The fastest way to add another Gmail account

You can add a second, third, or more Gmail accounts to the same device without deleting the first one. On a phone, you open Settings, find Accounts or Users & Accounts, and add the new account there. On a computer, you click your profile picture in Gmail's top right corner, select "Add another account", and sign in with the new Gmail address and password.

The account you add stays separate — your emails, contacts, and settings for each account stay in their own space. You can switch between accounts by clicking the profile picture again and choosing which one you want to use. This is different from forwarding, which sends mail from one account to another.

Key Takeaways

  • On Android phones, go to Settings > Accounts > Add Account > Google, then enter the Gmail address and password you want to add.
  • On iPhones, open the Gmail app, tap the menu icon (three lines), scroll down, and tap "Add another account".
  • On a computer, click your profile picture in Gmail's top right, select "Add another account", and sign in with the credentials for the account you're adding.
  • Each account keeps its own inbox, contacts, and settings — switching between them takes one click.
  • If you see a security warning during setup, Google is asking you to confirm the sign-in is really you, usually by checking your phone or recovery email.

Adding an account on Android phones

Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap Accounts (some phones call this "Users & Accounts" or "Accounts and Sync"). Tap Add Account, then select Google from the list.

Type the Gmail address you want to add, then tap Next. Enter the password for that account and tap Next again. Google will ask you to review and accept their terms — tap I Agree. If the account has two-step verification turned on, you'll need to complete that step (usually by entering a code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app).

Once you're signed in, the Gmail app will sync that account automatically. Open Gmail, tap the three-line menu at the top left, and you'll see both accounts listed. Tap the one you want to read.

Adding an account on iPhones

Open the Gmail app. Tap the three-line menu icon in the top left corner. Scroll all the way down and tap Add another account. Select Google when prompted.

Enter the Gmail address you want to add and tap Next. Type the password and tap Next. If two-step verification is on, complete that step. Tap Allow when Gmail asks for permission to access your account.

Both accounts now appear in the menu. To switch between them, tap the menu again and tap the account name you want to use.

Adding an account on a computer or laptop

Open Gmail in your web browser. In the top right corner, click your profile picture (a circle with your initial or photo). Click Add another account. You'll be taken to a sign-in page.

Enter the Gmail address you want to add and click Next. Type the password and click Next. Complete any security steps Google asks for — this might be a code sent to a phone number or recovery email on file for that account. Once you're signed in, you can switch between accounts by clicking your profile picture again and selecting which account to use.

What to do if you see a security warning

Google sometimes blocks sign-ins it doesn't recognize to protect your account. If you see a message saying "Couldn't sign in" or "This browser or app may not be secure", it means Google detected something unusual about the sign-in attempt.

Check the email address associated with the account you're adding. Google will send a notification there asking you to confirm the sign-in is really you. Open that email and click the link or button to approve it. On your phone or computer, you may also see a prompt asking you to enter a code — check your phone for a text message or notification from Google.

If you don't receive a confirmation email or code, make sure you're using the correct Gmail address and password. If the account has a recovery phone number or email on file, Google may send the code there instead.

Removing an account you no longer need

On Android, go to Settings > Accounts, tap the account you want to remove, and tap Remove Account. On iPhone, open Gmail, tap the menu, tap the account name, swipe left, and tap Remove. On a computer, click your profile picture, click Manage your Google Account, go to the Security tab, scroll to "Your devices", find the device you're using, and click it to see connected accounts — you can remove it from there, though it's easier to just stop using it in Gmail.

Removing an account from your device does not delete the account itself or its emails. The account still exists on Google's servers. You can add it back anytime by following the steps above.

Switching between accounts without signing out

The main reason to add multiple accounts to one device is so you don't have to sign out and sign back in every time you switch. On any device, you can see all your accounts in one place and jump between them in seconds.

On a phone, tap the menu and select the account. On a computer, click your profile picture and select the account. Your inbox, contacts, and settings for that account load immediately. This is much faster than signing out of one account and signing into another, which can take a minute or more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a non-Gmail email address to Gmail?

No. Gmail only lets you add other Gmail accounts (addresses ending in @gmail.com). If you want to read mail from another email provider like Outlook or Yahoo, you can set up forwarding from that account to Gmail, or use Gmail's "Check mail from other accounts" feature, which is found under Settings > Accounts and Import.

Will adding another account use more storage?

Each Gmail account has its own 15 GB of free storage, shared with Google Drive and Google Photos. Adding a second account gives you a second 15 GB pool. Storage on one account does not affect the other.

What if I forget the password for the account I'm trying to add?

Go to the Google Account recovery page (accounts.google.com/signin/recovery) and enter the Gmail address. Google will walk you through steps to prove you own the account — usually by sending a code to a recovery email or phone number. Once you reset the password, you can add the account to your device.

Can I use the same recovery phone number for multiple Gmail accounts?

Yes. You can use the same phone number as a recovery method for several accounts. Google will send codes to that number for whichever account needs to verify the sign-in.

Do I need to turn on two-step verification to add an account?

No. Two-step verification is optional. If the account has it turned on, you'll be asked to complete it during setup (usually by entering a code). If it's not on, you'll only need the password.