Lesson 12
Set Up Your Email
Email lets you send and receive letters, photos, and important documents. Setting it up once means it's always ready when you need it.
First, tell us which phone you have
Not sure which you have?
If your phone has an apple on the back, it’s an iPhone. If it has anything else, it’s almost certainly an Android.
Step 1 of 8
Understand what email is
Email is like sending a letter, but it arrives in seconds. Each person has an email address, which always has an @ sign in the middle, like name@gmail.com.
Your email address is also your key to many apps and services, so it's well worth having.
Step 2 of 8
Open your email app
On your iPhone: On iPhone, open the Mail app (a blue envelope), or the Gmail app if you use Gmail.
On your Android: On Android, open the Gmail app. Its icon is a colorful letter M.
Gmail is Google's free email and comes ready on most Android phones.
Step 3 of 8
Sign in or create an account
If you already have an email address, type it and your password to sign in. If not, tap the option to create one and follow the steps.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, you can add a Gmail account under Settings: tap Mail, tap Add Account, then Google.
On your Android: On Android, if you set up your Google Account earlier, your Gmail is already ready to go.
Write your email address and password on paper and keep it safe. You'll use it often.
Step 4 of 8
Read a message
Your new emails appear in a list called the Inbox. Tap any one to open and read it.
Messages shown in bold are ones you haven't read yet. Opening a message can't harm your phone.
Step 5 of 8
Write and send an email
Tap the button to write a new message, often a pencil or a plus sign. Type the person's email address in the 'To' box, a few words in 'Subject,' your note in the big space, then tap Send.
To be sure it sent, check your Sent folder. Your message will be listed there.
Step 6 of 8
Attach a photo or file
To include a photo or document, tap the paperclip icon while writing your email, then choose the file you want to add.
Attachments are how you share pictures and paperwork by email.
Step 7 of 8
Deal with junk mail
Junk email (spam) is unwanted advertising. You can send it away.
On your iPhone: On iPhone's Mail, swipe the message left, tap More, then move it to Junk or block the sender.
On your Android: On Android's Gmail, open the message, tap the three dots, and tap 'Report spam,' or block the sender.
Never tap links or 'unsubscribe' inside a suspicious email. Just report it as spam. The Scams lesson explains why.
Step 8 of 8
Reset a forgotten password
If you forget your email password, you can set a new one.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, at the sign-in screen tap 'Forgot password' and follow the steps, then choose a new password.
On your Android: On Android, at the sign-in screen tap 'Forgot password' and follow the steps to prove it's you, then choose a new password.
Pick a password you haven't used before, and write the new one down right away.