You can add a second email address to Gmail in two different ways
Gmail lets you add another email address to your existing account so you can send messages from that address without logging out. This is different from creating a brand new Gmail account — you stay logged into the same account, but Gmail remembers multiple sender addresses. The address you add can be from Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or any other email provider.
The process takes about five minutes and involves verifying that you own the address you're adding. Gmail will send a confirmation code to that address, and you'll paste the code back into Gmail to prove it's yours.
Key Takeaways
- You can add up to 10 email addresses to a single Gmail account, and Gmail will remember which one you used last time you sent a message.
- The address you add must be verified — Gmail sends a confirmation code to that address, and you need to enter it in Gmail to complete the setup.
- You can send from any of your added addresses without switching accounts, but replies still go to your primary Gmail address unless you change the sender.
- If you add a non-Gmail address, you may need to provide your password for that email account so Gmail can verify it, though Gmail never stores the password.
How to add an email address in Gmail settings
Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select "See all settings" from the dropdown menu. Click the "Accounts and Import" tab at the top of the page.
Under the section labeled "Send mail as", click "Add another email address". A popup window will appear asking for the name you want to display and the email address you're adding. Type both into the boxes and click "Next Step".
Gmail will ask whether you want to treat the new address as an alias. Leave this unchecked unless you're adding a Gmail address you own — checking this box changes how Gmail handles replies, and most people don't need it. Click "Send Verification" to move forward.
Verifying your new email address
Gmail will send a confirmation code to the email address you just added. Open that email account (you may need to log into a different browser tab or window) and look for a message from Gmail with the subject line "Gmail confirmation code". The code is usually a string of numbers and letters.
Copy the code and go back to Gmail. Paste it into the verification box that appeared after you clicked "Send Verification". Click "Verify" and wait a few seconds — Gmail will confirm that the address has been added.
If you don't see the confirmation email within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder. Gmail's confirmation emails sometimes get filtered there by mistake. If it's not in spam either, go back to Gmail settings and click "Send Verification" again to request a new code.
Sending a message from your new address
Once the address is verified, you can use it to send messages. Open a new email in Gmail and look for the "From" line at the bottom of the compose box. Click on the email address shown there — a dropdown menu will appear listing all your verified addresses. Select the one you want to send from and write your message as usual.
Gmail remembers which address you used last and will default to that one the next time you compose a message. If you want to change which address appears as your default, go back to "Accounts and Import" settings, find your address under "Send mail as", and click "make default".
What happens to replies when you send from a different address
When someone replies to a message you sent from your added address, the reply goes to your primary Gmail address, not to the address you sent from. This is the default behavior, and it means all your incoming mail stays in one place.
If you want replies to go to the address you sent from instead, you need to change a setting. Go to "Accounts and Import", find the address under "Send mail as", click the three dots next to it, and select "Reply from the same address". Now replies to messages sent from that address will go there instead of your primary inbox.
Adding a non-Gmail address and what to expect
If you're adding an Outlook, Yahoo, or other non-Gmail address, Gmail may ask for the password to that account during verification. Gmail uses this password only to confirm you own the address — it does not store the password or use it for anything else. You can change the password to that account immediately after verification if you want to.
Some email providers require you to turn on "less secure app access" or create an app-specific password before Gmail can verify the address. If Gmail tells you verification failed, check the settings in your other email account. Gmail's error message usually tells you which setting to change.
Removing an address you no longer use
Go to "Accounts and Import" settings and find the address under "Send mail as". Click the three dots next to it and select "Delete". The address is removed immediately, and you can no longer send from it. This does not affect the email account itself — it only removes it from Gmail.
You cannot delete your primary Gmail address this way. If you want to stop using your Gmail account entirely, you would need to delete the whole account through Google Account settings, which is a separate process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add an email address that someone else owns?
No. Gmail requires you to verify the address by entering a code sent to that email account. If you don't have access to the account, you can't complete verification. Attempting to add someone else's address will fail at the verification step.
What if I forget which address is my primary Gmail address?
Open "Accounts and Import" settings and look under "Send mail as". The address marked "make default" is your primary address. This is also the address where all incoming mail arrives unless you've changed reply settings for a specific address.
Can I add the same email address to multiple Gmail accounts?
Yes. An email address can be added to as many Gmail accounts as you want. Each Gmail account will have its own copy of that address in its settings, and you can send from it in each account separately.
What's the difference between adding an address and creating a new Gmail account?
Adding an address keeps you in the same Gmail account with the same inbox, contacts, and settings. Creating a new Gmail account gives you a completely separate account with its own inbox and settings. Add an address if you want to send from multiple addresses in one place; create a new account if you need separate inboxes.