This wikiHow teaches you how to choose the right email service and create a personal email account. Once you have an email account, you can send messages to other users using their email addresses.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Creating and Setting Up an Account
Step 1. Choose an email service provider
There are a variety of email service providers available and most offer free accounts and services that you can create and use. However, the three most popular services are:
- Gmail - Google's email service. When you sign up for a Gmail account, you will also create a Google account which is useful for accessing YouTube and various other social media sites.
- Outlook - Email service from Microsoft. An Outlook account is required for some Microsoft services, such as Microsoft Word (or Office 365), Windows 10, Skype, and Xbox LIVE.
- Yahoo - Yahoo is a simple email service provider with features like inbox news and one terabyte of online storage space.
- The three services above have mobile applications for smartphones that can be used for free. With this application, you can send or receive e-mails from your smartphone via any e-mail service of your choice.
Step 2. Go to the email service provider's website
Here are the websites for each email service:
- Gmail -
- Outlook -
- Yahoo -
Step 3. Click the “Sign Up” button
This button is labeled "Create an Account" or something similar and is generally shown in the upper-right corner of the email page.
If you are visiting the main Yahoo website, click the “ Sign in ” first, then click “ Sign up ” at the bottom of the “Sign in” page.
Step 4. Enter the account information
While some additional information is required, you are usually asked to add the following information to all email service providers:
- Name
- Phone number
- Preferred email address
- Account password you want to use
- Date of birth
Step 5. Complete the account creation process
Sometimes you are asked to verify your identity over the phone (for Yahoo), while other email services simply ask to show that you are a human (not a bot machine) by checking the box. Once the creation process is complete, you're ready to send an email.
Part 2 of 4: Sending Emails Through Gmail
Step 1. Open Gmail
Visit https://www.gmail.com/ in any web browser on your computer. Your Gmail inbox will open if you're already signed in to your Gmail account.
If not, enter the email address and password when prompted before continuing
Step 2. Click Compose
It's in the upper-left corner of your inbox. After that, a pop-up window will appear on the right side of the page.
Step 3. Enter the recipient's email address
Click the " Recipients " text field at the top of the pop-up window, then type in the email addresses of the recipients you want to send the message to.
Step 4. Enter a subject
Click the " Subject " text field, then type in whatever subject you want.
The subject is usually used to give the recipient an idea of what is being discussed in the email
Step 5. Write your message
Click the text field below the "Subject" field, then type the body of the message.
- You can mark the text in the email and click on one of the formatting options (eg " B ” to bold text) at the bottom of the window.
- If you want to add a photo or file to the message, click the paperclip icon or the " photos " icon at the bottom of the window and select an option.
Step 6. Click Send
It's a blue button in the lower-left corner of the pop-up window. After that, the message will be sent to the specified recipient.
Step 7. Send message via Gmail mobile app
If you download the Gmail app to your smartphone or tablet (Android devices usually come with a built-in Gmail app), you can use it to send messages:
- Open the mobile Gmail app.
-
Touch
Android7edit in the lower right corner of the screen.
- Enter the recipient's email address in the " To " field.
- Enter a subject in the "Subject" field.
- Enter the main body of the message in the " Compose email " field.
- Attach the desired photo or file by touching the paperclip icon and selecting the attachment.
-
Touch the "Send" icon
Android7send to send an email.
Part 3 of 4: Sending Emails Through Outlook
Step 1. Open Outlook
Visit https://www.outlook.com/ in any web browser on your computer. After that, the Outlook inbox will be opened if you are already signed in to the account.
If not, click " Sign in ” if necessary, then enter your account email address and password when prompted.
Step 2. Make sure you are using the beta version of the service
Click the gray "Try the beta" switch in the upper-right corner of the page.
If you see a dark blue switch labeled "Beta", you are already using the beta version of Outlook
Step 3. Click New message
It's in the top-left corner of the page. Once clicked, a pop-up window will be displayed.
Step 4. Enter the recipient's email address
Click the " To " field at the top of the pop - up window, then type in the email addresses of the recipients you want to send the message to.
Step 5. Enter a subject
Click the "Add a subject" field, then type the desired subject.
The subject is usually used to give the recipient an idea of what is being discussed in the email
Step 6. Write a message
Click the text field below the "Subject" field, then type your main message.
- You can mark the text in the email and click on one of the formatting options (eg " B ” to bold text) at the bottom of the window.
- If you want to attach a photo or file to the message, click the paperclip icon or the " photos " icon at the bottom of the window and select an option.
Step 7. Click Send
It's a blue button in the lower-left corner of the pop-up window. After that, the email will be sent to the specified recipient.
Step 8. Send the email from the Outlook app
If you've already downloaded the Outlook email app for your iPhone or Android device, you can use it to send email:
- Open the Outlook mobile app.
-
Touch the "Compose" icon
Iphonequick_compose (or
Android7edit on Android devices).
- Enter the recipient's email address in the " To " field.
- Enter a subject in the "Subject" field.
- Enter the main message in the larger text field.
- Tap the paperclip icon and select the file option if you want to attach a photo or file.
-
Touch the "Send" icon
Android7send in the upper right corner of the screen to send a message.
Part 4 of 4: Sending Emails Through Yahoo
Step 1. Open Yahoo
Visit https://mail.yahoo.com in any web browser on your computer. Your Yahoo inbox will open if you're already signed in to your account.
If not, enter your email address and password when prompted before continuing
Step 2. Click Compose
It's in the top-left corner of the page. After that, the email form will be displayed.
Step 3. Enter the recipient's email address
Click the " To " field at the top of the form, then type in the email addresses of the recipients you'd like to send the message to.
Step 4. Enter a subject
Click the " Subject " field, then type the text you want to use as the subject.
The subject is usually used to give the recipient an idea of what is being discussed in the email
Step 5. Write a message
Click the text field below the "Subject" field, then type the main body of the message.
- You can mark the text in the email and click on one of the formatting options (eg " B ” to bold text) at the bottom of the window.
- If you want to attach a photo or file to the message, click the paperclip icon or the " photos " icon at the bottom of the window and select an option.
Step 6. Click Send
It's a blue button in the lower-left corner of the pop-up window. After that, the message will be sent to the specified recipient.
Step 7. Send an email from the Yahoo Mail app
If you've already downloaded the Yahoo Mail app for your iPhone or Android device, you can use it to send messages:
- Open the Yahoo Mail mobile app.
- Tap the pencil icon in the lower-right corner of the screen.
- Enter your email address in the " To " field.
- Enter a subject in the "Subject" field.
- Type a message into the main message text field.
- Add a photo or file by tapping one of the icons at the bottom of the email segment.
- Touch the button “ Send ” to send a message.
Tips
- Save a draft of the email as you type if the message is important. Gmail automatically saves draft messages, but other email providers may not offer an autosave option.
- Having two email addresses (one as work email and one as personal/social email) can help you focus on using your inbox.
