Gmail aliases: plus addressing, "Send mail as" and fixes
"Alias" means three different things in Gmail: free variations of your own address, sending from another address you own, and extra addresses on a work account. Here is each one.
Free aliases: add a plus and any word to your username, such as [email protected]; mail still arrives in your inbox. Send from another address: Settings › See all settings › Accounts and Import › Send mail as › Add another email address. Note that from January 2027, Gmail will stop supporting Send as for third-party addresses such as Yahoo or Outlook.
1. Free aliases with + and dots
Every Gmail address comes with unlimited variations that reach the same inbox:
| Type | Example for [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Plus tag | [email protected], [email protected] |
| Dots | [email protected], [email protected] |
Use a different plus tag for each site, then create a filter on the "To" address to sort that mail automatically. If one tag starts receiving spam, you know which site leaked or sold your address.
Limits: some websites wrongly reject the + sign, and anyone can remove the tag to reach your real address, so it is a sorting tool, not a privacy tool. Dots do not work this way on work or school accounts.
Do I need a "Gmail alias generator"?
No. You can make plus and dot variations yourself in seconds. For aliases that truly hide your real address, use an alias service such as SimpleLogin or Firefox Relay. See how to send email anonymously.
2. Send mail as another address
- In Gmail on a computer, click Settings › See all settings.
- Open Accounts and Import (or Accounts).
- Under Send mail as, click Add another email address.
- Enter your name and the address, then Next Step.
- For a work or school address, enter its SMTP server and sign-in details.
- Click Send verification and open the confirmation link that arrives at that address.
Coming change: Google says that starting January 2027, Gmail will no longer support Send as for third-party addresses such as Yahoo or Outlook. Aliases on Google Workspace accounts are not affected. If you rely on this, plan to send from that provider's own app or move the address to a business email service.
Why your Gmail alias is not working
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Confirmation email never came | Check Spam at the other address; it comes from [email protected] |
| "Couldn't reach server" or "TLS negotiation failed" | Use the provider's SMTP server with SSL on port 465 or TLS on port 587 |
| Work address will not verify | Your admin may need to set up the alias or allow SMTP sign-in |
| Recipients see "on behalf of" | Send through the other address's own SMTP server instead of Gmail's |
| A site rejects [email protected] | The site's form is too strict; use your plain address there |
3. Aliases on Google Workspace
On a paid Google Workspace account, an admin can add up to 30 email aliases per user at no extra cost, such as sales@ and info@ delivered to one inbox. See how to make a business email.
Questions people ask
- Is a Gmail plus address a separate account?
- No. [email protected] is just a label on your own address. Mail arrives in the same inbox.
- Can I send email from my plus address?
- Gmail sends from your main address by default. You can add the plus version under Send mail as if you want replies to show it.
- How many aliases can a Gmail account have?
- Plus and dot variations are unlimited. Google Workspace accounts can have up to 30 admin-created aliases per user.
Sending one email to a whole list? Check the addresses first with Veml, which removes bad and risky emails before you hit send. (Veml and EmailNa have the same owner.)