You can add another email address to Gmail in two ways
Gmail lets you manage multiple email addresses from one inbox. You can either add an existing email address as an alias (so mail sent to that address lands in your main Gmail inbox), or you can connect a different email account so you can send messages from it while staying logged into your primary Gmail. Which one you need depends on whether you want to receive mail at that address or send mail from it.
The process takes about five minutes and requires access to whichever email address you're adding — Gmail will send a confirmation code you have to enter to prove you own it.
Key Takeaways
- Adding an email alias lets you receive mail sent to another address in your main Gmail inbox, but you cannot send from that address without extra steps.
- Connecting a different email account lets you send messages from that address while staying logged into your primary Gmail account.
- Both methods require you to confirm ownership of the email address you're adding by entering a code Gmail sends to it.
- You can add up to 10 email addresses or aliases to a single Gmail account.
How to add an email alias so mail forwards to your main inbox
An alias is an alternate email address that forwards all incoming mail to your primary Gmail inbox. People can email the alias address, but the messages appear in your main Gmail account. This is the simpler option if you only need to receive mail at another address.
Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner, then select See all settings. Go to the Accounts and Import tab. 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 in, leave the Treat as an alias checkbox checked, and click Next Step.
Gmail will send a confirmation code to the email address you just entered. Open that email account, find the message from Gmail, and copy the confirmation code. Go back to Gmail, paste the code into the field that appears, and click Verify. The address is now added as an alias, and any mail sent to it will arrive in your main Gmail inbox.
How to connect a different email account so you can send from it
If you need to send messages from a different email address while staying logged into Gmail, you'll connect that account instead of creating an alias. This is useful if you manage multiple email addresses but want one inbox to see everything.
Follow the same first steps: open Gmail, click the gear icon, select See all settings, and go to Accounts and Import. Under Send mail as, click Add another email address. Enter the name and email address, but this time uncheck the Treat as an alias checkbox. Click Next Step.
Gmail will ask how you want to send mail from this address. Choose Send through Gmail's servers (the simpler option) or Send through [email provider]'s SMTP server if you need to use your email provider's own mail server. If you choose the second option, you'll need your provider's SMTP server address, port number, and password — contact your email provider's support if you don't have these. Click Next, then confirm the code Gmail sends to the address you're adding, just as you would with an alias.
What to do if you don't receive the confirmation code
The confirmation email sometimes lands in spam or takes a few minutes to arrive. Check the spam or promotions folder in the email account you're adding. If you still don't see it after 10 minutes, go back to Gmail and click Didn't receive the code? to request a new one.
If the email address you're trying to add is also a Gmail account, the confirmation code may arrive in that Gmail inbox instead of as a separate email. Log into that account and look for a message from the Gmail team with the subject line "Gmail confirmation code".
How to send a message from your newly added address
Once you've added an address (whether as an alias or a connected account), you can send from it. Open a new message in Gmail. Click the From field at the top — it normally shows your primary email address. A dropdown menu will appear listing all your added addresses. Select the one you want to send from, compose your message, and send it normally.
The recipient will see the message coming from whichever address you selected in the From field. Replies to that message will go to the address you sent from, not your primary Gmail account — unless you've set up forwarding on that address too.
How to remove an email address you no longer need
If you add an address by mistake or stop needing it, you can remove it. Go to Gmail settings, click Accounts and Import, and find the address under Send mail as. Click the Delete link next to it. Gmail will ask you to confirm — click Delete again, and the address is removed.
Removing an address does not delete the actual email account — it only disconnects it from your Gmail. If you added it as an alias, mail sent to that address will no longer forward to your Gmail inbox. If you connected it as a separate account, you won't be able to send from it through Gmail anymore, but the account itself still exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a non-Gmail email address?
Yes. You can add any email address from any provider — Outlook, Yahoo, your work email, or anything else. The process is the same whether it's a Gmail account or not.
What's the difference between an alias and a connected account?
An alias forwards incoming mail to your main inbox but you cannot send from it without extra setup. A connected account lets you send messages from that address directly. Choose an alias if you only need to receive mail there; choose a connected account if you need to send from it too.
How many email addresses can I add to one Gmail account?
You can add up to 10 email addresses or aliases to a single Gmail account. If you need more than that, you'll have to manage some accounts separately.
If I add an email as an alias, will the original account still work?
Yes. The original email account continues to work normally. Adding it as an alias just means copies of incoming mail also appear in your Gmail inbox — it doesn't change the original account itself.
What happens to emails sent to my added address before I set up forwarding?
They stay in the original email account. Adding an address as an alias only forwards new mail that arrives after you complete the setup. Old messages won't appear in your Gmail inbox unless you manually forward them or import them.