose TO DELETE when prompted.
Part 5 of 5: Use Gmail on Mobile
Step 1. Install the Gmail app if necessary
If you don't have the Gmail app installed on your phone or tablet open the App Store
(for iPhone) or the Google play store
(for Android), search for Gmail, then download the app.
- Gmail can be downloaded and used for free, so don't agree to pay for an app touted as Gmail.
- Gmail is almost always installed by default on Android phones and tablets.
Step 2. Open Gmail
Tap the Gmail app icon that looks like a red "M" on a white background. If you are already logged in, this will open your Gmail inbox.
If you are not yet logged in, enter your email address and password when prompted. It's also possible that you just need to select your Gmail account
Step 3. Send an email
Although some mobile account management options are limited, it is still possible to use Gmail for its primary function of sending emails. Tap the new message icon
, complete the form that appears and then press the submit icon
Step 4. Open an email
Tap an email to open it.
Step 5. Select multiple emails if necessary
If you want to select multiple emails to archive or delete them all at once, long press on an email until a check mark appears on the left and then tap on all other messages you want to archive or delete.
- Once the first email is checked, you won't need to long-press subsequent emails.
- To cancel your selection, tap the back icon
at the top left of the screen.
Step 6. Find your emails
If you want to search for a keyword, sender or subject, tap the search icon
at the top right of the screen then type your request.
Step 7. Add emails to labels
Like on a desktop computer, you can add emails to labels on your mobile platform.
Unlike Gmail on a desktop, you can't create labels if you're using an Android phone or tablet
Step 8. Manage your emails
There are different ways to manage Gmail inbox on mobile.
- Archive emails: select the emails to archive then press the down arrow at the top of the screen.
- Delete emails: select the emails to archive then press the trash can icon
at the top of the screen.
- Mark messages as read: select the emails you have not yet opened and then tap the open envelope icon at the top of the screen.
- Mark as spam: select a spam, tap ⋯ (on iPhone) or ⋮ (on Android), select Report as spam in the drop-down menu and then press Report as spam and unsubscribe if available (if not, just press Report as spam).
Step 9. Allow Gmail notifications for your phone
If you want to receive notifications from the Gmail app every time you receive an email, follow the steps below.
- On iPhone: go to your iPhone settings
, Press on Notifications, scroll down to the option Gmail then slide the white switch Allow notifications (if the switch is green, notifications are already on).
- On Android: open your Android settings
, Press on Applications, scroll down to the option Gmail, press the heading Notifications then slide the white switch to on mode (if the switch is blue, notifications are enabled).
Advice
- The website version of Gmail has an instant messaging tool that you can use to chat with your Gmail contacts if you want.
- You can use your Gmail account to connect to various Google services on the web. Some websites will also allow you to log in with your Gmail account by selecting the option Sign in with google (or something like that) when you create an account.
- When using the web or iPhone version of Gmail, you can cancel sending an email within 5 seconds of sending.
