Gmail is the free mail service of the versatile internet company Google. Sending and receiving emails is convenient and fast via this service.
Google account required
To work with Gmail, you need a Google account. We explain how to create this in the article ‘Create a Google account’. Gmail can be used in different ways. This article is about using Gmail through the Internet browser. Apps are available for tablets and phones. In addition, Gmail can also be used in e-mail programs, such as Microsoft Office Outlook. This article does not discuss these last two possibilities.
login
- Open the internet browser and go to the website www.gmail.com
- Enter your email address when prompted and click Next one. Those who use Gmail more often and have not logged out manually usually do not need to log in or only have to enter a password.
- Enter the password and click Next one.
- Usually the mailbox of the e-mail address opens immediately. Isn’t that the case? Then an overview page will probably open with access to all kinds of Google services. From here, Gmail is easy to access.
- Click on the icon with the nine squares at the top right.
- Click on Gmail in the overview:
Gmail layout
Gmail’s mail environment is clearly laid out. The mail folders are on the left. New and previously received messages are in the Inbox by default. This one is called Inbox at Gmail. In the middle are the emails from the chosen folder, or the contents of an open message.
read mail
- click on inbox to see a list of all messages.
- Click on the sender’s name or on the subject of an email to view the content.
- Click on the left in the image inbox to return to the overview. To answer or forward the e-mail, stay in the open message for a while.
To answer an e-mail
An open message is easy to reply to.
- Click the button below the text of the email To answer. Also at the top right of the mail is a button to send a reply: the twisted arrow to the left
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- A window will appear. Type the answer here.
- click on Send to send the reply to the message.
The reply email will be placed in the ‘Sent’ folder. This is in the left part of the screen, in the row where the Inbox is also located.
To forward an email
It is also possible to forward a message to someone else.
- Open the desired email.
- Click below the message Forward.
- Enter the email address of the desired person. If the person is already in the Gmail address book, then the email addresses that you may mean are automatically shown. Click on the correct email address or type it in manually.
- click on Send.
The message is sent to the recipient. This forwarded message will also be placed in the ‘Sent’ folder.
Compose email
You can of course also send a new message to one or more people. It goes like this:
- Click on the button in the left part draw up.
- An empty message appears:
- After ‘To’, enter the recipient’s email address. Gmail suggests email addresses you’ve encountered before or people listed in the address book. Click on the correct email address or type the address.
- After ‘Subject’, type a clear subject.
- Click in the empty white box and type the message.
- When the message is ready, click Send.
The sent message will be placed in the ‘Sent’ folder.
Tip: At the bottom of the new message is a bar with options. Click the letter A for formatting options. For example, you can make letters bold (blacker) by selecting the text and clicking the button B in the beam. This article does not go into the formatting options. Try these out at your leisure to get to know Gmail better.
Attaching
Adding an attachment, such as a photo or a file, is easy in Gmail.
- Create a new message.
- Click on the paperclip icon to the right of the ‘Send’ button.
- The Explorer opens. Browse to the folder containing the desired attachment.
- Click on that attachment.
- click on To open.
The attachment is added to the message. You will see it in a bar above the format bar. Have you made a mistake and do not want to send the attachment? Then click on the cross to the right of the name of the attachment. The attachment is removed.
Check for new emails
Gmail itself periodically checks for new emails. You don’t have to do anything for it. However, it is possible to manually refresh the message list. This can be useful if you are urgently waiting for an email. Click on the button with the twisted arrow at the top . The list is refreshed and any new mails are shown in the Inbox.
Finished? Just log out
Have you finished emailing and are you sharing the PC with others? Don’t forget to log out after emailing:
- Click on your profile picture or initials in the top right corner.
- click on Log out.