How to Check Your Email Using Google Mail

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Check Gmail on your phone or computer

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: December 7, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using the Gmail Mobile App

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Using the Gmail Website

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Using the iPhone's Mail App

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Using Microsoft Outlook

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Q&A

Do you have a Gmail account and want to know how you can check it? This wikiHow article teaches you how to check your Google email (called "Gmail") on the Gmail website, the Gmail Mobile app, the iPhone's Mail app, or Microsoft Outlook.

Things You Should Know

To check your Gmail on a computer, log into Gmail on your web browser and click a message to read it.
If you want to check your email on your phone, download and log into the Gmail app on your phone.
You can also add your Gmail account to Apple Mail and Outlook so you can check your email with those clients.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using the Gmail Mobile App

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1
Open the Gmail mobile app and add your Gmail account (if it isn't already there). If you don't have the Gmail mobile app, you can download it for free from the App Store (for iPhones and iPads) or the Google Play Store (for Android).
- By default, Gmail will launch a tutorial the first time you open the app. Swipe to continue reading the walkthrough and tap Done to close it.
- If your Android is already logged into a Google account, your Gmail account will automatically show up when you open the app.
- Tap Add an email address when you're ready, then follow these instructions to add your account:
- Tap Google to add a Gmail account.
- Enter your Gmail address and press Next. If you don't have a Gmail account, you can create one by tapping More options and then Create account on iPhone, or by tapping Or create a new account on Android.
- Enter your Gmail password and press Next.
- You might be prompted to set up 2-Step Verification to keep your account safe. Make a selection, then read how it works. Finally, tap Yes, I'm in if you want to use that verification method.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to finish setting up your Gmail account.
It's in the upper-left corner.

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This takes you to your Gmail inbox where you can see your most recent emails.
4
Tap a message in the inbox to open and read it.
- Tap the arrow in the lower-right corner to respond.
- Tap the trashcan icon at the top of the screen to delete a message.
- To see earlier emails in an email thread, click See More or the three dots to see the earlier emails.
- Tap X in the upper-left corner to exit a message and return to the inbox.^{[1]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using the Gmail Website

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1
Go to https://www.gmail.com and sign into your Google account. In a web browser, type https://www.gmail.com in the address bar and press ↵ Enter.
- You can also get to the same site by going to https://mail.google.com.
- Enter the email or phone number for your Google account and the password, then click Next.
- If you don't have a Gmail account, you can create one by clicking More Options and then Create Account.
2
Click a message to open and read it. The message will expand in the window.
- Click the Reply button at the top or bottom of the message to respond.
- Click the trashcan icon at the top of the message to delete it.
- To see earlier emails in an email thread, click See More or the three dots.
- Click Inbox in the upper-left corner to exit the message and return to the inbox.
- Explore Gmail's other features to get familiar with the interface. You can also search by date to find older Gmail emails.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using the iPhone's Mail App

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1
Add your Gmail account. To do this, open Settings and navigate to Apps > Mail. "Settings" is a gray app that features gears and is typically located on your home screen.
- Scroll down to find "Apps" at the bottom of the menu; "Mail" is next to an icon of an envelope on a light blue background.
- Tap Mail Accounts > Add Account > Google.
- Enter your Gmail address in the labeled field. If you don't have a Gmail account, you'll need to create one.
- Tap Next to continue.
- Enter your password.
  - Tap Next to continue and Allow if you're prompted for iOS to have permission to use your Google account.
- If you've enabled two-step verification for Gmail, enter the verification code you received via text or in Authenticator.
- Slide "Mail" to the "On" position
  . Select other Gmail data you want to sync with your iPhone by sliding the data you want to see on your iPhone to the "On" position
  .
- Tap Save to continue. Now you can send and receive Gmail messages using the native iPhone Mail app.^{[2]
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2
Open the Mail app. It's a blue and white app with a sealed envelope icon and should open to your inbox.
- If it doesn't open to the inbox, tap Mailboxes in the upper-left corner and tap Gmail.
3
Tap a message in the inbox to open and read it.
- Tap the arrow button at the bottom of the message to open a menu of options, including reply, forward, etc. Scroll down in that same menu to find the trashcan option to delete the email.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Microsoft Outlook

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1
Click Add account. If you don't immediately see this option, click ☰ to expand the navigation pane on the left side of the Outlook screen.
- If you try to click the "Add Account" icon on Outlook's web version, you will be prompted to download and use the app to continue.
You might need to click Create an Outlook.com email account if this option isn't available.
3
Click Continue. It's a blue button at the bottom of the window.
- Click Continue again to sync your Gmail account. This simply means that your contacts, emails, and events are available for you to see in Microsoft's Cloud, or Outlook.
4
Sign in with Google. Your browser will pop open so you can use it to sign in with Google to link your Gmail with Outlook.
- Click your account and click Continue/Allow to proceed.
- Click Open to go back to the Outlook desktop app and close the browser window.
- Now you can open the Outlook app on your computer or use the mobile app to see your Gmail messages!^{[3]
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Community Q&A

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Question

How can I open my Gmail without my account being on someone else's phone?

Community Answer

When you log in, you should be prompted to "remember this account". It is usually already ticked, so untick the box.

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How can I recover emails that were lost during an update?

Community Answer

You could check your archive or recycle bin. They may have just moved there during the update.

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Question

How can I retrieve a deleted email?

Community Answer

When in Gmail, click Trash on the folders pane on the left side of the screen (you may need to click "More" if it's not displayed). If the message is more than 30 days old, however, it will have automatically been deleted, and you'll have to ask the originator to re-send.

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