How to Set Up a Gmail Account: Step-by-Step Guide

A Gmail address is one of the handiest things to have online. It’s free, it works on any phone, tablet or computer, and the same address signs you in to YouTube, Google Photos, Google Maps and the Play Store. If a grandchild has ever said “just email it to me”, or a form has asked for your email, this is the account that answers that. It’s also the address you’ll use to join things like Facebook.

Setting one up takes about ten minutes. You answer a handful of simple questions, one screen at a time, and Google sends a code to your mobile to check it’s really you. There’s nothing to break, so take it slowly. Here is exactly what each screen is asking for.

What to have ready before you start

A couple of minutes of preparation makes the rest go smoothly. You do not need much.

• Your mobile phone nearby, as Google sends a verification code to it by text.
• A few ideas for a username, since popular ones are often taken.
• A password you can remember, or a pen to write down the one you choose.

Setting up your Gmail account, step by step

1. Open the sign-up page

Open your web browser, the program you use to look things up online, such as Chrome, Safari or Edge. In the address bar at the top, type accounts.google.com and press Enter. On the page that opens, click or tap Create account. Google may ask who the account is for. Choose For my personal use.

2. Enter your name

Type your first name and last name in the two boxes, then tap Next. This is the name that appears when you send an email, so most people use their real one. You can change it later if you like.

3. Add your date of birth

Google asks for your birthday and gender on the next screen. Your date of birth confirms you are old enough to have an account and helps Google recover it for you if you ever get locked out. Fill these in and tap Next.

4. Choose your Gmail address

This is the part people fuss over most, and it needn’t be hard. Your Gmail address is the name that goes before @gmail.com. Google offers a few suggestions based on your name, or you can make your own. Something like janesmith or jane.smith.au works well. If the one you want is taken, Google tells you straight away and you simply try another. Keep it simple enough to read out over the phone. Once you are happy, tap Next.

5. Create a password

Pick a password of at least eight characters. A good trick is to join three unrelated words with a number, such as RiverTeapotHat7. That is easy for you to remember and hard for anyone else to guess. Type it twice to confirm, then tap Next. If you would rather not keep passwords in your head at all, a password manager can remember them for you.

6. Verify your mobile number

Google asks for your mobile number so it can check a real person is signing up. Enter your Australian mobile, tap Next, and within a few seconds a text arrives with a six-digit code. Type that code into the box on screen. This is a normal, safe part of setting up the account. It also gives you a way back in if you ever forget your password.

7. Add a recovery email (optional)

You may be offered the chance to add another email address as a backup. If you have one, add it. If this is your first email account, you can skip this and tap Next. Your mobile number already covers you if you get locked out.

8. Agree to the terms and finish

The last screen shows Google’s privacy terms. Scroll to the bottom and tap I agree. That’s it. Your new Gmail account is ready, and you’ll see your empty inbox. Send yourself a quick test message or ask a family member to email you, just to see it arrive.

A word about that text code

The six-digit code Google texts you is only ever typed into the sign-up screen in front of you. Google will never phone you to ask for it, and neither will your bank. If anyone ever rings and asks you to read out a code that has just arrived by text, hang up. That is a common trick, and it is worth knowing the pattern. Our guide to spotting text message scams explains more.