How to create a Gmail account
A Gmail address is also a Google Account, which gives you Drive, Photos, YouTube and the Play Store. Sign-up takes about five minutes.
Go to accounts.google.com/signup (or click Create account › For my personal use on the Google sign-in page), enter your name, birthday and gender, choose a Gmail address, and create a password. A phone number is optional on Google's official steps, though Google sometimes asks for one. You get 15 GB of free storage.
Step by step on a computer
- Go to accounts.google.com/signup. From the sign-in page, click Create account and choose For my personal use.
- Enter your first and last name.
- Enter your birthday and gender.
- Pick one of the suggested addresses, or choose to create your own Gmail address.
- Create a password of at least 8 characters. Longer is better.
- Add a recovery email and phone number when asked. They are optional but they are how you get back in if you forget your password.
- Review and accept the terms. Your inbox is ready at mail.google.com.
On a phone
Android: open Settings › Google (or Passwords & accounts) and choose Add account › Google › Create account. iPhone: download the Gmail app, tap Sign in › Google, then Create account. The steps then match the computer.
Choosing your Gmail address
- 6 to 30 characters: letters, numbers and periods only.
- Dots and capital letters are ignored, so they cannot make a taken name unique.
- A username from a deleted account can never be used again.
Checking whether a name is free: is a Gmail address taken?
Do you need a phone number?
Google lists adding and verifying a phone number as an optional step. In practice, Google may still ask for one if it sees signs of spam, such as many accounts made from the same place. A phone number on the account is also the easiest way to recover it later, so adding one is a good idea. For providers that do not ask, see free email without a phone number.
Age rules
You must be at least 13 in the US and most countries (14 to 16 in some, such as 16 in Germany and the Netherlands). Parents can create an account for a younger child through Family Link.
Storage and a second account
Every free account includes 15 GB, shared between Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. To make a second account, for a business or a side project, sign out or click your profile picture and choose Add another account › Create account. You can switch between accounts without signing out. For a business, an address at your own domain looks more professional: see how to make a business email.
Questions people ask
- Is Gmail free?
- Yes. Gmail is free with 15 GB of storage shared with Drive and Photos. Extra storage is available through Google One.
- Can I create a Gmail account without a phone number?
- Google's steps list the phone number as optional, but Google may still ask for one in some cases.
- How many Gmail accounts can I have?
- Google does not publish a limit for personal use, but it may ask for phone verification if you create several.
- Can I change my Gmail address later?
- Google has started letting some users change their @gmail.com address, keeping the old one as an alternate. Availability varies, so pick a name you are happy to keep.
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