This wikiHow teaches you how to send an email using the Gmail service. You can use the Gmail website to send email from your computer, or the Gmail mobile app to send messages from your smartphone or tablet.
Step
Method 1 of 2: On a Desktop Computer
Step 1. Open Gmail
Visit https://www.gmail.com/ via your computer's web browser. Your Gmail account inbox will load if you're already signed in to your account.
If you're not logged into your Gmail account, type in your email address and password when prompted
Step 2. Click Compose
It's in the upper-left corner of your Gmail inbox. A " New Message " window will appear in the lower right corner of the page.
If you are using an older version of Gmail, click the “ COMPOSE ”.
Step 3. Enter the recipient's email address
Click the " To " or " Recipients " text field at the top of the “New Message” window, then type in the email addresses of the recipients you'd like to email.
- To add multiple email addresses, type the first one, press the Tab key, and type in another address.
- If you want to send someone a carbon copy (CC or carbon copy) or blind carbon copy, click the link “ cc" or " Bcc ” in the right corner of the " To " text field, then type the address of the person you want to send a carbon copy or BCC to in the appropriate field.
Step 4. Add the subject or title of the email
Click the " Subject " field, then type in whatever you want the email to be the subject of.
Generally, the subject of the email describes the essence of the message in a few words
Step 5. Enter the main message
In the large text field below the " Subject " field, type whatever you want as the main message.
Step 6. Format the text of the email if necessary
If you want to apply formatting to the text (eg bold or italicize the text, or add bullet points), click one of the formatting options at the bottom of the email window.
For example, to bold text, mark the desired text and click the “ B ” at the bottom of the email.
Step 7. Attach the file if you want
To add files from your computer, click the " Attachments " icon
at the bottom of the window, then select the file you want to upload to the email and click “ Open " (or " Choose ” on Mac computers).
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You can add photos using this method, or upload photos directly to the main/body of the email by clicking on the " Photos " icon
Android7image at the bottom of the email window, select “ Upload ", click " Choose photos to upload ”, and select the desired photo.
Step 8. Click Send
It's a blue button in the lower-left corner of the email window. After that, the email will be sent to the recipient addresses that you have specified.
Method 2 of 2: On Mobile Devices
Step 1. Open Gmail
Tap the Gmail app icon, which looks like a red “M” on a white background. Your Gmail account inbox will open if you're already signed in to your account.
If not, select an account and/or enter your email address and password to log in
Step 2. Touch the “Compose” icon
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. A new message window will appear after that.
Step 3. Enter the email address
Tap the " To " text field, then type in the email address of the recipient you want to send the message to.
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If you want to send a carbon copy (CC or carbon copy) or blind carbon copy to someone, touch
Android7expandmore at the far right of the “To” column, select “ cc" or " Bcc, and type in the desired recipient's email address.
Step 4. Enter the message subject
Touch the " Subject " text field, then enter the subject you want to use.
In general, the subject is a summary of the essence of the message in a few words
Step 5. Enter the main message
Touch the " Compose email " text field, then type whatever you want as the main message.
Step 6. Add files or photos if necessary
If you want to add a file or photo to an email, follow these steps:
-
Touch
Android7paperclip at the top of the screen.
- Touch " Camera roll ” (iPhone) or “ Attach files (Android).
- Select the photo or file you want to attach.
Step 7. Touch the “Send” icon
It's a paper airplane icon in the upper-right corner of the screen. The email will be sent afterwards.
Tips
- Make sure your email is appropriate. Don't provide your home address, phone number, or other information in an email unless you're texting a friend or family member.
- If you want to save the email as a draft on the desktop Gmail site, wait for the " Saved " button to appear next to the trash can icon, in the lower right corner of the email window. After that, click " X ” in the upper right corner of the window. The email will be saved in the folder “ Drafts ” on the left side of the inbox.
- Emails sent as blind carbon copies will not show the other parties' email addresses if the recipient wants to see other recipients.
