Your Account : Logging In : Getting Started
'Remember me on this computer'
Checking the box next to Remember me on this computer on the Gmail login page will automatically log you in each time you visit mail.google.com. This makes for easier access to Gmail, but if you check your email from a computer that other people have access to, automatically logging in may not be the best option. When you check the box and log in, Gmail sets a cookie (lasting two weeks) to remember you when you return to the site from the same computer. To disable the cookie, just click Sign out at the top of any Gmail page. You'll need to re-enter your username and password when you return to Gmail. We encourage you to log out of Gmail at the end of each session to protect the security of your email information. Logging out of Gmail is especially important if you check your email on a public computer. To end your Gmail session, just click Sign out at the top of any Gmail page.
Signing in with multiple Gmail addresses
If you've registered more than one Gmail username and you'd like to switch addresses:
1. Click Sign out at the top of any Gmail page. 2. On the sign in page, enter the username and password for your other address.
If clicking Sign out doesn't take you to the login screen, please use our troubleshooter to resolve the issue.
Signing out
To end your Gmail session, just click Sign out at the top of any Gmail page. We encourage you to log out of Gmail after each session to protect the security of your email information. Logging out of Gmail is especially important if you check your email on a public computer.
HTTPS access
HTTPS access is available via https://mail.google.com, and our system offers an SSL-encrypted login by default. Your Gmail password is always encrypted when sent over the Internet. You may find that Gmail is considerably slower over the HTTPS connection, because browsers do not cache these pages and must reload the code that makes Gmail work each time you change screens.
Your Account : Logging In : Troubleshooting
Temporary Error (502)
If you're seeing a 'Temporary Error (502)' message when you try to sign in to Gmail, it means that your mail is temporarily unavailable. These errors generally resolve themselves within a few minutes, so please wait a bit before trying to log in again. Please note that while Gmail is inaccessible, your messages and personal information are safe. If you continue to see this error over an extended period of time, please let us know so we can look into the issue.
I forgot my password
To recover your Gmail password, please begin with these steps:
1. Visit our password recovery page. 2. Enter your username. 3. Click Submit.
If Gmail accepted your username, you'll now see a captcha (letters in a distorted picture). Did Gmail accept your username?
Yes. No, I got an error.
Did a password reset message arrive at your secondary address?
Yes, I received the password reset message.
No, I didn't receive the message. I don't have a secondary email address.
It's been 24 hours since I last tried to log in to Gmail, including Gmail for mobile, POP, IMAP, or Gmail with other Google products.
Were you able to successfully answer your secret question?
Yes. No.
Did a link appear at the bottom of the secret question results page?
Yes. No.
Did a password reset message arrive at your secondary address?
Yes. No. I don't have a secondary address.
Note to Google Apps users: Automated password recovery isn't available for your account at this time. Please contact your organization's IT admin for help with password recovery.
Loading issues
Symptoms: After clicking Sign in, you see 'Loading...' or 'This seems to be taking longer than usual' and may be redirected to our basic HTML version. You might see a blank white page.
Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail. Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed for further instructions.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar
None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail
Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Google Chrome Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Google Chrome Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Google Chrome Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Google Chrome Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Google Chrome Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail, the secure site, fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail, the secure site, fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail, the secure site, fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail, the secure site, fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
My account has been compromised
We're sorry to hear your account has been compromised or taken over. Please select your situation below to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.
I can sign in I cannot sign in
Did Gmail accept your username?
Yes No, I got an error
Did a password reset message arrive at your secondary address?
Yes, I received the password reset message No, I didn't receive the message I don't have a secondary email address
What task were you performing when you were locked out?
I was logging in to my account I was downloading messages via POP I was sending a message I was using a browser extension, such as GDrive or GSpace
My account has been disabled
To restore access to Gmail, please begin with these steps:
Go to https://mail.google.com Enter your username and password. Click Submit. You'll now see a CAPTCHA (letters in a distorted picture). Enter the letters shown in the CAPTCHA. 5. Click Submit again. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Did this process allow you to sign in?
Yes No
Are you using POP or IMAP to access your Gmail messages?
Yes No
Do you believe your account has been compromised?
Yes No
Is your account still disabled?
Yes No
My account has been locked
If we detect abnormal usage that may indicate that your account has been compromised, we may temporarily disable access. It will take between one minute and 24 hours for access to be reinstated, depending on the behavior detected by our system. Unusual account activity includes, but is not limited to:
1. Receiving, deleting, or downloading large amounts of mail via POP or IMAP in a short period of time. If you're getting the error message, 'Lockdown in Sector 4,' you should be able to access Gmail again after waiting 24 hours. 2. Sending a large number of undeliverable messages (messages that bounce back). 3. Using file-sharing or file-storage software, browser extensions, or third party software that automatically logs in to your account. 4. Leaving multiple instances of Gmail open. 5. Browser-related issues. Please note that if you find your browser continually reloading while attempting to access your Inbox, it's probably a browser issue, and it may be necessary to clear your browser's cache and cookies.
If you feel that you have been using your Gmail address according to the Gmail Terms of Use, please contact us.
I forgot my username
If you can't remember your username, follow these steps to retrieve it:
1. Click I cannot access my account on the Gmail login page. 2. Click I've forgotten my username. 3. Enter your secondary email address in the 'Email:' field.
4. Click 'Submit.' 5. Type the letters in the distorted picture in the appropriate field, and click 'Submit.' 6. A list of any usernames associated with that secondary email address will be sent to the address you provided.
If you didn't enter a secondary email address when you created your Gmail address, but you were invited to Gmail, you may be able to retrieve your username by clicking the link in your Gmail invitation. If you didn't use an invitation to sign up for Gmail and don't have a secondary address listed in your account, please ask any contacts you've sent messages to to verify what your username is.
Gmail is slow
Symptoms: While using Gmail, the response time for opening messages, switching labels, or performing actions is slow. No error appears. Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus
ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes
No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
My username and password are saved on the login page
You may sometimes be logged in or have your login information displayed automatically because your username and password are stored in your browser's cache or settings. If you don't want 'AutoComplete' to automatically log you in to Gmail, please follow these steps: For Internet Explorer 6:
1. Click the Tools menu at the top of your browser, and select Internet Options. 2. Open the Content tab at the top of the dialogue box. 3. Click the AutoComplete... button, and uncheck the User names and passwords on forms and Prompt me to save passwords boxes. 4. Click OK.
For Internet Explorer 7:
1. Click the Tools menu at the top of your browser, and select Internet Options. 2. Open the Content tab at the top of the dialogue box. 3. Click AutoComplete, then Settings button, and uncheck the User names and passwords on forms and Prompt me to save passwords boxes. 4. Click OK.
For Firefox 2:
1. 2. 3. 4. Click the Tools menu at the top of your browser, and select Options. Select the Security tab. Uncheck the option Remember passwords for sites. Press OK.
To ensure that your data isn't saved when you sign in, please remember to leave the box next to Remember me on this computer. unchecked on the Gmail sign in page.
'We're sorry...' (error 403)
Symptoms: When logging in, you see the error 'We're sorry but your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application.' You may also see '403 Forbidden' in your browser. Cause: Potential causes include abuse of Google sites on your network, malicious software on your computer, or an issue with your browser. Solution: If the error page displays a squiggly word with a box (a CAPTCHA), just type the squiggly word into the box to continue using Gmail. A CAPTCHA helps us determine whether traffic is coming from automated robot software or from individual users. If the page doesn't display the CAPTCHA, or if you're continually receiving the CAPTCHA page, you may be able to resolve this problem by clearing your browser's cache and cookies. If clearing your browser's cache and cookies doesn't resolve the issue, we suggest trying a different browser, such as Mozilla Firefox, available for free download. If you continue to experience this error, you may want to try scanning your computer for malicious software. Such software is often bundled with other free downloads without your knowledge and can trigger Google to serve the CAPTCHA page. We've suggested some wellknown, free programs below that can detect and remove such applications. Please remember that we have no connection with these companies and can't comment on their effectiveness. We can tell you, though, that trying the most up-to-date versions of these programs often makes a difference.
Lavasoft Ad-Aware Spybot Search and Destroy MacScan (for Mac users)
Certificate error
Certificate errors are typically caused by an incorrect date or time in your operating system's calendar. To set your Date and Time Properties in Windows, please follow these steps:
1. Double-click the time in your taskbar to open the Date & Time Properties menu.
2. From the Date & Time tab, verify that the appropriate month, day, and year are selected. 3. Click Apply to save any changes you make. 4. From the Time Zone tab, verify that your time zone is selected. If the time zone in which you are located is not displayed, select your time zone from the drop-down menu. 5. Verify that the box beside Automatically adjust clock for daylight savings changes is checked. 6. Click OK. 7. Close all your browser windows, restart your browser and try logging in again.
ActiveX error
ActiveX errors are caused by certain browser settings and misconfigured system files. To fix the problem, please adjust the settings in Internet Explorer by following the steps below:
1. Click the Tools menu at the top of your browser, and select Internet Options. 2. Click the Security tab at the top of the dialogue box, and set Medium as the Security level for this zone. 3. Click Custom Level button and ensure that the following are set to Enabled: o Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins o Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting o Scripting 4. Click OK after these settings are enabled. 5. Click OK again to save your changes. 6. Log in to Gmail again. If your browser was already set correctly, it's likely that you have a misconfigured system file. Here's how to reset the system file to the default settings: 1. Click the Start button in Windows. 2. Select Run. 3. Enter regsvr32 msxml3.dll in the Open: field, and click OK. After a moment, a dialogue box notifies you that the file was properly reset. Click OK in the dialogue box to exit.
After making this change, please close all instances of Internet Explorer and open a new browser window to log back in to Gmail.
I'm signed in to Gmail automatically
Internet Explorer's 'AutoComplete' feature automatically logs you in to Gmail if it's enabled in your browser's settings. If you don't want to use this feature, please follow these steps:
1. Click the Tools menu at the top of your browser, and select Internet Options. 2. Click the Content tab at the top of the dialogue box. 3. Select the AutoComplete... button, and then click Clear Passwords. (You can prevent IE from storing your passwords in the future by unchecking the box next to User names and passwords on forms.) 4. Click OK.
The next time you sign in to Gmail, you'll need to enter your username and password.
'Bad Request: Your client has issued a malformed or illegal request'
Symptoms: Logging in creates the error 'Bad Request: Your client has issued a malformed or illegal request.' Cause: Your browser has a bad or outdated cookie. Solution: Clear your browser's cache and cookies. For instructions, please select your browser below: Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari Other browsers If clearing your browser's cache and cookies didn't fix the problem, visiting the secure site may resolve the issue. Gmail offers an encrypted site for extra security. Because browsers are more likely to trust encrypted data, visiting Gmail through its encrypted login will often resolve issues. Please try logging in to Gmail via https://mail.google.com.
I accidentally removed Gmail from my Google Account
As long as you haven't deleted your entire Google Account, you may be able to regain use of your Gmail username by following these steps: 1. Sign in at https://www.google.com/accounts using the email address currently associated with your Google Account. Note: If you deleted Gmail from your account, but didn't delete your entire account, you'll most likely still be able to sign in with what was your alternate email address (now your primary username). If you're not able to sign in with this email address, you may have deleted your entire account. In this case, you won't be able to recover your Gmail username.
2. While still signed in, visit http://mail.google.com and click Sign up for Gmail. You'll be taken to a Gmail sign-up form, and your old Gmail username will be pre-populated in the username field. 3. Complete the form, enter your existing Google Account password, and click Continue.
After you complete this process, you should be able to use Gmail again to send and receive emails.
Page cannot be displayed
Symptoms: While logging in or using Gmail, you receive one of the following errors:
Page cannot be displayed Page cannot be found Error 403 Error 404 Error 405
Cause: Your network administrator, Internet Service Provider (ISP) or security software has blocked some or all access to Gmail. Solution: Contact your network admin or the customer service department of your ISP to ensure that access to 'www.gmail.com' and 'mail.google.com' is allowed.
'Invalid email address' error
Please ensure that you haven't entered any spaces before, after or in the middle of your email
address.
I was signed out automatically
Gmail automatically signs you out when it detects that you've logged out from another browser window, or when you sign in using another Gmail address from the same browser window. This is done for your protection and to ensure the privacy of your information.
My account is under maintenance
This error means we're currently performing maintenance on your account. You won't be able to log in while maintenance is underway, but your account data and messages are safe. Unfortunately, we can't predict exactly how long this will take. If this maintenance lasts more than 24 hours, please contact us at mailmaintenance@google.com.
Browser endlessly redirects
Symptoms: After clicking Sign in, your browser loads a blank page again and again. Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security
Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape
Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Oops 103
You're encountering a known issue with Gmail that our engineers are actively investigating. In the meantime, please try signing in to Gmail through our secured interface, available via https://mail.google.com. We also recommend enabling the 'Always use https' setting in Gmail by following these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. Set 'Browser Connection:' to 'Always use https.' Click Save Changes. Reload Gmail.
If you continue to experience difficulties, please access the older version of Gmail by clicking Older version at the top of any Gmail page or by going to http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=1 Oops 102
You're encountering a known issue with Gmail that our engineers are actively investigating. In the meantime, please try signing in to Gmail through our secured interface, available via
https://mail.google.com. We also recommend enabling the 'Always use https' setting in Gmail by following these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. Set 'Browser Connection:' to 'Always use https.' Click Save Changes. Reload Gmail.
If you continue to experience difficulties, please access the older version of Gmail by clicking Older version at the top of any Gmail page or by going to http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=1
Your Account : Privacy & Security : Account Security
Protecting your Google Account
Some tips to help keep your Google account safe:
Always sign out when you've finished reading your mail. Only select Remember me if you're signing in from a personal computer. Clear forms, passwords, cache, and cookies in your browser on a regular basis - especially on a public computer. Keep secrets! Never tell anyone your password, or your secret question and answer; if you do tell someone, change it as soon as possible. Choose a good password and security question and answer. o Don't write this information down anywhere o Never send this information by email o Periodically change your password, and your security question and answer Download the free Google Pack, which includes Mozilla's Firefox browser as well as antivirus and anti-spyware utilities that can help keep your computer safe.
For more information on account security, please see our Privacy and Security topic.
Choosing a password and security question
Watch a video on signing out of Gmail. Picking a good password: Creating a unique password helps stop someone from breaking into your Google account. Here are a few tips for creating a good password, and keeping it safe:
Be creative. Don't use words that can be found in a dictionary.
Use at least eight characters. Don't use a password that you have used elsewhere. Don't use keyboard patterns (asdf) or sequential numbers (1234). Create an acronym. Don't use a common one, like NASA or SCUBA. Combine it with numbers and punctuation marks. Include punctuation marks and numbers. Mix capital and lowercase letters. Include similar looking substitutions, such as the number zero for the letter 'O' or $ for the letter 'S'. Include phonetic replacements, such as 'Luv 2 Laf' for 'Love to Laugh.' Don't make your password all numbers, all uppercase letters, or all lowercase letters. Find ways of collecting random letters and numbers, such as opening books, looking at license plates or taking the third letter from the first ten words you see. Don't use repeating characters (aa11). Don't use a password that is listed as an example of how to pick a good password.
Learn how to change your password. Picking a good security question and answer:
Choose a question only you know the answer to - make sure the question isn't associated with your password. Pick a question that can't be answered through research (for example, avoid your mother's maiden name, your birth date, your first or last name, your social security number, your phone number, your pet's name, etc.). Make sure your answer is memorable, but not easy to guess. Use an answer that is a complete sentence for even more security.
Learn how to change your security question and answer.
Scams and fraud involving Gmail addresses
If your credit card was used without your authorization, we recommend contacting your local authorities, your credit card company, and any website where the credit card was used. If you have observed or been the victim of illicit activity on a non-Google website (i.e. Craigslist, Ebay, Paypal, and other sites), you'll need to contact your local authorities and the specific website that was involved. In either case, you may also wish to file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov), a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center. Unfortunately, Gmail is unable to participate in mediations involving third parties, or track suspicious credit card activity. If you wish to inquire about a Gmail user's involvement in a scam or identity theft case, please
note that in accordance with state and federal law, it is Google's policy only to provide this information pursuant to a valid third party subpoena or other appropriate legal process.
Deleted messages or contacts Have your messages gone missing? Click here first to start investigating.
If you can't find your messages in All Mail, Spam, or Trash, or by performing a search, then they've been permanently removed from Gmail, possibly deleted by someone else. We regret that we are unable to recover messages or contact entries that have been permanently deleted. If you're concerned that someone may have gained access to your address, we suggest that you take the following measures: Change your password
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Sign in to Gmail at http://mail.google.com. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. Click Accounts. Click Google Account settings. Click Change password under Personal information. Complete the form and click Save to make your changes.
When choosing your new password:
Be creative. Don't use words that can be found in a dictionary. Use at least eight characters. Don't use a password that you've used elsewhere. Don't use keyboard patterns (asdf) or sequential numbers (1234). Create an acronym. Don't use a common one, like NASA or SCUBA. Combine your acronym with numbers and punctuation marks. Include punctuation marks. Mix capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers. Include character substitutions, such as the number zero for the letter 'O' or $ for the letter 'S.' Include phonetic replacements, such as 'Luv 2 Laf' for 'Love to Laugh.' Don't make your password all numbers, uppercase letters or lowercase letters. Find ways of getting random letters and numbers such as opening books, looking at license plates or taking the third letter from the first ten words you see. Don't use repeating characters (aa11). Don't use a password that is listed as an example of how to pick a good password.
Change your security question
1. Sign in to Gmail at http://mail.google.com. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page.
3. 4. 5. 6.
Click Accounts. Click Google Account settings. Click Change secret question under Personal information. Complete the form and click Save to make your changes.
When selecting a security question:
Choose a question only you know the answer to and that is not associated with your password. Choose a question that cannot be answered through research (for example, your mother's maiden name, your birth date, your first or last name, your social security number, your phone number, your pet's name, etc.). Choose an answer that is memorable, but not easy to guess. Your answer should be a complete sentence.
Keep your login information secure To make sure that no one gains unauthorized access to your address:
Never tell anyone your password or security question and answer, and don't write them down. Never send this information by email. Periodically change your password and security question.
--Please note that we aren't able to provide you with information about attempted logins, including, but not limited to, the IP address from which the attempted login was made, and the time and date any attempted logins occurred.
Virus prevention
Most computer viruses are contained in executable files, so standard virus detectors scan messages for executable files that appear to be viruses. Gmail blocks viruses in the most direct possible way: by not allowing users to receive executable files (such as files ending in .exe) that could contain damaging executable code. This protects your computer and halts the spread of such viruses. Gmail doesn't accept these types of files even if they are sent in a zipped (.zip, .tar, .tgz, .taz, .z, .gz) format. If executable files are sent to your Gmail address, the message is bounced back to the sender. We also offer anti-virus scanning for attachments. If you believe your computer has been infected by a virus, please see our troubleshooting suggestions.
Virus infection
Odd behaviors such as unwanted redirects, pop-up advertisements, altered Google search results, the addition of unwanted browser toolbars or side-search bars, and slow speeds are common symptoms of malicious software installed on your computer. This software may often be bundled with other free downloads without your knowledge. We're committed to taking steps to address these attacks on your ability to control your own computer. To learn more about our position, please read our Software Principles at http://www.google.com/corporate/software_principles.html If you think that you have unwanted software installed on your computer, we've suggested some well-known programs below that can detect and remove such applications. Please remember that we have no connection with these companies and can't comment on their effectiveness. We can tell you, though, that trying all of these programs often makes a difference, as does having the latest versions. Lavasoft Ad-Aware: http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php Spybot Search and Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html MacScan: http://macscan.securemac.com/download.html (for Mac users) If you feel you were deceived when you installed a program that creates popups or modifies your browser, you may want to file a complaint at http://stopbadware.org/home/get_involved. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) handles complaints about deceptive or unfair business practices in the U.S. To file a complaint, visit https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01, call 1-877-FTC-HELP, or write to:
Federal Trade Commission CRC-240 Washington, D.C. 20580
If your complaint is against a company in a country other than the United States, please file it at http://www.econsumer.gov/
Fake websites
To determine whether a website is legitimate or not: Look at the site's domain registration information at www.whois.net.
If the site is official, the company's information should be listed as the domain owner. Make sure the URL domain is correct when you visit the site. Click on any images and links to make sure you aren't redirected to a site within another domain. Always look for the padlock icon. When a site is secure, you'll see a padlock in the status bar at the bottom of your browser window. Look for the lock before you enter any private information, including your password.
Avoiding scams
Be careful of unsolicited messages. The Gmail Team will never ask for your password or other sensitive information. Be cautious of any message that asks for your personal information or that refer you to a webpage asking for personal information. If you receive a suspicious message, especially from a source claiming to be Google or Gmail, do not provide the information requested. Look for Gmail's phishing warning. Gmail flags messages that might be phishing - look for the red warning message along the top of suspicious emails.
Check the message headers. Make sure the URL is legitimate. Report suspicious messages to Google.
Government resources for reporting online abuse
The following are resources for reporting abuse online:
Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov), a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center. Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357).
Enabling the HTTPS setting - Gmail Notifier users must download a patch for Notifier to work with this setting. Learn more
- Errors in the Gmail for mobile application may result from enabling this setting. Learn more
If you sign in to Gmail via a non-secure Internet connection, like a public wireless or nonencrypted network, your Google account may be more vulnerable to hijacking. Non-secure networks make it easier for someone to impersonate you and gain full access to your Google account, including any sensitive data it may contain like bank statements or online log-in credentials. We recommend selecting the 'Always use https' option in Gmail any time your network may be non-secure. HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, is a secure protocol that provides authenticated and encrypted communication. To enable this feature in Gmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. Set 'Browser Connection' to 'Always use https.' Click Save Changes. Reload Gmail.
Please note that selecting 'Always use https' will prevent you from accessing Gmail via HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). In addition, it may make Gmail a bit slower. If you trust the security of your network, you can turn this feature off at any time. If you use a public computer to check your email, it's also important to end each of your Gmail sessions by clicking Sign out at the top of any Gmail page and to close all Gmail browser windows.
Your Account : Privacy & Security : Suspicious Messages
Messages asking for personal information
Watch a video on detecting phishing.
Spam comes in a variety of forms, including fraudulent messages. This mass-messaging is called 'spoofing' or 'password phishing.'
Such fraudulent practices involve messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, or the creation of an official-looking webpage that asks you to provide your username and password or other personal information. Such messages or pages could ask for your Social Security number, bank account number, PIN number, credit card number, mother's maiden name, or birthday. Spammers often ask for this information in an attempt to steal your Gmail address, your money, your credit, or your identity.
Google is currently testing a service designed to alert Gmail users to messages that appear to be phishing attacks. When the Gmail Team becomes aware of such an attack, the details of these messages are used to automatically identify future suspected phishing attacks. The result: when a Gmail user opens a suspected phishing message, Gmail displays a warning. Gmail's phishing alerts operate automatically, much like spam filtering. Gmail's spam filters automatically divert messages that are suspected of being unwanted messages into 'Spam'. Similarly, Gmail's phishing alerts automatically display warnings with messages that are suspected of being phishing attacks so that users know to take care before providing any personal information. You should always be wary of any message that asks for your personal information, or messages that refer you to a webpage asking for personal information. If you receive this type of message, especially from a source claiming to be Google or Gmail, please do not provide the information requested. Here's what you can do to protect yourself and stop fraudsters:
Make sure the URL domain on the given page is correct, and click on any images and links to verify that you are directed to proper pages within the site. For example, the Gmail URL is http://mail.google.com/ or, for even more security, https://mail.google.com/. Although some links may appear to contain 'gmail.com,' you may be redirected to another site after entering such addresses into your browser. Always look for the closed lock icon in the status bar at the bottom of your browser window whenever you enter any private information, including your password. Check the message headers. The 'From:' field is easily manipulated to show a false sender name. Learn how to view headers. If you're still uncertain, contact the organization from which the message appears to be sent. Don't use the reply address in the message, since it can be forged. Instead, visit the official website of the company in question, and find a different contact address. If you enter your Google account or personal information as the result of a spoof or phishing message, take action quickly. Send a copy of the message header and the entire text of the message to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. If you entered credit card or bank account numbers, contact your financial institution. If you think you may be the victim of identity theft, contact your local police. Gmail doesn't send unsolicited mass messages asking for passwords or personal information. If you think your Gmail address has been compromised or taken over, please click here so we can help resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
* If our system flags a message as phishing, but you've validated the source from which the message originated, click the down arrow next to Reply at the top-right of the message pane, and select Report Not Phishing to let us know the message is legitimate. And if you receive a message that our phishing detection system doesn't pick up on, click Report Phishing to send a copy of the message to the Gmail Team.
Account creation confirmations
If a new user lists a secondary email address when creating a Gmail address, we automatically send a confirmation message to that address. Unfortunately, users often misspell their secondary addresses, so the confirmation message is sent to the misspelled address instead of the user's intended address. This confirmation message is not an indication that your address has been compromised in any way. If you receive a confirmation message from Google regarding a new Gmail address that you did not create, you can safely disregard the message.
Custom 'From:' verification messages
Gmail users can customize the 'From:' field of messages they send by adding all of their email addresses to Gmail. When a user requests to add another email address to send mail from, we send a verification message to the account the user wants to add. If you've received a verification message but didn't make the request, don't worry. No one can send mail using your email address unless you click the link in the message to verify that you'd like to add your address to the listed Gmail address. Often times, users misspell their email addresses when entering multiple addresses to send mail from, so the confirmation message is delivered to the misspelled address instead of the user's address. You can simply delete the misaddressed mail to ensure that no one sends mail using your email address.
Reporting suspicious messages
To report phishing:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Open the message you'd like to report. Click the down arrow next to Reply, at the top-right of the message pane. Select Report Phishing.
You can also report phishing through our Help Center. To report spam or spoofing:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Open the message you'd like to report.
3. Click the Report Spam button at the top of the message.
Report other suspicious messages to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Someone is sending from my address
Please select the description that matches your situation below. You're receiving bounces for messages you never sent. There are messages in your Sent mail that you didn't send.
Password assistance messages
When an attempt to recover your Gmail username or password is made, an email from Google is automatically sent to your secondary email address. If you didn't request to recover your username or password, you can ignore the message. If you're concerned about the security of your Google Account, we recommend changing your password and security question. The Gmail Team isn't able to provide you with information about attempted logins including, but not limited to, the IP address from which the attempted login was made, and the time and date attempted logins occurred.
Harassment from a Gmail user
Gmail's Terms of Use do state in Section 3 that: "You shall not, shall not agree to, and shall not authorize or encourage any third party to: (i) use the Service to upload, transmit or otherwise distribute any content that is unlawful, defamatory, harassing, abusive, fraudulent, obscene, contains viruses, or is otherwise objectionable as reasonably determined by Google." First, if you feel that you are in danger, we suggest contacting your local authorities. For nuisance emails, we suggest setting up a filter in Gmail to send mail from the sender directly to your trash. If you have a Gmail address, please read How do I set up filters? for instructions. Because message headers and senders can be spoofed using a variety of means, we're unable to
take action on any user without further verification. In accordance with state and federal law, it is Google's policy only to provide information about a specific Gmail user pursuant to a valid third party subpoena or other appropriate legal process. We apologize for any inconvenience, and we're sorry that you're receiving such messages.
Spoofed messages
The message you received did not originate from Gmail or Google. Instead, it appears to have been sent by someone who has faked the Gmail address so that it falsely appears to be from Gmail. This practice is commonly called 'spoofing.' Please note that Google will never send unsolicited mass messages asking for your password or personal information, or messages containing executable attachments. You can help us prevent spoofing by reporting these messages to Google. To learn how to protect your Google account, please click here.
Your Account : Privacy & Security : Privacy Concerns
Ads in Gmail
Watch a video on your privacy and ads in Gmail. Ads & Related Information Ads in Gmail are placed in the same way that ads are placed alongside Google search results and, through the Google AdSense program, on content pages across the web. The goal is to provide users with helpful ads, links and content relevant to their specific interests. Gmail is a technology-based program. Advertising and related information are shown using a completely automated process. Ads are selected for relevance and served by Google computers using the same contextual advertising technology that powers our AdSense program. This technology enables Google to target dynamically changing content such as email or daily news stories. No humans will read the content of your email in order to target such advertisements or related information. Because the ads and related pages are matched to information that is of interest to you, we hope you'll find them relevant and useful.
Gmail users can't opt out of receiving ads because these sponsored links help Google support the cost of providing Gmail for free to our users. Instead of serving pop-ups and untargeted banner ads, Gmail displays text ads using our contextual advertising technology. These ads should be relevant to the content of your messages and we hope you'll find them useful. Your Privacy Google does not and will never rent, sell or share information that personally identifies you for marketing purposes without your express permission. No email content or other personally identifiable information will be provided to advertisers. Privacy is an issue we take very seriously. Only ads classified as Family-Safe are distributed through our content network and to your Gmail inbox. For example, Google would block certain ads from running next to an email about catastrophic news. If you'd like to know more about how Google handles your Gmail information, please read our Gmail Privacy Policy.
User IP addresses
Protecting our users' privacy is something we take very seriously. Personal information, including someone's exact location, can be gathered from someone's IP address, so Gmail doesn't reveal this information in outgoing mail headers. This prevents recipients from being able to track our users, or uncover what may be potentially sensitive personal information. Don't worry -- we aren't enabling spammers to abuse the system by not revealing IP addresses. Gmail uses many innovative spam filtering mechanisms to ensure that spammers have a difficult time sending bulk emails that arrive in users inboxes.
Your personal data
We only use personal data to enhance Gmail by providing you with highly relevant, unobtrusive ads. Your personal information will not be sold or given to any third party, including advertisers and/or business partners. Ever. If you'd like to know more, read our Privacy Policy.
Does Google read my mail?
Watch a video on your privacy and ads in Gmail.
Google does NOT read your mail. Privacy is an issue we take very seriously. Gmail is a technology-based program, so advertising and related information are shown using a completely automated process. Ads are selected for relevance and served by Google computers using the same contextual advertising technology that powers our AdSense program. This technology lets Google target dynamically changing content such as email or daily news stories. Because the ads and related pages are matched to information that is already of interest to you, we hope you'll find them relevant and useful. If you'd like to know more about how Google handles your Gmail information, please read our Gmail Privacy Policy.
Impersonation
If you believe someone has created a Gmail address in an attempt to impersonate your identity, you may wish to file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov), a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center. In addition, we recommend contacting your state's Office of Consumer Protection. Gmail is unable to participate in mediations involving third parties regarding impersonation. To read the Gmail Terms of Use, please visit: http://gmail.google.com/gmail/help/terms_of_use.html.
Protecting your child's online safety
We suggest following these helpful tips to practice with your children when they are online:
1. Keep your child's computer in a public area of your home so you can review their online activity. 2. Download parental control software. Parent control software or browser settings can block your children from potentially harmful sites. 3. Create filters in your child's Gmail address for addresses with whom you'd like them not to communicate. Learn more about Gmail Filters. 4. Have an open conversation with your children about appropriate email communication. 5. Advise them to not download attachments from unknown senders. Attachments may contain inappropriate content for young children. Please advise them to alert a guardian if they are unsure if an attachment is safe to download. 6. Tell your child to never give identifiable photos or information over email or when chatting on Google Talk. It is especially important to never give this information to unknown users.
For additional online parental control tips, please visit GetNetWise's guide to keeping children safe online: http://kids.getnetwise.org/. Please note that according to Gmail's terms of service children under the age of 13 may not have a Gmail address.
Accessing a deceased person's mail
If an individual has passed away and you need access to the content of his or her Gmail, please fax or mail us the following information:
Your full name and contact information, including a verifiable email address. The Gmail address of the individual who passed away. The full header from an email message that you have received at your verifiable email address, from the Gmail address in question. (To obtain the header from a message in Gmail, open the message, click More options, then click Show original. Copy everything from Delivered-To: through the References: line. Or learn how to obtain headers from other webmail or email providers). The entire contents of the message. A copy of the death certificate of the deceased. A copy of the document that gives you Power of Attorney over the Gmail address. If you are the parent of the individual, please send us a copy of the Birth Certificate if the Gmail address owner was under the age of 18. In this case, Power of Attorney is not required.
Postal Mail: Google Inc. Attention: Gmail User Support 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043 Fax: 650-644-0358 After we've received the above information, we'll need 30 days to process and validate the documents that you've provided. If you need access to the account sooner, in accordance with state and federal law, it is Google's policy to only provide information pursuant to a valid third party court order or other appropriate legal process.
Legal disclosure policy
As stated in our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Google complies with valid legal processes seeking account information, such as search warrants, court orders, or subpoenas.
For more information about the laws applying to government surveillance or other requests for personal information, you might be interested in the following: The Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. ? 2701, et seq. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/pIch121.html The ACLU's web page about the USA PATRIOT Act http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12126&c=207 The Center for Democracy and Technology's web page about government surveillance http://www.cdt.org/wiretap/ The Subpoena Defense Alliance http://www.subpoenadefense.org/ For information on accessing the contents of a deceased person's mail, click here.
If you have specific concerns about requests for your personal information, you may want to contact one of the organizations listed above or your own attorney.
A Gmail addreess has been registered with a trademarked name
Google does not monitor or control the email addresses selected by Gmail users. If you would like to pursue the potential misuse of your trademark, we suggest contacting the address holder for resolution of the matter.
Your Account : Account Information : Getting Started
Changing your password
Watch a video on changing your password. Here's how to change your password:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Accounts tab. Click Google Account settings. In the new window, click Change password under the Personal information option. Enter your current password and your new password.
Make sure you create a unique password to help keep someone from breaking in to your account.
Here are a few tips for creating your password, and keeping it safe:
Never tell anyone your password. Never write down your password. Even though your password will look random to others, think of a way to remember it so that you don't have to write it down. Change your password periodically. Don't choose a dictionary word as your password. Be creative. Include punctuation marks. Mix capital and lowercase letters. Use numbers. A variety of characters makes it harder to guess a password.
If your password isn't working, you'll need to go through our password recovery process. Google Apps users, please contact your organization's IT admin for help with password recovery.
Changing your settings
To change your user preferences, just click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. From there, navigate to one of the appropriate tabs:
On the General tab, you can change your language preferences, select display pictures for you and your contacts, or set up a vacation response. This tab is also where you'll find general display and navigation settings for your inbox. For 'Custom from:' options, setting up Mail Fetcher, upgrading your storage, or changing your Google Account Settings (including your Gmail password and security question), select the Accounts tab. Managing labels and filters is easy with the Labels and Filters tabs. If you'd like to forward your mail to another account or use POP or IMAP to download your mail to a desktop or mobile client (Microsoft Outlook or an iPhone, e.g.), click Forwarding and POP/IMAP. You can also adjust web clips settings and learn more about them on the Web Clips tab.
Changing your alternate email address
You don't have to provide an alternate email address, but we strongly encourage you to. Once you've started using Gmail, we'll use your alternate email address to communicate with you under the following circumstances:
We need to confirm your username after you create an address You can't log in to Gmail You've forgotten your password You're about to run out of storage space We need to alert you to any unusual activity involving your address
Here's how to change your alternate email address: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Accounts tab. Click Google Account settings. Select Change security question along the left side of the page. Enter or change the email address in the Secondary email field, and select Save. Close the Google Account window using your browser's Close button if you don't want to sign out of Gmail just yet.
Note to Google Apps users: This feature isn't currently included in Google Apps.
Changing your security question
If you need to change your secret question, it's easy -- just follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Accounts tab. Click Google Account settings. Click Change secret question under Personal information. Complete the form and click Save to make your changes.
Your Account : Account Information : Troubleshooting
I cannot access my account
We apologize for any inconvenience you're experiencing by not being able to access Gmail. To resolve this issue as quickly as possible, please follow the troubleshooting steps below. Following the instructions exactly will help ensure the best results. What's preventing you from accessing Gmail?
I forgot my password I forgot my username My account has been compromised My password doesn't seem to be working Loading issues
Another error or problem
What happens when you try to load your inbox?
I see 'Loading...' or 'This seems to be taking longer than usual' I'm returned to the login page without an error I'm shown a blank white page My browser refreshes the page or the 'Loading...' bar multiple times I'm shown garbled symbols and text, not my inbox Another error or problem
Please select your error below.
'Temporary Error (502)' 'Account Lockdown: Unusual Activity Detected' 'Page cannot be displayed' I'm locked out after using POP or IMAP Certificate error 'We're sorry...' (error 403) My issue isn't listed here
Did Gmail accept your username?
Yes No, I got an error
Did Gmail accept your username?
Yes No, I got an error
Did a password reset message arrive at your secondary address?
Yes, I received the password reset message No, I didn't receive the message I don't have a secondary email address
It's been 24 hours since I last tried to sign in to Gmail, including Gmail for mobile, POP, IMAP, or Gmail with other Google products
Were you able to successfully answer your security question?
Yes No
Did a link appear at the bottom of the security question results page?
Yes No
Did a password reset message arrive at your secondary address?
Yes No I don't have a secondary address
It's been 24 hours since I last tried to sign in to Gmail, including Gmail for mobile, POP, IMAP, or Gmail with other Google products
Please select any applications you have installed for further instructions.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts
My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug FunWebProducts My Web Search Toolbar None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail, the secure site, fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail, the secure site, fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail, the secure site, fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
My features disappeared
There are a few reasons you may not see the latest features in Gmail.
An unsupported browser If you sign in to Gmail using a browser that isn't fully supported, you'll automatically be directed to a basic HTML view of our service. To make sure that you can always access your mail, we've developed this basic HTML view that's compatible with almost any browser. Since your browser isn't fully supported, you might notice that some of your favorite
features aren't available in the basic HTML view, including the following:
o o o o o o
Spell checker Keyboard shortcuts Creating filters Adding, editing, importing, or deleting contacts Custom 'From:' addresses Rich formatting
If you're directed to the basic HTML view of Gmail, but you'd like to try using the standard Gmail view, visit: http://mail.google.com/mail?nocheckbrowser. Keep in mind that standard view may not work, even with this link, if your browser isn't supported. For access to all of Gmail's features, sign in from a fully supported browser, and make sure you have cookies and JavaScript enabled.
A Google Apps address
Addresses issued through Google Apps are just a little different than standard Gmail addresses and may get new features at different times. For more information, please visit the Google Apps Help Center, or watch our learning video on Google Apps email.
Another interface language Some of the features available in the English setting may not be available when you select another language setting. We're working hard to make all of Gmail's features available in every language setting, so thanks for your patience.
Your Account : Account Information : Learn More
Standard view and basic HTML view
Standard view is what you'll see when you sign in to Gmail from a fully supported browser. Even if you don't have access to a fully supported browser, we still want you to have access to Gmail -- that's why we've developed a basic HTML view of our service that's compatible with almost any browser. If you sign in to Gmail using a browser that isn't fully supported, you'll automatically be directed to the basic HTML view. The basic HTML view is a little different from what you're used to because the following features aren't available:
Spell checker Keyboard shortcuts Creating filters
Adding, editing, importing, or deleting contacts Custom 'From:' addresses Rich formatting
If you need to access these features, please sign in to Gmail from a fully supported browser, and make sure you have cookies and JavaScript enabled. If you're directed to the basic HTML view of Gmail, but would like to try using the standard Gmail view, visit http://mail.google.com/mail?nocheckbrowser. Keep in mind that standard view may not work, even with this link, if your browser isn't supported.
Canceling your Gmail address
If you decide that you don't need your Gmail address anymore, and you're sure you won't want your username in the future, you can simply remove Gmail from your Google Account. Here's how:
1. 2. 3. 4. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Accounts tab. Click Google Account settings. Click Edit next to My products on the right side. Click Delete Gmail Service.
Once you delete your Gmail address, you can't reactivate it, and you won't be able to retrieve any messages. Moving mail from another account to Gmail
There are two ways to move your mail from another account to Gmail: forwarding mail and fetching mail. Both methods will transfer new mail to Gmail, but only fetching can transfer your existing mail. With either option, we suggest creating filters and labels in Gmail to help organize this mail. Forwarding: If your other webmail provider supports auto-forwarding, you can set your Gmail address as the forwarding target. This will only forward mail that arrives from now on. You'll need to contact your other webmail provider to determine whether or not they support auto-forwarding, and for instructions on enabling it. Fetching: If your other webmail account offers POP3 access, you can configure Mail Fetcher in Gmail and automatically download all your other mail to Gmail. In a short amount of time, this will download all of your existing messages to Gmail, and will regularly check your other account for
new mail. You'll need to contact your other webmail provider to determine whether or not they support POP3 access, and for instructions on enabling it.
Setting a reply-to address
With Gmail, you can set a reply-to address that's different from your Gmail username. Responses to messages you send with an alternate reply-to address are delivered to that address. Keep in mind that your Gmail address still appears in the From: field. To define a reply-to address:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Click 'Settings' at the top of any Gmail page, and open the 'Accounts' tab. Click 'edit info' next to your email address. Click 'Specify a different "reply-to" address' in the dialogue box. Enter the address to which you want the recipient(s) to reply. Click 'Save Changes.'
Providing an alternate email address
You aren't required to provide an alternate email address, but we strongly encourage you to. Once you've started using Gmail, we'll use your alternate email address to communicate with you under the following circumstances:
To confirm your username after you create an address To communicate with you in the event that you can't log in to Gmail To help you if you've forgotten your password To notify you that you're about to run out of storage space To alert you to any unusual activity
Learn how to enter or change your alternate email address. Backing up your mail with POP
Here's how to download a copy of every message* in Gmail to an mail client:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. Select Enable POP for all mail (even mail that's already been downloaded). Click Save Changes.
5. Open the mail client you've configured for Gmail, and check for new messages. Gmail messages are downloaded in batches, so it may take time for everything to appear in your mail client.
* Messages in Spam and Trash aren't downloaded unless you move them to your inbox or All Mail.
Dormant addresses
A dormant address is a Gmail address that hasn't been used for six months. You can still receive mail if your address is dormant, but you need to log in to keep your account active. If you don't log in to Gmail within three months of it being labeled dormant -- or for nine consecutive months -- Google may delete the address.
What happens when Gmail goes out of beta?
Once you have a Gmail address, it's yours. Even after Gmail goes out of beta, you'll keep the same address and username. We can't say when we're coming out of beta, but we're looking forward to it!
Google Apps and Gmail differences
While Google Apps Email is very similar to Gmail in most ways, there are a few key differences between the two services:
Google Apps email addresses are issued by an IT admin, not created by individual users. They use the format 'username@your_domain.com' rather than 'username@gmail.com.' The Gmail password reset flow doesn't apply to Google Apps accounts. If you forget your Google Apps password, please contact your IT admin for assistance. When setting up POP or IMAP access to your Google Apps mail account, make sure to enter your full email address whenever you're asked for your username or address. However, make sure to use the recommended servers, which include the domain 'gmail.com.' If you have a question about your Google Apps account, you can contact your admin for help. If you are the domain admin, you can learn more about managing Google Apps in the Admin Help Center.
Other minor differences between Google Apps and Gmail are explained in the relevant help center entries.
Last account activity
Clicking the Details link next to the Last account activity line at the bottom of any Gmail page shows information about recent activity in your mail. Recent activity includes any times that your mail was accessed, using a regular web browser, through a POP client, from a mobile device, etc. We'll list the IP address from which the access was made, as well as the time and date. How to use this data If you're concerned about unauthorized access to your mail, you'll be able to use this data to find out if and when someone gained access. It's information we'd use to troubleshoot unauthorized account activity, and now it's available to you. Does the Access Type column show any unusual access? If you don't use POP to collect your mail, but your Recent activity table is showing some POP access, it may be a sign that your account has been compromised. The IP address column is also useful. If you always or most often sign in to Gmail using a single computer, your IP address should be the same, or start with the same two sets of numbers (for example, 172.16.xx.xx). If you're seeing an IP address that differs greatly from your usual IP address, it could either mean that you've recently accessed your mail from a different location, or that someone has accessed your mail. Your current IP address is displayed below the Recent activity table. Concurrent sessions If your mail is currently being accessed from another location, we'll list the other session(s) in the Concurrent session information table. This could mean that you simply have another browser window open with Gmail loaded, or that your home computer is logged in to Gmail while you're accessing your mail from work. If you're concerned about any concurrent access, you can sign out all sessions other than your current session by clicking Sign out all other sessions. If you think your account has been compromised You'll need to change your password and your security question. The first step is to read our suggestions on choosing a good password to make sure that your new password is secure. Then, follow the instructions in How do I change my password? to update your password. Second, read about choosing a good security question and answer before updating your settings. Additionally, we suggest reading some tips on keeping your account safe.
Finally, if you're unable to access your account, you can report it here.
Your Account : Creating an Account : Getting Started
Getting started guide
Brand new to Gmail? No problem. Here's a quick run-through of what you'll need to get comfortable.
Contents
Getting to know your links Labels Filters Search Chat
Settling in First, you may want to take a minute to familiarize yourself with the navigation link s:
Compose Mail opens a new message. If you're feeling shaky, you can read more to brush up on sending messages. Inbox shows your conversations (the number in parentheses indicates how many unread conversations you have). Starred shows you only messages you've marked with a star (use stars to mean whatever you'd like). Chats lists your archived Chat conversations. Sent Mail shows messages you've sent. Drafts houses messages you've started and saved to work on later.
All Mail shows you almost all of your mail; you'll see content from your Inbox, Starred, Chats, Sent, Drafts, and all your archived messages; you won't see Spam or Trash. Spam is where we send the messages we think are suspicious. Trash is where messages you delete end up; you can empty the trash whenever you feel like it. Contacts lists the email addresses of people you've corresponded with; you can add more details as you see fit. back to top
Organizing and sorting your mail
Next, you'll probably want to get organized. If you find the idea of browsing through thousands of messages to find a single conversation a little daunting, you can make things a lot easier using labels, filters, and search -- and you won't have to delete anything. Here's how it works:
Labels
You can create labels and apply them - manually or automatically -- in order to group related messages together. For example, let's say you want to keep messages from your mom all in one place. If you have a message from her already, just check the box next to the message in your Inbox. Create a label for her messages; select New label from the More Actions drop-down menu. Enter a name for your label, and click OK. The name of your label will appear just before the subject line.
You can find all your messages that have this label attached by clicking the label's name in the Labels section in the lower-left part of any Gmail page.
At this point, you can click Archive; the message will disappear from your Inbox, but will remain listed when you click the 'Mom' label, or All Mail. You can also still search for your archived messages. All you're doing when you archive a message is helping to keep the Inbox clutter down.
Read more about labels back to top
Filters If you don't want to mark all your messages from Mom one-by-one, you can set up a filter. The filter will detect when your mom emails you, and automatically applies the 'Mom' label (and if you'd like, you can send the message straight to the Mom section and skip the Inbox). To do so, just follow these steps:
Open a message from your mom. From the More Actions drop-down menu, select Filter messages like these. In the 'From:' field, enter your mom's email address. Click Next Step >. Check the Appy the label: box and select Mom from your Choose label... drop-down menu (you might also want to apply some of the other options, like Skip the Inbox, which will send her messages straight to the Mom section and keep your Inbox clean). 6. If you'd like to add the label to existing messages as well as future ones, select the Also apply filter to x conversations below checkbox. 7. Click Create Filter. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
You don't have to limit your use of filters or labels to any single person or email address, though; that's just the beginning. You can create filters to detect messages with certain words in the
subject line, the body of the email, or messages sent to a specific person, and automatically perform any of the actions shown in the image above. This means you can automatically apply a star to messages from your mom that contain the word 'cookies.' Get creative. You can always go back and perfect your filters; just click Settings and select the Filters tab .
Read more on filters back to top
Search If you're worried that you won't be able to find a specific conversation after you move it from your inbox, search has got you covered. When you'd like to find a message, you can enter a word or phrase in the search field and click the Search Mail button. Your results will be displayed with your search terms highlighted in yellow.
If your search is a little complicated -- maybe you're trying to find a message from your mom, about a restaurant, and you remember that she sent it to you and your brother. Just click Show search options. You can enter all of these criteria (and then some) to refine your results.
And there you have it. If you'd like, you can read up on more tips for using search operators to find your messages.
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Instant Communication Chat As you're looking around, you'll probably notice the Chat box in under the links in the left navigation bar.
Chat allows you to talk to your Gmail contacts (those who use Gmail, Google Talk, or even your AIM buddies) in real-time, directly within Gmail. The status icon to the left of your contacts' names indicates whether they're available (green), idle (yellow), busy (red), or offline (grey). You can also add a note, by clicking the Set status here link, which will show under your name in your friends' Gmail. To chat with a friend:
1. Click the name of your friend in the Chat section. A window will open in the lower-right corner of the page. 2. Type into the text field. 3. Press Enter to send your message.
Unless you choose to chat off the record, your Chat conversations will be archived and stored in your Gmail Chats label. This way, you can search for content from your chats, or you can browse your previous conversations by clicking the Chats navigation link.
Further reading
That should be enough to get you started. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit our Help Group and ask our community of users, or browse the Help Center for more information.
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Signing up
Anyone in the world is now welcome to create a Gmail address at http://mail.google.com/mail/signup. Enjoy!
How much does Gmail cost?
Gmail is completely free. You don't have to pay for filters, POP or special webmail options. To get started, all you need is to visit http://mail.google.com/mail/signup. Enjoy!
What is Gmail?
Gmail is a free, search-based webmail service that combines the best features of traditional email with Google's search technology. Gmail makes locating messages so easy that you'll never need to shuffle mail in your inbox again. Besides offering an entirely new way of reading and tracking messages, Gmail includes over 5 GB of storage space -- and we'll keep giving you more space as we're able. Best of all, it's free. To learn more about the benefits of Gmail, visit our Getting Started section.
What is a Google Account?
Your Google Account gives you access to various Google products, including iGoogle, Google Groups, Google Alerts, Google Product Search Shopping List, and Personalized Search. If you've used any of those services before, you already have a Google Account. If you have a Gmail address, you can use your Gmail username and password to sign in to your Google Account. If you don't yet have a Google Account, you can create one. Note: If you share a computer and don't want others to see your personalized homepage (which may link to Gmail), be sure to sign out of your Google Account when you've finished using the computer.
How can I switch to Gmail from another email service?
If you're looking to switch to Gmail from another email service like Yahoo.com or Hotmail.com, please try our interactive switching guide.
Your Account : Creating an Account : Troubleshooting
The link I followed 'has already been used to create an account'
Gmail works hard to keep spammers from using Gmail addresses. As part of this effort, we refuse to create addresses that we believe will be used for spam. Unfortunately, we may sometimes refuse legitimate signups. If you've been stopped in error, we're sorry for the inconvenience. Gmail weighs several factors when evaluating registration attempts, including the number of
addresses that have been created from that location. Users trying to create a lot of addresses at once, like for a class or group, may hit this limit.
If you routinely need to create addresses in bulk on behalf of other users, please consider using Google Apps.
The username I want is not available
Gmail lists a username as 'not available' for one of three reasons:
1. The username is already in use. 2. The username was in use, but the address has been deleted or become dormant. 3. We've reserved that username to prevent spam or abuse.
To protect our users' privacy, we can't reveal any details about why a username is unavailable, nor can we restore or release usernames that have been deleted or become dormant.
Why can't I have a shorter username?
We've discovered that short usernames at popular domains receive significantly more spam since they're easy to automatically generate. Gmail's requirement that all usernames be at least six characters in length is meant to keep spam out of your inbox. (Dots or periods don't count as characters when creating your username.)
Your Account : Creating an Account : Learn More
Inviting others to join Gmail
Anyone in the world can now create a Gmail address at http://mail.google.com/mail/signup, but you can still invite your friends to let them know about our service. If you don't happen to see a blue Invite a friend box, please be patient -- Gmail invitations are always randomly distributed. If you have the ability to invite friends to try out Gmail, you'll see the Invite a friend box on the left side of any Gmail page. Just enter your friend's email address in the text box, and click Send Invite to instantly send an invitation. If the person you're sending an invitation to is in your Contacts list, Gmail will auto-complete his or her email address for you. And finally, if you'd like to look at the invitation you're about to send, click preview invite. While previewing the invite, you can also personalize the message that will be sent to your friend.
If you run out of invitations, they'll be replenished over time.
Customizing Gmail for your business, school, or organization
You can give your users Google email, chat, and more -- all on your own custom domain (ex: user@your-domain.com). The service is hosted by Google, so there's nothing to download, install, or maintain. You can be up and running quickly, even if you don't have an IT staff. And if you don't have an Internet domain yet, we can help you register one. It's all part of Google Apps. Learn more.
Verification codes
When you create a Gmail address, we'll send a verification code to your secondary email address. This code is a unique set of letters and numbers that identifies you as the creator and owner of your Gmail address. Please save this code in case you ever need help accessing Gmail - we may ask for your it to confirm your identity.
Your Messages : Sending : Sending : Getting Started
Forwarding messages
To forward an individual message:
1. Open the appropriate conversation and select the message to forward. 2. Click Forward from the bottom of the message card. 3. Enter the email address(es) to which the email should be forwarded, and add any notes in the message field. If the message has attachments, you can choose not to forward them by deselecting the checkbox next to the filename below the Subject field. 4. Click Send.
To forward an entire conversation:
1. Open the appropriate conversation. 2. Click Forward all from the right side of the Conversation View.
Forwarding an entire conversation will add all messages from a conversation into a single
message. Each message will be clearly marked, and will be listed in order from oldest to most recent. To forward an inline image:
1. 2. 3. 4. Open the message you'd like to forward. Click Forward along the bottom of the message. Click Rich formatting >> above the text field of the message you're forwarding. Click Send.
You can also forward all your mail automatically. At this time, you can't select from your Contacts while forwarding a message. We'd love to hear your feedback on our suggestions page.
Forwarding inline images
To forward a message containing inline images, please ensure you have Rich formatting enabled.* To enable Rich formatting or to check whether you have it enabled:
1. Click Compose Mail. 2. Click Rich formatting >> above the blank text field of the message (if you don't see this link, you already have Rich formatting enabled and won't need to do anything else). 3. Discard the blank message.
With Rich formatting enabled, just open the message you'd like to forward, click Forward along the bottom of the message, and then click Send. * Note that Rich formatting is not available in Gmail's basic HTML view.
Your Messages : Sending : Sending : Troubleshooting
'This Gmail user does not exist...'
This error usually occurs when there are typos in the recipient's email address. Some common errors include the following:
Quotation marks: <'username@gmail.com'> or <"username@gmail.com"> Dots at the end of the address:
Spaces before or after an address: < username@gmail.com>,
If you're sure there are no mistakes, the Gmail address may have been disabled, deleted, or never existed in the first place.
'The recipient server did not accept our requests...'
This error message indicates that we've attempted to make a connection with your recipient's server but didn't receive a reply. Some possible causes include the following:
The other domain doesn't have up-to-date MX records or is otherwise misconfigured. The other domain is blacklisting or graylisting messages from Gmail. The other domain is experiencing temporary networking problems.
We recommend contacting the customer service department of the recipient's domain for further instructions. If you receive this bounce message when sending to your Google Apps domain, please see our instructions for configuring your MX records.
The wrong time is listed for messages
If the time displayed on your messages does not match your system clock, there may be an issue with the time zone listed in your Google Account settings. To fix this issue please follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Visit https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageAccount?service=mail. Find the Personal information section and click Edit. For the Time Zone field, choose the time zone that matches your location. Click Save. Sign out of Gmail and sign back in.
If this doesn't resolve your issue, your system clock may be set incorrectly. To set your Date and Time Properties in Windows, please follow these steps:
Double-click the time in your taskbar to open the Date & Time Properties menu. From the Date & Time tab, verify that the appropriate month, day, and year are selected. Click Apply to save any changes you make. From the Time Zone tab, verify that your time zone is selected. If the time zone in which you are located is not displayed, select your time zone from the drop-down menu. 5. Verify that the box beside Automatically adjust clock for daylight savings changes is checked. 6. Click OK. 1. 2. 3. 4.
A message I sent bounced Note: This article is designed to help Gmail users with specific delivery problems. If you are the administrator of another webmail server, and your domain is having trouble receiving messages from Gmail, please refer to this article instead.
Open your original sent message, and click Show details to display the recipient email address. Check carefully for any mistakes in the username or domain, like 'yourfriend@gamil.com.' Was there an error?
Yes, I found a mistake in the original message No, the original recipient address is correct
Who sent the notification message?
Mail Delivery Subsystem The Mailer Daemon at another domain
'Connection timed out' 'Could not contact DNS servers' 'The recipient server did not accept our requests to connect' 'Message rejected. See http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=69585 for more information.' 'This Gmail user does not exist. Please try doublechecking the recipient's email address for typos or unnecessary spaces.' 'Parse Error: Illegal To: address (invalid domain name)' 'The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate that prevents...' 'Gmail tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected...'
Please select the error message that most closely resembles the one you received.
'Invalid recipient' 'Mailbox unavailable' 'Message content rejected' 'Recipient address rejected' 'Relay not permitted' 'Sender verification failed' 'Sorry, relaying denied from your location' 'Sorry, that domain isn't in my list of allowed rcpthosts' 'Blocked for abuse...' Other
'The IP you're using to send email is not authorized...'
In order to prevent spam, Gmail refuses mail when the sending IP address does not match the sending domain. To send mail from your server to Gmail, we suggest using the SMTP relay provided by your ISP. Please note that we are unable to whitelist IP addresses or otherwise make exceptions at this time.
Messages I send aren't arriving at their destination Note: This article is designed to help Gmail users with specific delivery problems. If you are the administrator of another webmail server, and your domain is having trouble receiving messages from Gmail, please refer to this article instead.
There are some common reasons for mail not arriving at its destination. To learn more, please select the option below that matches your issue. Did the message bounce?
Yes, my message was returned as undeliverable No, I didn't receive notification that my message didn't arrive
Who sent the notification message?
Mail Delivery Subsystem The Mailer Daemon at another domain
'Connection timed out' 'Could not contact DNS servers' 'The recipient server did not accept our requests to connect' 'Message rejected. See http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=69585 for more information.' 'This Gmail user does not exist. Please try doublechecking the recipient's email address for typos or unnecessary spaces.' 'Parse Error: Illegal To: address (invalid domain name)' 'The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate that prevents...' 'Gmail tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected...'
Please select the error message that most closely resembles the one you received.
'Invalid recipient' 'Mailbox unavailable' 'Message content rejected' 'Recipient address rejected' 'Relay not permitted' 'Sender verification failed' 'Sorry, relaying denied from your location' 'Sorry, that domain isn't in my list of allowed rcpthosts' 'Blocked for abuse...' Other
Is the message in Sent Mail?
No, the message isn't in Sent Mail Yes, the message is in Sent Mail
Was there a mistake in the recipient's address?
Yes, I found an error in the recipient's address No, the recipient's address is correct
Did the message go to your recipient's spam folder?
Yes, they found my message with their junk mail No, I contacted the recipient, but the message was not in their junk, spam, or trash folders
A message I sent was delayed Note: This article is designed to help Gmail users with specific delivery problems. If you are the administrator of another webmail server, and your domain is having trouble receiving messages from Gmail, please refer to this article instead.
This page is designed to walk you through all of our troubleshooting information for delayed message delivery in an orderly fashion. At each step, we'll provide instructions or further questions to help narrow down the issue you're facing. Following the instructions exactly will help ensure the best results. Please choose the option that best describes your situation:
I sent the message using the Gmail web interface I sent the message from an email client (Apple Mail or Outlook, e.g.)
Do you continue to experience this issue?
Yes, messages I send from the web interface are delayed No, messages are only delayed in my email client
Did you send the message to another Gmail user?
Yes, I sent the message to another '@gmail.com' address No, but I sent the message to an email address hosted by Google Apps No, the other email account is not hosted by Google
Did you receive a delivery failure notification for the message?
Yes, I received a bounce message No, the message didn't bounce
'Our system detected an illegal attachment on your message.' 'Over quota' or 'Inbox full' 'Your message exceeded Gmail's size limits.' 'Our servers have detected a mail loop.' 'This Gmail user does not exist.' 'The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate that prevents additional messages from being delivered.' 'We weren't able to find the recipient domain.' 'Parse Error: Illegal To: address (invalid domain name) None of the errors above
Did the other Gmail user eventually receive the message?
No, they haven't gotten it yet
Yes, they received the message after a delay
Were you able to display the full headers of the affected message?
Yes, I got the headers No, I didn't get the headers
Did you receive a Delivery Status Notification that warned you of the delay?
Yes, I got a notification No, I didn't get a notification
For more information on what different Delivery Status Notification details mean, click the matching option below.
'The recipient server did not accept our requests to connect.' 'Unspecified Error (SENT_RCPT): Connection timed out.' 'Unspecified Error (SENT_MESSAGE): Connection timed out.' 'Mail from this IP address blocked due to DNS block list,' or a similar message 'Could not contact DNS servers.' I can't find the Delivery Status Notification details, or they aren't listed here
Outgoing messages marked as spam
Unfortunately, Gmail messages are sometimes delivered to spam, bulk, and junk folders by other webmail providers. If you're told that a message you sent from Gmail never arrived, we suggest asking the recipient to check his or her spam, bulk, or junk folder. If you communicate with the same group of people on a regular basis, you might also try sending
messages from Google Groups. Please visit http://groups.google.com/ for more information.
Quoted text is purple
Gmail displays in purple any text quoted from previous messages, making it easier to recognize information from past messages while participating in a conversation.
My domain can't receive mail from Gmail Note: This article is designed to help mail server administrators with advanced delivery problems. If you are a Gmail user, check out our articles on sending mail instead.
Occasionally, Gmail IP addresses are included on 'suspicious' lists by third-party organizations, like SORBS. Here are some suggestions that will help your domain receive valid messages and maintain a low level of spam:
Try using a spam classifier, like SpamAssassin. When determining if a mail is valid, spam classifiers consider many aspects of the message, rather than just looking at the IP address. If you use a third-party block list, you should have a whitelisting mechanism in your SMTP gateway. Using only one list, such as SORBS, is not recommended. Avoid using lists that only expire entries after long periods of time, or even worse, never. We recommend using a 48-hour list that only keeps records of recent spam activity.
If your domain still has trouble receiving messages from Gmail users, please follow the troubleshooting steps below. At each step, we'll provide instructions or further questions to help narrow down the issue you're facing. Is your domain currently hosted by Google Apps?
Yes No, I use another hosting service
Is your receiving issue limited to Gmail, or are you having problems receiving from other domains as well?
It's specific to Gmail
I'm having problems with multiple domains
Do recipients on your domain eventually receive the messages from Gmail?
Yes, but the messages are delayed No, the messages never reach the recipients
Do senders receive delivery failure notifications?
Yes, Gmail senders receive delivery status notifications, either immediately or after a few days No, Gmail senders do not receive delivery status notifications
Where did the delay occur?
The delay occurred before Gmail connected The delay occurred after Gmail connected
Did your servers pass the diagnostic tests?
My servers pass all diagnostics My servers fail at least one diagnostic test
What error did the sender receive?
"The recipient server did not accept our requests to connect" Other
'The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate...'
The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving too many messages in a short period of time. Please note that this is a temporary issue and should be resolved shortly. If you're using Google Apps, and your entire domain is unable to receive messages due to this error, please have your administrator visit the Google Apps Help Center.
'Our servers have detected a mail loop...'
A mail loop often occurs when two accounts are forwarding to each other. If you forward your Gmail messages to another email address and your other email address forwards back to Gmail, the same mail could be sent back and forth forever. When Gmail detects a mail loop, we deliberately bounce the message to break the cycle.
Troubleshooter: Outgoing Message Bounced
Open your original sent message, and click Show details to display the recipient email address. Check carefully for any mistakes in the username or domain, like 'yourfriend@gamil.com.' Was there an error?
Yes, I found a mistake in the original message No, the original recipient address is correct
Who sent the notification message?
Mail Delivery Subsystem The Mailer Daemon at another domain
'Connection timed out' 'Could not contact DNS servers' 'The recipient server did not accept our requests to connect' 'Message rejected. See http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=69585
for more information.' 'This Gmail user does not exist. Please try doublechecking the recipient's email address for typos or unnecessary spaces.' 'Parse Error: Illegal To: address (invalid domain name)' 'The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate that prevents...' 'Gmail tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected...'
Please select the error message that most closely resembles the one you received.
'Invalid recipient' 'Mailbox unavailable' 'Message content rejected' 'Recipient address rejected' 'Relay not permitted' 'Sender verification failed' 'Sorry, relaying denied from your location' 'Sorry, that domain isn't in my list of allowed rcpthosts' 'Blocked for abuse...' Other
Troubleshooter: Outgoing Message Delayed
This page is designed to walk you through all of our troubleshooting information for delayed message delivery in an orderly fashion. At each step, we'll provide instructions or further questions to help narrow down the issue you're facing. Following the instructions exactly will help ensure the best results. Please choose the option that best describes your situation:
I sent the message using the Gmail web interface
I sent the message from an email client (Apple Mail or Outlook, e.g.)
Do you continue to experience this issue?
Yes, messages I send from the web interface are delayed No, messages are only delayed in my email client
Did you send the message to another Gmail user?
Yes, I sent the message to another '@gmail.com' address No, but I sent the message to an email address hosted by Google Apps No, the other email account is not hosted by Google
Did you receive a delivery failure notification for the message?
Yes, I received a bounce message No, the message didn't bounce
'Our system detected an illegal attachment on your message.' 'Over quota' or 'Inbox full' 'Your message exceeded Gmail's size limits.' 'Our servers have detected a mail loop.' 'This Gmail user does not exist.' 'The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate that prevents additional messages from being delivered.' 'We weren't able to find the recipient domain.' 'Parse Error: Illegal To: address (invalid domain name) None of the errors above
Did the other Gmail user eventually receive the message?
No, they haven't gotten it yet Yes, they received the message after a delay
Were you able to display the full headers of the affected message?
Yes, I got the headers No, I didn't get the headers
Did you receive a Delivery Status Notification that warned you of the delay?
Yes, I got a notification No, I didn't get a notification
For more information on what different Delivery Status Notification details mean, click the matching option below.
'The recipient server did not accept our requests to connect.' 'Unspecified Error (SENT_RCPT): Connection timed out.' 'Unspecified Error (SENT_MESSAGE): Connection timed out.' 'Mail from this IP address blocked due to DNS block list,' or a similar message 'Could not contact DNS servers.' I can't find the Delivery Status Notification details, or they aren't listed here
Troubleshooter: Outgoing Message Not Delivered
There are some common reasons for mail not arriving at its destination. To learn more, please select the option below that matches your issue.
Did the message bounce?
Yes, my message was returned as undeliverable No, I didn't receive notification that my message didn't arrive
Who sent the notification message?
Mail Delivery Subsystem The Mailer Daemon at another domain
'Connection timed out' 'Could not contact DNS servers' 'The recipient server did not accept our requests to connect' 'Message rejected. See http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=69585 for more information.' 'This Gmail user does not exist. Please try doublechecking the recipient's email address for typos or unnecessary spaces.' 'Parse Error: Illegal To: address (invalid domain name)' 'The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate that prevents...' 'Gmail tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected...'
Please select the error message that most closely resembles the one you received.
'Invalid recipient' 'Mailbox unavailable' 'Message content rejected' 'Recipient address rejected' 'Relay not permitted' 'Sender verification failed'
'Sorry, relaying denied from your location' 'Sorry, that domain isn't in my list of allowed rcpthosts' 'Blocked for abuse...' Other
Is the message in Sent Mail?
No, the message isn't in Sent Mail Yes, the message is in Sent Mail
Was there a mistake in the recipient's address?
Yes, I found an error in the recipient's address No, the recipient's address is correct
Did the message go to your recipient's spam folder?
Yes, they found my message with their junk mail No, I contacted the recipient, but the message was not in their junk, spam, or trash folders
Unresponsive Send Button
Symptoms: After composing a message, clicking the Send button does nothing. No error appears. Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution:
Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes
No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Bulk Senders Guidelines
We've received inquiries from bulk senders who'd like more information on best practices to ensure that their mail is delivered to Gmail users. The way Gmail classifies spam depends heavily on reports from our users. Gmail users can mark and unmark any message as spam, at any time. To increase the inbox delivery rate of your messages, make sure that all recipients on your distribution lists actually want to receive the mail. Visit the following sections for some tips on how to make sure your messages are welcomed by Gmail users. Authentication & Identification Subscription Unsubscribing Format Delivery
Third-Party Senders Affiliate Marketing Programs
Authentication & Identification
To ensure that Gmail can identify you: Use a consistent IP address to send bulk mail. Keep valid reverse DNS records for the IP address(es) from which you send mail, pointing to your domain. Use the same address in the 'From:' header on every bulk mail you send.
We also recommend publishing an SPF record, and signing with DKIM or DomainKeys.
Subscription
Each user on your distribution list should opt to receive messages from you in one of the following ways (opt-in): Through an email asking to subscribe to your list. By manually checking a box on a web form, or within a piece of software.
We also recommend that you verify each email address before subscribing them to your list. The following methods of address collection are not considered 'opt-in' and are not recommended: Using an email address list purchased from a third-party. Setting a checkbox on a web form or within a piece of software to subscribe all users by default (requiring users to explicitly opt-out of mailings).
Unsubscribing
A user must be able to unsubscribe from your mailing list through one of the following means: A prominent link in the body of an email leading users to a page confirming his or her unsubscription (no input from the user, other than confirmation, should be required). By replying to your email with an unsubscribe request.
To help ensure that your messages aren't flagged as spam, we also recommend that you: Automatically unsubscribe users whose addresses bounce multiple pieces of mail. Periodically send confirmation messages to users. Include each mailing list they are signed up for, and offer the opportunity to unsubscribe from those in
which they are no longer interested. Provide a 'List-Unsubscribe' header which points to a web form or email address where the user can unsubscribe easily from future mailings (Note: This is not a substitute method for unsubscribing).
It's possible that your users forward mail from other accounts, so we recommend that you: Explicitly indicate the email address subscribed to your list. Support a URL method of unsubscribing from your mailing list (this is beneficial if your mailing list manager can't tell who is unsubscribing based on the 'Reply-to:' address).
Format
All bulk messages you send must be formatted according to RFC 2822 SMTP standards and, if using HTML, w3.org standards. Messages should indicate that they are bulk mail, using the 'Precedence: bulk' header field. Attempts to hide the true sender of the message or the true landing page for any web links in the message may result in non-delivery. The subject of each message should be relevant to the body's content and not be misleading.
Delivery
While Gmail works hard to deliver all legitimate mail to a user's inbox, it's possible that some legitimate messages may be marked as spam. Gmail does not accept 'whitelisting' requests from bulk senders, and we can't guarantee that all of your messages will bypass our spam filters. To make sure our users receive all the mail they'd like to, we've provided them with a method for sending us feedback about messages flagged as spam -- users have the option of clicking a 'Not spam' button for each message flagged by our spam filters. We listen to users' reports, and correct problems in order to provide them with the best user experience. As long as our users don't consider your mail as spam, you shouldn't have inbox delivery problems. There are two important factors that, under normal circumstances, help messages arrive in Gmail users' inboxes: The 'From:' address is listed in the user's Contacts list. A user clicks 'Not Spam' to alert Gmail that messages sent from that address are solicited.
If you send both promotional mail and transactional mail relating to your organization, we recommend separating mail by purpose as much as possible. You can do this by: Using separate email addresses for each function. Sending mail from different domains and/or IP addresses for each function.
By using these tips, it's more likely that the important transactional mail will be delivered to a user's inbox. Our guidelines are meant to help you build a good reputation within the Gmail system, resulting in continual delivery to Gmail inboxes.
Third-Party Senders
If others use your service to send mail (for example: ISPs), you are responsible for monitoring your users and/or clients' behavior. You must have an email address available for users and/or clients to report abuse (abuse@yourdomain.com). You must maintain up-to-date contact information in your WHOIS record, and on abuse.net. You must terminate, in a timely fashion, all users and/or clients who use your service to send spam mail.
Affiliate Marketing Programs
Affiliate marketing programs reward third-parties for bringing visitors to your site. Unfortunately, these programs are attractive to hard-core spammers and can potentially do more harm than good. Please note the following: If your brand becomes associated with affiliate marketing spam, it can affect the mail sent by you and your other affiliates. It is your responsibility to monitor your affiliates and remove them if they send spam.
If you are sending mail in accordance with our guidelines and Gmail continues to mark your messages as spam, troubleshoot further.
Your Messages : Sending : Sending : Learn More
Sending with UTF-8 encoding
Each time you send a message, Gmail automatically selects an appropriate encoding for the language(s) in which you've composed your mail. It's possible, however, that the recipient may not be able to properly view the message you've sent. If your contacts are having trouble viewing messages you've sent them, we recommend using 'UTF-8' (Unicode) for all outgoing mail. UTF-8 is a standard encoding that's accepted by many email clients.
Changing your username
It isn't possible to change your username once you've created an address, but there are some options to change the way your username is displayed.
If you'd like to use a version of your username with fewer or more dots (.), you don't have to change a thing. If your username is 'my.address@gmail.com,' messages sent to 'myaddress@gmail.com' and 'm.y.a.c.c.o.u.n.t@gmail.com' are already delivered to your Inbox. Learn more about dots. If you'd like to change the name that's used on your outgoing messages, follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Accounts tab. In the Send mail as: section, locate the email address you'd like to edit. Click edit next to the address. Change the Name field as desired, and click 'Save changes.'
For more drastic username changes, you'll need to sign up for a new address.
Sending limits
In an effort to fight spam and prevent abuse, Google will temporarily disable your account if you send a message to more than 500 recipients or if you send a large number of undeliverable messages. If you use a POP or IMAP client (Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail, e.g.), you may only send a message to 100 people at a time. Your account should be re-enabled within 24 hours. If you communicate with the same group of people on a regular basis, you might be interested in Google Groups. If you send a large number of undeliverable messages, we suggest verifying your contacts' email addresses. It's also important that everyone you are sending mail to is willing to receive it. Learn more about best practices for sending a large amount of mail through Gmail.
Your Messages : Sending : Composing : Getting Started
Sending messages
Here's a guide to what you'll need to do in order to send a message in Gmail: The essentials
Click the Compose Mail link on any Gmail screen (it's on the left, under the Gmail logo). Enter your recipient's email address. You can type the address in the 'To:' field, or find the address in your Contacts list. Enter a subject for your message in the 'Subject:' field. Write your message! Just click in the large field and type away.
When you're done composing, click the Send button (located just above the 'To:' field). You'll see a confirmation at the top of the window that your message was sent.
Extras
You can change the formatting, font, and color of your message text using the tools located above the compose window. You can also attach files. We suggest using the carbon copy feature when you'd like to include additional recipients whose responses are welcome but not required. Display this field by clicking Add Cc. The blind carbon copy field (click Add Bcc to display) lets you hide recipients' addresses and names from one another. When you begin to type an address in the 'To:,' 'Cc:,' or 'Bcc:' fields, Gmail will suggest complete addresses from your Contacts list. As you compose a message, we'll automatically save drafts every few minutes so you can leave your message and come back to it later before sending it out. You can also click the Save Now button at any time to save what you've written.
Adding a signature
A signature is a bit of personalized text (such as your contact information or a favorite quote) that is automatically inserted at the bottom of every message you send. Here's a sample signature: -"If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers..." - Homer Simpson To create a signature:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. 3. Enter your new signature text in the box at the bottom of the page next to the Signature option. As you type, the radio button will shift from No Signature to the text box. 4. Click Save Changes.
Gmail adds your signature in grey at the very bottom of your message. Signatures are separated from the rest of your message by two dashes. If you don't want your signature to appear on a specific message, you can delete it manually before sending the message. Just highlight the text and delete it before sending. Gmail does not support rich text formatting, graphics, or HTML in your signature. To suggest these features, please contact us
Formatting, fonts, and colors
You can customize Gmail messages with rich formatting, add color to your greetings, underline key points, or make your words bold. Here's how to enhance your messages:
1. Click Compose Mail at the top of any Gmail page. 2. Click the icon for the formatting feature you'd like to use in the formatting toolbar above the compose window. If you don't see any icons, click Rich formatting >> to display all formatting options. 3. Type your message! (Please note that Gmail doesn't recognize HTML tags inserted in the body of a message.)
If you decide you'd like to write a message in plain text format, just click << Plain text along the top of the compose window.
Gmail's Formatting Options Bold - bold all or some of your message Italics - italicize all or some of your message Underline - underline all or some of your message Font - select a special font Font Size - change the font size of all or some text Font Color - change the color of all or some text Highlight Color - highlight the text of a message Remove Formatting - remove formatting from selected text Hyperlink Text - hyperlink the selected text Numbered List - create a numbered list in your message
Bulleted List - create a bulleted list in your message Indent Less - move text closer to the left of the page Indent More - indent text further to the right of the page Quote Text - format a block of text as a quote Left Align - align text along the left side of the page Center Align - align text in the center of the page Right Align - align text along the right side of the page Right to left* - changes the directionality of text composing Left to right* - changes the directionality of text composing
Rich formatting is not available in Gmail's basic HTML view or in your signature settings. At this time there is no way to save customized formatting options as a default Gmail setting. * Directionality controls are only available in the Arabic and Hebrew interfaces.
Auto-complete
When you type an address in the To:, Cc:, or Bcc: field of a message you're composing, Gmail will suggest addresses from your Contacts list. Hit Enter to choose the name at the top of the list, or scroll down to choose a different address. If Gmail doesn't suggest the address you want, just continue typing. Gmail will first suggest the addresses you send mail to most often. To view a complete list of your most frequently mailed contacts, click Contacts on the left side any Gmail page, then click Most Contacted.
Selecting contacts while composing
While Gmail doesn't currently support the functionality to open your Contacts list while composing a message, we're testing many new features to improve our service. Tip: Insert contacts with Gmail's auto-complete feature.
Saving drafts
Don't worry about losing messages as you compose them -- Gmail automatically saves drafts every few minutes. If you'd like to save a draft manually, just click Save Now above the message you're composing, or press Ctrl+S when your cursor is in any of the text fields (Cmd+S for Macintosh users). To retrieve a draft:
1. Click Drafts along the left side of any Gmail page. 2. Click the message you'd like to continue composing. 3. Edit the message, and click Send, Save Changes, or Discard. If you'd like to delete a draft: 1. Click Drafts along the left side of any Gmail page. 2. Check the box next to the message you'd like to delete. 3. Click Discard Drafts near the top of the page. Your draft will be permanently removed.
Replying to messages
Click Reply to reply only to the message sender, or Reply All to reply to everyone who received the message. To reply to a message in the middle of a conversation, click on the Reply link at the bottom of the message's card.
Your Messages : Sending : Composing : Learn More
Making Gmail your default mail application
You can designate Gmail as your default mailto handler. This means that when you click on any
hyperlinked email address, a Gmail compose window will open so you can send a message to that address from Gmail. To do so in Windows:
1. 2. 3. 4. Download the Gmail Notifier. Right-click the Notifier icon in your system tray, and select Options. Check the box next to Use Gmail for internet mailto: links. Click OK.
If you decide later that you don't want to use Gmail as your default email application, simply uncheck the box.
And, if you're using a Mac, you can set your default mailto handler by following these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Download the Google Notifier. Open the Notifier. Click the Mail icon on the Menu bar and go to Preferences... Select the Gmail tab and choose Gmail as the program from the Compose mail in drop-down menu.
Note: The Notifier is currently available in English only. Maximum message size
You can send and receive messages up to 20 megabytes (MB) in size, including attachments. Incoming messages over 20 MB will be returned to the sender without being delivered to you.
Hiding addresses when sending to multiple recipients
If you're sending a message to several people and want to hide each recipient's email address, you can use the blind carbon copy feature. Simply enter the email addresses that you do not want to display to the recipients in the Bcc field of your composed message by clicking Add Bcc. If you don't want any of the email addresses to show up to the recipients, common practice is to include your own email address in the To field, and all of the recipients' addresses in Bcc.
Using spell check
It's easy to check your spelling while composing Gmail messages. Here's how:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Click 'Check spelling' along the top of the message you're composing. Click the misspelled word (highlighted in yellow) to see Gmail's suggestions for similar words. Select a suggested word from the list to replace the misspelled word. Click 'Done' along the top of the message to continue composing, or click 'Send' to send your message.
Gmail's spellchecker operates in the same language you've selected for your interface. If you compose a message in a language other than your interface language, you can check the spelling of that message, too -- just click the arrow next to 'Check spelling' to select the appropriate language.
This feature is not available in Gmail's basic HTML view.
Sending web links
You can send hyperlinks such as 'http://www.google.com/' in Gmail messages. To send clickable hyperlinks, include the full web address, along with http://, in the body of the message. Web addresses will not appear to be hyperlinked while you're composing or forwarding a message. Web addresses become clickable once a message reaches its destination.
Changing the text direction to Right to Left
If your Gmail interface language is set to Arabic or Hebrew, you'll be able to select either Left to Right or Right to Left directionality when composing a message. A message can contain any combination of right-to-left and left-to-right paragraphs. By default, Gmail starts composing a message with the Right to Left button active in Hebrew and Arabic interfaces. To change the text direction: At the beginning of a message or new paragraph:
1. Click the Left to Right button in the formatting bar of the compose window. The cursor will move to the left side of the compose pane.
To change an existing paragraph:
1. Highlight the paragraph to edit 2. Click the Left to Right button in the formatting bar of the Compose window
The recipient of your email will need to have Right to Left support in their email client in order to properly read your email. If their email client doesn't support Right to Left, invite them to
create a Gmail address! If you're not seeing the directionality buttons in Gmail, it's likely because:
The directionality buttons are available when composing in Rich Text Format and plain text. However, plain text messages do not carry directionality information when they're sent. Right-to-left support is only available in the Hebrew and Arabic interfaces. To change the language of your Gmail interface: 1. Sign in to Gmail at https://mail.google.com 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. 3. Select a language from the Gmail display language drop-down menu in the Language section. 4. Click Save Changes .
We also suggest using a display resolution greater than 800x600 for best results with the Right to Left interface.
Your Messages : Sending : Composing : Troubleshooting
Rich text formatting isn't working
You might occasionally notice that rich formatting doesn't work exactly as you'd expect. Unfortunately, the limitations of most web browsers prevent rich formatting from working perfectly. We're looking for ways to work around these limitations, and in the meantime, we hope you'll find rich formatting fun and useful, even with the occasional quirks.
Note: Rich formatting isn't available in Gmail's basic HTML view.
Some messages I send are returned as spam
Some organizations, like SORBS, keep track of email spam so email providers/ISPs can use it to prevent spam from being delivered to their users. SORBS does not intend for their list to block all Gmail messages. In fact, they recommend that their list should not be used as 'stand-alone signals' in blocking spam, but unfortunately, this recommendation is sometimes ignored. As a result, some messages sent from Gmail might be delayed, or even bounced back (in which case you would receive a failed delivery notification). We take every measure to make sure that all valid messages are delivered, and we're working hard to keep delivery problems to a minimum. While we continue to address this problem, we ask that Gmail users experiencing delivery delays or Gmail users whose messages are bouncing back to their addresses, to please inform the recipient's mail provider about the issue.
If you are an email administrator, learn more about what you can do to make sure Gmail messages are delivered to your users.
Auto-complete isn't working
If auto-complete isn't showing results, please ensure you're using a supported browser. If you are using a supported browser and are still seeing problems, please sign out of Gmail, clear your browser's cache and log back in.
Pasted text doesn't appear correctly
Text pasted from other programs into Gmail messages will sometimes display funky characters. The Gmail Team is working to fix this problem so that all pasted text is always displayed properly.
Your Messages : Sending : Attachments : Getting Started
Adding attachments
To attach a file to a message you're composing, follow these steps:
1. Click Attach a file under the subject field. 2. Browse through your files and click the name of the file you'd like to attach. 3. Click Open.
If you'd like to remove a file you've attached to a message, click remove. To attach another file, click Attach another file. Keep in mind that you can't send executable files or messages larger than 20 MB.
Your Messages : Receiving : Reading : Getting Started
Conversations
Gmail groups all replies with their original message, creating a single conversation or thread. In
other email systems, responses appear as separate messages in your inbox, forcing you to wade through all your mail to follow the conversation. In Gmail, replies to replies (and replies to those replies) are displayed in one place, in order, making it easier to understand the context of a message -- or to follow the conversation. When you open one message in a conversation, all of your related messages will be stacked neatly on top of each other, like a deck of cards. We call this Conversation View. In Conversation View, each new message is stacked on top of the ones that arrived before it, so that the newest message is always the one you see first. To see all the messages in a conversation, just click Expand all.
Sidebar icons
Gmail Icons Starred - A special status you can give to messages or conversations. Starred items remain visible when you return to a conversation. The white star ( ) means the conversation hasn't been marked. The yellow star ( ) indicates that you've marked the conversation. When you click on the 'Starred' tab, you can see all the messages you've starred, even if they have different labels. Starred messages within a conversation also remain visible in 'Conversation View' so that you can find and read important messages, even if new messages are added to the conversation later. Expand all - Opens all messages if you are in 'Conversation View' -- the view that allows you to see all of your messages stacked together. When you open a message, all previously unread messages, and any starred messages, open automatically. When you click on this icon, all messages are opened for you to view. Collapse all - Closes all messages when in 'Conversation View.' Attachment - The conversation includes at least one attachment. Print conversation - Opens a new window with all messages viewable in a printer-friendly format. New window - Opens a new browser window. The contents of the new window vary depending on what action you are taking when you click the icon. For example, if you are in 'Conversation View' when you click the icon, the new window also appears in 'Conversation View.'
Printing messages
To print one message:
1. Open the message you want to print.
2. Click the down arrow next to Reply, at the top-right of the message. 3. Select Print.
To print an entire conversation:
1. Open the conversation you want to print. 2. On the right side of the screen, click Print all.
Marking messages 'read' or 'unread'
Here's how to mark your messages 'read' or 'unread':
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Check the box next to the message you'd like to mark as 'read' or 'unread.' 3. Select 'Mark as read' or 'Mark as unread' from the 'More actions' drop-down menu.
Your Messages : Receiving : Reading : Troubleshooting
Message text is garbled
Each time you view messages sent to your Gmail address, our system determines what encoding was used by the sender in order to display the mail. If Gmail isn't able to accurately detect the encoding of a message, it may not be displayed properly. Our engineers are working hard to find a solution to this problem. In the meantime, you can view your messages by opening an original copy. Here's how:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Open the conversation containing the message you would like to view. Click the down arrow next to Reply, at the top-right of the message pane. Click Message text garbled?
Here's how to adjust encoding settings in Internet Explorer: 1. From the View menu, select Encoding. 2. Choose an encoding from the list of options. (Additional languages are available by selecting More.) Here's how to adjust encoding settings in Firefox: 1. From the View menu, select Character Encoding. 2. Choose an encoding from the list of options. (Additional languages are available under More Encodings.)
Here's how to adjust encoding settings in Safari: 1. Click View along the top of your browser, select Text Encoding. 2. Choose an encoding from the list of options.
Help us improve our encoding by reporting your issue.
Message text is clipped
To ensure that messages load quickly, Gmail displays only a portion of the text of long messages. To read the full text of a clipped message, scroll to the bottom of the message, and click Show Original.
Messages aren't displaying properly
Gmail encodes your mail based on your language settings -- if you can't properly compose or receive messages in languages other than English, we suggest adjusting your browser's encoding settings. To adjust encoding settings in Internet Explorer, please follow these steps:
1. Click the 'View' menu at the top of your browser, and select 'Encoding.' 2. Select 'Unicode (UTF-8)' from the list of options. If you continue to have trouble reading mail in languages other than English, the problem is most likely a result of mail clients which convert encodings during the transmission of messages. We are aware this issue, and our engineers are working diligently to find a solution.
In the meantime, you can view messages properly by opening the original sent message. To view the original message, please follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Open the conversation containing the message you would like to view. Click the down arrow next to Reply, at the top-right of the message pane. Click 'Show original.'
Improper message threading
Gmail considers a number of factors when grouping messages into conversations, but from time
to time messages are improperly grouped or separated. At the moment, Gmail doesn't offer the functionality to manually separate or group these conversations.
Some characters display as boxes
If you've selected to view Gmail in another language, but don't have the necessary fonts installed in your operating system, Gmail will display boxes instead of the proper characters. You can install the appropriate fonts in your operating system to view Gmail in another language, without all the boxes. We suggest contacting the customer service department of your operating system's manufacturer for further instructions.
Your Messages : Receiving : Reading : Learn More
Sidebar links
Gmail uses a completely automated process to provide useful information and relevant ads in the sidebar of your Gmail pages: Ads and Related Pages Ads in Gmail are placed in the same way that ads are placed alongside Google search results and, through the Google AdSense program, on content pages across the web. The goal is to provide you with helpful ads, links and content relevant to your specific interests. Advertising and related information are displayed based on a completely automated process. Learn more. Addresses, Packages, and other links When you open a message that lists an address or package tracking number, Gmail shows you handy links to maps and directions, or your package's delivery status. These links are produced automatically for your convenience. No humans read the content of your email in order to generate these links and none of them are sponsored by advertisers. We hope you'll find them relevant and useful! Add to calendar Gmail displays an Add to calendar link when you open a message that contains event information. To add the event to your Google Calendar, click the link and fill in the appropriate information, then click the Save Changes button. (You may be asked to sign in to Google Calendar, if you're not signed in already.)
Muting or ignoring conversations
If you're subscribed to a mailing list, you've no doubt been subjected to the 'thread that just won't die!' If you're part of a long message conversation that isn't relevant, you can 'mute' the conversation to keep all future additions out of your inbox. By using the 'm' shortcut key, new messages added to the conversation bypass your inbox so that the conversation stays archived. If your address appears in the to or cc field, though, the conversation will pop back into your inbox ready for your attention. Muted messages are not marked as read, are still searchable, and can specifically be found by searching for: is:muted Filters will still be applied to muted messages. To un-mute a conversation, select the conversation and click Move to inbox. Doing so will move the entire conversation to your inbox and will remove the mute action, so that future messages are also delivered to your inbox.
Reply by chat
Reply by chat lets you and your contacts discuss an email you've sent or received. If you've enabled the Save chat history option in Gmail, it also groups your chat history in the same conversation as the message you're chatting about. This way, you can keep all of your communications in context. Here's how to reply by chat:
1. Log in to Gmail. 2. Open the message you'd like to chat about, and make sure the sender is online and available to chat. 3. Click Reply by chat at the bottom of the message. o A new chat window will open displaying the subject of the email you're discussing. 4. Click the X in the top-right corner of the chat window when you're done discussing the e-mail. Chat histories are only grouped with conversations when you use the Reply by chat feature. If you close a chat window after you discuss an email with someone, and then initiate a new chat, your chat history won't be grouped with a conversation. About anti-virus scanning
Gmail automatically scans every attachment when it's delivered to you, and again each time you open a message. Attachments you send are also scanned. Checking attachments for viruses protects our users and their information, and prevents the spread of viruses.
If a virus is found in an attachment you've received, our system will attempt to clean the file, so you can still access the information it contains. If the virus can't be removed from the file, you won't be able to download it.
If our system is unable to scan certain files, you'll see an error reading 'Oops... the virus scanner has a problem right now.' You'll have the option to try again later or to download at your own risk. Please note that if Gmail can't scan the contents of the file, we can't guarantee that it's safe to view.
If an attachment you're trying to send is infected with a virus, Gmail will display an error message to tell you, but it won't clean the file. To send the message without that attachment, click the link in that error message that says 'Remove attachment and send.'
If Gmail detects that you're trying to send an infected attachment, we suggest running your antivirus software in case your hard drive is infected. If you don't have anti-virus software, you might consider purchasing/installing one of the popular applications so you can protect your computer and information from viruses. The free Google Pack comes with leading anti-virus and anti-spyware applications -- you can find out more at the Google Pack homepage.
Viewing message size
Gmail currently doesn't display the size of individual messages, but you can see how much of your storage limit is in use at the bottom of any Gmail page. To provide feedback on features you'd like to see in Gmail, please visit our suggestions page.
Your Messages : Receiving : Receiving : Getting Started
How will I know when I have new messages?
Gmail displays the total number of new messages in your inbox next to the 'Inbox' link, as well as in your browser's title bar. Gmail automatically checks for new messages every two minutes and updates the tally when you have new mail. You also can download the Gmail Notifier in order to receive new mail notifications and view snippets of new messages. To learn more about the Notifier, click here.
Your Messages : Receiving : Receiving : Learn More
How can I tell if a message was sent to just me or to a mailing list?
Gmail displays arrows, or 'personal level indicators,' next to messages in your inbox so you can tell if a message was addressed to you, a group, or a mailing list. A single arrow (>) appears next to a message when it is sent to you, and a group of others. Double arrows (>>) indicate that a message is addressed only to you. Arrows won't appear next to messages sent to a mailing list. Here's how to enable personal level indicators:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. 3. Select Show indicators in the Personal level indicators: section, and click Save Changes. (If you'd like to disable personal level indicators, just select No indicators and click Save Changes.)
Message headers
Headers contain tracking information for an individual email, detailing the path a message took as it crossed mail servers. Select your webmail provider or email client below for instructions on finding headers for a message. Webmail providers Gmail AOL Excite Webmail Hotmail Microsoft Internet Mail
Netscape Webmail Yahoo! Mail Email clients Eudora IncrediMail Mozilla Netscape 3 or 4 Opera Outlook Outlook Express
Blocking mail from certain senders
While you can't currently block messages from specific addresses or domains, you can set up a filter to send those unwanted messages directly to Trash. To set up a filter, follow these steps:
1. Click Create a filter under the search box at the top of any Gmail page. 2. Fill in the appropriate fields with the filter's criteria, and click Next Step. 3. Choose the action you'd like for these messages by checking the appropriate box. (In this case, we suggest checking Delete it.) 4. Click Create Filter. To edit or disable a filter, click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Filters tab. Using an address alias
Gmail doesn't offer traditional aliases, but you can receive messages sent to your.username+any.alias@gmail.com. For example, messages sent to jane.doe+notes@gmail.com are delivered to jane.doe@gmail.com. You can set up filters to automatically direct these messages to Trash, apply a label or star, skip the inbox, or forward to another email account.
Your Messages : Receiving : Receiving : Troubleshooting
My messages have gone missing
The Quick Answer
When messages go missing in a Gmail account, it's typically due to one of the following:
Settings applied to incoming mail, such as a filter or forwarding A configuration issue with IMAP or POP access Deliberate or accidental human action, or possibly a compromised account
To help you investigate what happened to your messages, we'll walk you through a step-by-step process to eliminate possible causes of your missing messages. Let's start by searching for the messages in your account. To search all messages:
1. Sign in to Gmail, then click here to prepare a search. 2. Fill in the search fields with the details you remember confidently. If you're not certain about any field, leave it blank. 3. In the 'Search:' drop-down menu, select Mail & Spam & Trash. 4. Click the Search Mail button. 5. Look for a message in the search results displayed.
Did you find the messages?
Yes, I found the messages No, I didn't find the messages
Still can't find them? Are these messages that you've seen before in your account?
Yes, but now I can't find them No, they never arrived in my account
Have you recently deleted any other messages from Sent Mail, or from any label views?
Yes, I recently deleted messages from Sent Mail or another label No, I haven't deleted any messages
Were you able to find and restore your messages from Trash?
Yes, I found my messages and restored them No, I've already emptied my Trash I never deleted the messages I'm looking for
Is POP enabled for your account?
Yes, my 'POP Download:' status shows it's enabled No, my 'POP Download:' status shows it's disabled
Did this information help?
Yes, my problem is resolved No, this information didn't help
Referring again to your 'Forwarding and POP/IMAP' settings, is IMAP enabled?
Yes, my 'IMAP Access:' status shows it's enabled No, my 'IMAP Access:' status shows it's disabled
Did this information help?
Yes, my problem is resolved No, this information didn't help
Did this information help?
Yes, my problem is resolved No, forwarding was not causing my problem
Did you find any filters that delete mail or cause it to skip the inbox?
Yes, I found filters that delete or archive messages No, I don't have any filters that delete or archive messages
Approximately how many messages are missing?
Lots or all of my mail Only a few random messages
Were you able to get the full message headers?
Yes, I have the full message headers No, I wasn't able to obtain them
Were you able to locate the message using the search above?
Yes, I found it No, I can't find it
Is there any unusual activity on your account?
Yes, I found suspicious recent activity No, I didn't find any suspicious recent activity
Links or buttons aren't working
If you're having trouble with links and buttons in Gmail (e.g. the Send button doesn't work, you're unable to open messages when you click on them, your settings won't save, or you can't sign out), there may be a conflict with software on your computer, a browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. This page is designed to walk you through all of our troubleshooting information in an orderly fashion. At each step, we'll provide instructions or further questions to help narrow down the issue you're facing. Following the instructions exactly will help ensure the best results.
An incoming message hasn't arrived Note: This article is designed to help Gmail users with specific delivery problems. If you are the administrator of another webmail server, and your domain is having trouble sending messages to Gmail recipients, please refer to this article instead.
There are a number of reasons why messages may not arrive in your inbox. Messages can skip your inbox and end up in your All Mail, Spam, or Trash labels, as the result of automatic spam filtering or filters that you've set up on your messages. Also, if you're sending mail to a mailing list that you subscribe to, those messages will only appear in 'Sent Mail.' This behavior also occurs when sending to an email address that automatically forwards mail back to your Gmail address. Please check your Spam and Trash labels, and try performing a search of all mail in Gmail for the message in question. You can search for conversations by entering the sender's name, the subject of the email, or a phrase from the content of the email, if you know it. Click Show search options, located next to the search box on any Gmail page, and make sure that Mail & Spam & Trash is selected in the Search field. Please note that Gmail search results don't include matches to partial strings or matches that are 'similar' to your query, including plurals and misspellings. If you search for vacation, Gmail returns emails containing instances of vacation, but does not return emails including vacations or vaccations. Did you find the message?
I found the message(s) in Spam, Trash, or All Mail I couldn't find the message(s) in my mail
Did the sender receive a delivery status notification?
The sender said the message was returned as undeliverable The sender confirmed the message was not returned as undeliverable
'Our system detected an illegal attachment on your message.' 'Over quota' or 'Inbox full' 'Your message exceeded Gmail's size limits.' 'Our servers have detected a mail loop.' 'This Gmail user does not exist.' 'The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate that prevents additional messages from being delivered.' 'We weren't able to find the recipient domain.' 'Parse Error: Illegal To: address (invalid domain name) None of the errors above
Which option describes your email address?
My address ends with '@gmail.com' My address is hosted by Google Apps and ends with '@mydomain.'
Are you the administrator for your domain?
Yes, I'm the administrator No, I'm not the administrator
Were you able to obtain the full headers from the sender(s)? Full headers have additional information, like 'Message-ID' and 'Received.'
Yes, I have the full headers
No, I don't have the full headers
Were you able to locate the message using the search above?
Yes, I found it No, I can't find it
Which option describes your email address?
My address ends with '@gmail.com' My address is hosted by Google Apps and ends with '@mydomain'
My messages skip the inbox
If your incoming messages are skipping your Inbox, the cause is a misconfigured filter, or a setting on your Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. To resolve this issue, please make sure you haven't created any filters with the actions Skip the Inbox (Archive it) or Delete it that would affect the messages in question. If you have many filters or have complicated filters in place, you may need to edit the Skip the Inbox (Archive it) or Delete it action to guarantee that they are not at fault. If you've enabled forwarding in your account, please ensure that you have not selected archive Gmail's copy or delete Gmail's copy in your forwarding options. If you're using a POP client to access Gmail, please ensure that you have not selected archive Gmail's copy or delete Gmail's copy in step 2 of your POP download options. Finally, if you're accessing your Gmail from multiple POP clients (with recent mode), please verify that you have selected 'Leave a copy of messages on server' in your client configuration settings.
My messages are filtered to Trash
If your incoming messages are automatically placed in Trash, the cause is a misconfigured filter,
or a setting on your Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. To resolve this issue, please make sure you haven't created any filters with the action Delete it that would affect the messages in question. If you have many filters or have complicated filters in place, you may need to edit the Delete it action to guarantee that they are not at fault. If you've enabled forwarding in your settings, please ensure that you have not selected delete Gmail's copy in your forwarding options. If you're using a POP client to access Gmail, please ensure that you have not selected delete Gmail's copy in step 2 of your POP download options. Finally, if you're accessing your Gmail from multiple POP clients (with recent mode), please verify that you have selected 'Leave a copy of messages on server' in your client configuration settings.
Messages sent to mailing lists don't show in my inbox
When you send a message to any mailing list you subscribe to, Gmail automatically skips your inbox and archives the message to save you time and prevent clutter. The message will appear in your inbox if someone responds to it or if there is an error delivering the message. If you'd like to view your message, you can find it in Sent Mail or All Mail.
Reading full email headers
Email headers determine where a message is sent, and records the specific path the message follows as it passes through each mail server. To follow the path of a message chronologically, read from the bottom of the header, and work your way up. Here's an example of a message header for an email sent from MrJones@emailprovider.com to MrSmith@gmail.com:
Delivered-To: MrSmith@gmail.com Received: by 10.36.81.3 with SMTP id e3cs239nzb; Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:47 0800 (PST) Return-Path: Received: from mail.emailprovider.com (mail.emailprovider.com [111.111.11.111]) by mx.gmail.com with SMTP id h19si826631rnb.2005.03.29.15.11.46; Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:47 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <20050329231145.62086.mail@mail.emailprovider.com> Received: from [11.11.111.111] by mail.emailprovider.com via HTTP; Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:45 PST
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:45 -0800 (PST) From: Mr Jones Subject: Hello To: Mr Smith
In the example, headers are added to the message three times: 1. When Mr. Jones composes the email
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:45 -0800 (PST) From: Mr Jones Subject: Hello To: Mr Smith
2. When the email is sent through the servers of Mr. Jones' email provider, mail.emailprovider.com
Message-ID: <20050329231145.62086.mail@mail.emailprovider.com> Received: from [11.11.111.111] by mail.emailprovider.com via HTTP; Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:45 PST
3. When the message transfers from Mr. Jones' email provider to Mr. Smith's Gmail address
Delivered-To: MrSmith@gmail.com Received: by 10.36.81.3 with SMTP id e3cs239nzb;Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:47 -0800 (PST) Return-Path: MrJones@emailprovider.com Received: from mail.emailprovider.com (mail.emailprovider.com [111.111.11.111]) by mx.gmail.com with SMTP id h19si826631rnb; Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:47 -0800 (PST)
Below is a description of each section of the email header:
Delivered-To: MrSmith@gmail.com
The email address the message will be delivered to.
Received: by 10.36.81.3 with SMTP id e3cs239nzb; Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:47 -0800 (PST)
The time the message reached Gmail's servers.
Return-Path:
The address from which the message was sent.
Received: from mail.emailprovider.com
(mail.emailprovider.com [111.111.11.111]) by mx.gmail.com with SMTP id h19si826631rnb.2005.03.29.15.11.46; Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:47 -0800 (PST)
The message was received from mail.emailprovider.com, by a Gmail server on March 29, 2005 at approximately 3 pm.
Message-ID: 20050329231145.62086.mail@mail.emailprovider.com
A unique number assigned by mail.emailprovider.com to identify the message.
Received: from [11.11.111.111] by mail.emailprovider.com via HTTP; Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:45 PST
Mr. Jones used an email composition program to write the message, and it was then received by the email servers of mail.emailprovider.com.
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:11:45 -0800 (PST) From: Mr Jones Subject: Hello To: Mr Smith
The date, sender, subject, and destination -- Mr. Jones entered this information (except for the date) when he composed the email.
An incoming message bounced Note: This article is designed to help Gmail users with specific delivery problems. If you are the administrator of another webmail server, and your domain is having trouble sending messages to Gmail recipients, please refer to this article instead.
If a sender's messages to your address are being returned as undeliverable, the bounce message that they receive contains more information about the issue. Please ask the sender for the details of the bounce message and select the appropriate option below.
'Our system detected an illegal attachment on your message.' 'Over quota' or 'Inbox full' 'Your message exceeded Gmail's size limits.' 'Our servers have detected a mail loop.' 'This Gmail user does not exist.' 'The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate that prevents additional messages from being delivered.'
'We weren't able to find the recipient domain.' 'Parse Error: Illegal To: address (invalid domain name)' None of the errors above
Which option describes your email address?
My address ends with '@gmail.com' My address is hosted by Google Apps and ends with '@mydomain.'
Are you the administrator for your domain?
Yes, I'm the administrator No, I'm not the administrator
An incoming message was delayed Note: This article is designed to help Gmail users with specific delivery problems. If you are the administrator of another webmail server, and your domain is having trouble sending messages to Gmail recipients, please refer to this article instead.
This page is designed to walk you through all of our troubleshooting information for delayed message delivery in an orderly fashion. At each step, we'll provide instructions or further questions to help narrow down the issue you're facing. Following the instructions exactly will help ensure the best results. Please describe your Gmail address.
My address ends with @gmail.com My address is hosted by Google Apps and ends with @mydomain.com
To which of your email addresses was the message addressed?
It's addressed directly to my Gmail address
It's addressed to my other account, which automatically forwards to Gmail It's addressed to my other account, which Gmail retrieves with Mail Fetcher I'm not sure -- my address doesn't appear and might be in the Bcc: field
Yes, multiple senders on different domains have sent me delayed messages No, only messages from one sender or domain are delayed
Were you able to display the full headers of the affected message?
Yes, I displayed the full headers No, I don't have the full headers
When did the delay occur?
The delay happened before the message left the sending domain (Example 1) The delay happened between the sending domain and Gmail (Example 2) The delay happened after Gmail received the message but before Gmail delivered it to me (Example 3) There's no delay in the headers I can't figure it out
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio
McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No
Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari
None of the above Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit the Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Messages to a custom address show in my inbox
If you use the 'Send Mail As:' feature on the Accounts tab, messages you send from your Gmail address to the custom address will appear both in Sent Mail and in your inbox.
My domain can't send to Gmail Note: This article is designed to help mail server administrators with advanced delivery problems. If you are a Gmail user, check out our articles on receiving mail instead.
If your domain is having trouble sending messages to Gmail users, your next steps will depend on which hosting service you use. Is your domain currently hosted by Google Apps?
Yes No, I use another hosting service
Is your sending issue limited to Gmail, or are you having problems receiving from other domains as well?
It's specific to Gmail I'm having problems sending to multiple domains
Do Gmail recipients eventually receive the messages?
Yes, but the messages are delayed No, the messages never reach the recipients
Do you receive delivery failure notifications?
Yes, I receive delivery status notifications No, I don't receive delivery status notifications
What error did you receive?
"The IP you're using to send email is not authorized to send email directly to our servers. Please use the SMTP relay at your service provider instead."
"550 5.7.1 Our system has detected an unusual amount of unsolicited mail originating from your IP address. To protect our users from spam, mail sent from your IP address has been rejected/temporarily blocked." Error message beginning with "4XX" Other
Are you complying with our guidelines:
I am following all of Gmail's guidelines I found a problem, and have corrected it. I am now compliant with Gmail's guidelines I am not compliant with Gmail's guidelines
Do your logs show this delivery entry?
Yes, my logs show successful delivery to Gmail's servers. No, my logs do not show successful delivery to Gmail's servers.
Were you able to find the message?
I found the message using the advanced search. It was located in All Mail, Trash, or the inbox. I found the message. It was located in Spam. I was unable to find the message.
Where did the delay occur?
The delay occurred between my domain and Gmail The delay occurred exclusively within my domain
Did your servers pass the diagnostic tests?
My servers pass all diagnostics My servers fail at least one diagnostic test
Were you able to contact Gmail via telnet?
I was able to contact Gmail via the telnet test, with or without an error message generated by Gmail's servers I was not able to contact Gmail via the telnet test
Are you still experiencing issues?
My domain is not blacklisting or greylisting Gmail, and the problem occurs even when my firewalls are disabled or otherwise circumvented My domain is blacklisting Gmail, or the problem goes away when my firewall is disabled
Forwarded eBay or PayPal messages don't arrive
Please note that Gmail now enforces DKIM signatures for eBay (ebay.com) and PayPal (paypal.com) messages, in accordance with their requests. If you're automatically forwarding your mail from another account and your other account's server breaks the DKIM signature, then the message will be rejected. Since DKIM does support forwarding, you may be able to correct the problem by asking the administrator to adjust the way your other server forwards mail. Otherwise, we suggest configuring your eBay and PayPal accounts to send directly to Gmail instead. For more information, please refer to the Official Gmail Blog.
Your Messages : Receiving : Spam : Getting Started
Removing spam
To remove spam from your inbox:
1. Select the unwanted messages. 2. Click Report Spam.
To remove spam forever:
1. Click Spam along the left side of any Gmail page. 2. Select the messages you'd like to delete and click Delete forever. 3. Or delete everything by clicking Delete all spam messages now.
The more spam you mark, the better our system will get at weeding out those annoying messages. If you or we should happen to goof and mark a good message as spam, click Not Spam at the top of the message. If you marked it as spam, you can also click Undo immediately after to recover the message.
Your Messages : Receiving : Spam : Troubleshooting
Receiving someone else's mail
There are three common reasons why Gmail users think they're receiving someone else's mail. Please select the description that matches your situation below. Your address is similar but has more or fewer dots (.) or different capitalization. Your address isn't listed at all. You're receiving spam that's not addressed to you.
Legitimate mail is marked as spam
If you find a message wrongly classified as spam, you can unmark the message. Just select the message, and click the Not Spam button that appears at the top and bottom of your current view. Unmarking a message will automatically move it to your inbox. If you find that some senders' messages are consistently being mislabeled as spam, you can prevent this by:
Adding their email addresses to your Contacts list. Gmail will deliver messages from members of your Contacts list to your inbox, unless they meet these criteria.
Creating a filter so the messages are never sent to Spam.
If you're sending to Gmail users and are seeing your messages marked as spam, please review our Bulk Senders guide.
Mail from contacts is marked as spam You can also create a filter specifying that certain messages are never sent to Spam.
While adding a sender to your Contacts will typically prevent their messages from being classified as spam, this rule does not apply when: A) the message is not authenticated AND B) the 'To:' and the 'From:' fields contain the same address. This exception is in place because spammers will often insert the recipient address in the 'From:' field, assuming that this will automatically whitelist their spam message. To check whether or not a message is authenticated:
1. Select the conversation containing the message affected by this issue, and open the individual message. 2. In the top-right corner of the message window, click show details. 3. Find the 'mailed-by' field. If this field is blank then the message is not authenticated.
If a legitimate message is not authenticated, we suggest contacting the sender to authenticate their messages. You can verify the 'To:' and the 'From:' fields of a message by viewing message headers:
1. Select the conversation containing the message affected by this issue, and open the individual message. 2. At the top-right corner of the message window, click the down arrow next to Reply, or select More options. 3. Click Show original. 4. The To and From addresses are in the lines beginning in 'To:' and 'From:'
We're currently working on methods to combat this spam tactic while also allowing legitimate messages with matching 'To:' and 'From:' fields.
Reporting spam outside the US
If you are located outside the United States, please use the appropriate contact information to
report spam to your local authorities: France Organization: Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des libertés Website: http://www.cnil.fr/ Email address: N/A Italy Organization: Italian Naming Authority Website: http://www.romanelmondo.it/sugg/spam.htm Email addresses: ABUSE@NA.nic.it and CC info@nic.it Japan Organization: Nippon Information Communication Association Website: http://www.dekyo.or.jp/ Email address: meiwaku@dekyo.or.jp Netherlands Organization: Onafhankelijke Post en Telecommunicatie Autoriteit (OPTA) Website: https://www.spamklacht.nl/ Email address: N/A (You may use the form on OPTA's website to report spam) Portugal Organization: Commissao Nacional de Proteccao de Dados Pessoais Informatizados Website: http://www.cnpd.pt/ Email address: cnpdpi@mail.telepac.pt Spain Organization: Spanish Agency for Data Protection Website: https://www.agpd.es Email address: spacontact@agpd.es
Never send to Spam
If you're having trouble with messages from a particular sender (or fitting some other grouping, like a common subject title) being incorrectly marked as spam, you can now prevent these from being sent to your spam filter in the future:
1. Create a filter (you can do this while reading the message in question: click the down-arrow next to the Reply link, and select 'Filter messages like this' from the menu). 2. Enter the information of the messages that are being improperly labeled as spam (e.g. the sender's email address). 3. Click Next Step. 4. Select the checkbox next to 'Never send it to Spam.'
From here on, no messages matching your filter criteria will be marked as spam. If you receive a message in your inbox that would have been marked as spam, but wasn't only because it matched your filter criteria, you'll see a yellow bar at the top of the message that says 'Due to a filter you created, this message was not sent to Spam.' If the message really was spam, you may want to edit your filters to make sure no more of the bad messages slip through the cracks.
Your Messages : Receiving : Attachments : Getting Started
Maximum attachment size
With Gmail, you can send and receive messages up to 20 megabytes (MB) in size. However, the precise amount allowable will depend on the attachment. When you add an attachment, the size of a file may increase because transport encodings are automatically added. (Transport encodings are the information that allows your message to be safely sent and read.) This means that in some cases, attachments that are 17 to 20MB in size may push the total message size above 20MB. When this happens, Gmail displays a warning that your message exceeds the 20MB limit. Please note that you may not be able to send larger attachments to contacts who use other email services with smaller attachment limits. If your attachment bounces, you should invite them to Gmail.
Viewing attachments
You can view attachments in Gmail in several different ways: To view an attachment in its original format:
1. Open the message containing an attachment. 2. Click Download at the bottom of the message. 3. Choose to Open or Save the file. Opening the file displays the attachment in a new window. When you're finished reading the attached file, close the new browser window to return to Gmail.
If you'd like the contents of your attachment to appear in a new browser window without having to download the file, view the attachment as HTML. Here's how:
1. Open the message containing an attachment.
2. Click View as HTML at the bottom of the message. 3. When you're finished reading the attached file, close the new browser window to return to Gmail.
Viewing attachments as HTML is a quick and easy alternative to downloading files. You can view the following types of files as HTML: .pdf, .doc, .xls, .ppt, .rtf, .sxw, .sxc, .sxi, .sdw, .sdc, .sdd, and .wml. If the attachment is a Microsoft Excel file or comma-separated values (CSV) file, you can open it using Google Spreadsheets:
1. Open the message containing an attachment. 2. Click Open as a Google Spreadsheet at the bottom of the message. 3. When you're finished reading the attached file, close the new browser window to return to Gmail.
If the attachment is a Microsoft Word file (DOC), you can open it using Google Docs:
1. Open the message containing an attachment. 2. Click Open as a Google document at the bottom of the message. 3. When you're finished reading the attached file, close the new browser window to return to Gmail.
Your Messages : Receiving : Attachments : Troubleshooting
Some file types are blocked
As a security measure to prevent potential viruses, Gmail doesn't allow you to send or receive executable files (such as files ending in .exe) that could contain damaging executable code. Gmail won't accept these types of files even if they are sent in a zipped (.zip, .tar, .tgz, .taz, .z, .gz) format. If this type of message is sent to your Gmail address, it is bounced back to the sender automatically. You can send and receive messages up to 20 megabytes (MB) total (including attachments). Any message that exceeds this limit will not be delivered to your inbox and will be returned to the sender.
I can't see images in a message
When you open new messages, some images may not appear immediately. Gmail disables images to protect you from unknown senders, like spammers, who use images and links to verify
that your email address is real. Here's how to view those images:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Open the message. 3. Click Display images below in the green box above your message. Or, if you'd like to always view images from a particular sender, click Always display images from sender@domain.com instead.
If you choose to always display images from a particular sender, you can disable this functionality at any time by following these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Open the message. Click show details at the top of the message pane. Click Don't display from now on.
At the moment, you can't set Gmail to display all images from any sender; you must do this on a per-contact basis.
Attachments won't download or open
If after clicking Download nothing happens, the file doesn't download completely, or the file can't be opened, there may be a conflict with software on your computer, a browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server.
My attachment is called 'noname'
We are aware of this problem, and our engineers are working diligently to find a solution. In the meantime, if a View as text link appears next to the attachment, you can click that to display the file. If that link does not appear, we were unable to display the file. This is a known issue, and our engineers are working to resolve it as quickly as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused.
My attachment appears garbled or inline
Incompatibilities on the sender's side often cause attachments to appear garbled or inline. Please
follow the steps below to determine if Gmail is causing the error.
Garbled attachments Check the message headers to ensure that the attachment is not UU-encoded, a method that Gmail doesn't support. Look for the following text at the beginning of the attachment content:
begin begin begin begin 600 666 644 606
For example:
begin 666 Resume 2008.pdf M)5!$1BTQ+C0-)>+CS],-"C$S(# @;V)J#3P\+TQI;F5A M,C S+T\@,34O12 Q-34V-"].(#(O5" R,S@Y-B]((%L@-S M;F1O8FH-(" @(" @(" @(" @(" @(" @#0IX M,# Q-B P,# P,"!N#0HP,# P,# P.3DV(# P,# P(&X-"C P,# P,#$P-S8@ M,# P,# @;@T*,# P,# P,3(U-B P,# P,"!N#0HP,# P,# Q,S@Y(# P,# P M(&X-"C P,# P,#$Y,3$@,# P,# @;@T*,# P,# P,C S-" P,# P,"!N#0HP
If the message is UU-encoded, we suggest contacting the sender's webmail provider for further instructions.
Inline attachments If the attachment in your message is being displayed inline, check the message headers to determine whether this behavior was intended. We suggest performing a search in your headers for the term 'Content-Disposition:'. (Tip: You can use your browser's 'Find' function by clicking 'Ctrl + F' on a PC or 'Command + F' on a Mac.) If the word 'inline' appears next to the 'Content-Disposition:' field, the sender's mail client or webmail provider intended to include the attachment as inline, and not downloadable. For example:
Content-Disposition: inline; filename="Letter.txt"
If you wish to receive the attachment as a downloadable file, we suggest contacting the sender for further information. If your message is not UU-encoded and the 'Content-Disposition:' field does not say 'inline,' you can send the headers to the Gmail Team for further investigation.
Thumbnail images aren't displaying
The Gmail Team is aware of this problem and we're working to fix it. In the meantime, you can still view these image attachments by clicking View, Download or View all images. Thanks for your patience.
Attachments are incomplete when viewed as HTML
Because Gmail's View as HTML option requires Gmail to convert your files into a different format, some parts of your attachments may not display correctly. Large files may not display completely and some images may be missing. To see your intact attachments, please download it to your computer.
My attachment was renamed
Some attachments that include non-English characters in the filename may be renamed 'Gmail,' or the name may be truncated -- this happens when Google doesn't recognized the encoding used to name the attachment. Our engineers are working on a solution, but in the meantime, we suggest using ASCII characters so we can always recognize the names of your attachments. If your attachment name was renamed 'noname,' you may be able to display the file by clicking on the View as text link that appears next to the attachment. If that link does not appear, we were unable to display the file. This is a known issue, and our engineers are working to resolve it as quickly as possible. Let our team know if your attachments are renamed.
Attachment appears twice
This sometimes occurs when adding an attachment from a Macintosh computer. If your attachment appears twice, click the "image/jpeg" attachment type to view the contents.
Attachments aren't appearing
An attachment may not appear in a message for a number of reasons. The most common reason is that the message doesn't contain an attachment at all. We recommend first checking the message's headers to ensure that an attachment is included. In particular, scan the headers or perform a search in your browser ('Ctrl + F' on a PC or 'Command + F' on a Mac) for the term 'Content-Disposition:'. If you're able to locate this field, please ensure that 'attachment' appears next to 'Content-disposition.' For example:
Content-Type: Application/msword; name="Letter.doc" Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Letter.doc"
Please note that if 'attachment' doesn't appear in this field, this means that your message does not contain an attachment at all, or never contained one in the first place. In this case, we suggest contacting the sender's email provider for further instructions. If the header of your message contains 'Content-Disposition: attachment,' report your issue.
Your Messages : Receiving : Attachments : Learn More
About 'View as slideshow'
To open a Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT) file without downloading it to your computer:
1. Open the message containing an attachment. 2. Click View as slideshow at the bottom of the message.
This will open your slides in a new browser window. You can navigate between slides by clicking the left and right arrow buttons at the top of the screen, or by choosing a specific slide from the dropdown menu in the upper right corner of the screen.
Zipped attachments
Gmail allows you to send and receive zipped attachments, as long as they meet three conditions:
1. They don't contain executable files. 2. They are less than the maximum attachment size. 3. They are not password-protected or encrypted.
How do I listen to my Google Talk voicemail messages in Gmail?
Google Talk's voicemail feature allows your friends and contacts to send a voice message to your Gmail inbox. Voicemails show up as special messages in your inbox, where Gmail's built in Flash voicemail player lets you listen to them without having to launch an external application just click the Play button in the conversation view. Voicemails come into Gmail with the subject Voicemail from contact (x seconds) and are tagged with a telephone icon in the attachments column. You can also search for voicemails in Gmail using is:voicemail. Learn more about Google Talk.
Playing MP3 files
When you receive an MP3 file as an attachment to any message, Gmail inserts a Play link next to the attachment icon. Click Play to launch our Flash player in a new window, and use the volume slider and Pause function to control playback. If you'd like to download the MP3 attachment to your computer, simply click the Download link at the bottom of your message. You'll need to have the latest version of Flash installed on your computer to use the Play link. You can download the free Flash Player from Adobe's site at http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash.
Your Messages : Organizing : Labels : Getting Started
Using labels
Labels do all the work folders do and give you an extra bonus: you can add more than one to a conversation. Once you've created a label, you can view all the messages with that label by searching, or by clicking the label name along the left side of any Gmail page. You can easily create, edit, and delete existing labels. Here's how: To create a label:
1. Select the message(s) you'd like to label by checking the box(es) next to the sender's name. 2. Select New label from the More Actions... drop-down menu. 3. Enter the name of the new label in the text box, and click OK. The selected messages will automatically be categorized under the new label. If you'd like to keep organized, you can remove a labeled conversation from your inbox by archiving it and view it later by clicking All Mail, or by clicking the label name along the left side of any Gmail page.
To edit a label name:
1. Click Edit labels at the bottom of the Labels box. 2. Click rename next to the label you want to edit. 3. Enter the new label name, and click OK. All the messages categorized under your old label name will now be categorized under your new label.
To delete a label:
1. Click Edit labels at the bottom of the Labels box. 2. Click remove label next to the label you want to delete. 3. Confirm that you'd like to remove the label by clicking OK. * Removing a label doesn't delete the messages previously categorized with that label.
Learn the basics of using labels to better organize your mail. View a brief demo (requires Macromedia® Flash).
Folders
Actually, Gmail doesn't use folders. To help you organize your mail more effectively, Gmail uses labels instead. Here's why we think labels are better than folders:
Labels A conversation can have more than one label Folders You can only put a message in one folder
A conversation can be in several locations (Inbox, All Mail, Sent Mail, etc.) at once, making it easier to find later
You have to remember where you filed a message to retrieve it
You can search conversations by label
You can't always do folder-specific searches
Learn how to create, edit, delete, and search labels.
Editing labels AIM, colored labels, group chat, and rich emoticons only work in the latest version of Gmail, currently available for Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 2. Please upgrade your browser to take advantage of these new features.
There are two ways to edit a label name. You can:
1. Click Edit labels at the bottom of your Labels list. 2. Click rename next to the label you want to edit. 3. Enter the new label name, and click OK.
Or, you can:
1. Click the square to the right of a label in your Labels list. A color palette opens. 2. Select Edit name at the bottom of the palette. 3. Enter the new label name, and click OK.
All the messages categorized under your old label name are now categorized under your new label. And, if the label you've edited is part of a filter, Gmail automatically updates your filter settings so new messages are categorized with the new label's name. If you want to learn the basics of using labels to better organize your mail, you can view a brief demo (requires Macromedia Flash).
Your Messages : Organizing : Storage : Getting Started
Your storage limit
Gmail offers more than 5 GB of free storage for your messages and attachments, and we're adding more space as fast as we can. Your storage use is based on the size of all of the messages and attachments in your mail, including those in Spam and Trash. You can check how much space you're using and your storage limit at the bottom of any Gmail page.
If you approach your storage limit, the quota indicator will change from green to red. If you go over your limit, Gmail will hold your messages for a few days until you clear out some space. If you don't clear enough space in this time, incoming messages will be returned to sender. If you've hit your limit and need to clear space, you'll need to move messages to Trash and permanently delete them from there. To move a message to Trash:
1. Select or open the message. 2. Click the Delete button.
To permanently delete a specific message:
1. Click Trash along the left side of any Gmail page. 2. Select the message you'd like to delete. 3. Click Delete Forever.
To permanently delete all of the messages in your Trash at once:
1. Click Trash. 2. Click Empty Trash now. 3. Click OK to confirm and delete all messages.
Messages left in Trash for 30 days will be permanently deleted automatically. Messages that are permanently deleted, manually or automatically, cannot be recovered.
Your Messages : Organizing : Storage : Troubleshooting
My storage quota is inaccurate
If you've recently moved messages to Trash but haven't seen a decrease in your storage use, please ensure that you've permanently deleted the messages from within the Trash label. To permanently delete specific messages:
1. Click Trash along the left side of any Gmail page. 2. Select the message(s) you'd like to delete by checking the box beside the sender's name. You can click All from the Select section at the top of your Trash to select the entire page of messages. 3. Click Delete Forever along the top of your trashed messages.
To permanently delete all of the messages in your Trash at once:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Sign in to Gmail. Click Trash. Click Empty Trash now. Click OK to confirm and delete all messages.
Your Messages : Organizing : Storage : Learn More
More storage for photos and messages
Google offers a way to purchase more storage space to use with some of its products (currently Gmail and Picasa Web Albums). This extra storage acts as overflow when you run out of free storage space in either product. If you've filled your free storage (5 GB and counting for Gmail or 1 GB for Picasa Web Albums), you'll automatically use your purchased space to store more pictures and messages up to your new storage limit. Your shared storage space will be used by whatever product needs it. Picasa's free storage is for photos only, and Gmail's is just for Gmail messages, but the shared storage can be all photos, all messages, or a mix of both. You can't set aside shared storage space for one product - it will be used by any product that's over its free storage quota on a first-come, first-served basis. Check how much storage you're using , or purchase more storage.
What Google products offer free and paid storage?
Gmail offers over 5 GB of free storage to all users, and that space is reserved just for Gmail messages. Similarly, Picasa Web Albums gives users 1 GB of storage just for Picasa Web Albums images. There's currently no way to use your free storage space from one product to house content from another. However, if you purchase extra storage from Google, that space will be shared by both products as needed as you upload or receive more data.
How is extra storage shared across Google products?
Paid storage is designed to give you more space across all Google products that support extra storage (currently Picasa Web Albums and Gmail). If you run out of free storage in either service, you'll automatically use the space you've purchased to store more pictures and messages up to your new storage limit. Notes:
The free storage for each product is for that product only. Picasa Web Album's 1 GB of free storage is for pictures only, and Gmail's 5 GB are just for Gmail messages. You can't set aside shared storage space for one product - it will be used by any product that's over its free storage quota on a first-come, first-served basis.
Check how much storage you're using , or purchase more storage.
Your Messages : Organizing : Deleting : Getting Started
Deleting messages
Gmail lets you delete either an entire conversation or one message from a conversation. In either case, deleting moves the message to Trash, where you can permanently delete it yourself or let Gmail permanently delete it for you after 30 days. If you want to keep a conversation but remove it from your inbox, try archiving. To delete an entire conversation:
1. Select or open the message. 2. Click the Delete button to move the message to Trash.
To delete just one message in a conversation:
1. Open the conversation that contains the message and find the message in question. 2. Click the down arrow next to Reply, at the top right of the message pane. 3. Click Delete this message.
The individual message will be sent to Trash, and the rest of the conversation stays in your inbox. Once a message is in Trash, you can permanently delete it yourself:
1. Click Trash along the left side of any Gmail page. 2. Check the box next to the message you'd like to permanently delete. 3. Click Delete Forever.
If you delete a message and then immediately decide you'd like to keep it, click Undo in the yellow bar along the top of the page. Your message will be removed from Trash and returned to its original location. If you later decide that you need mail you've deleted, make sure to move it out of Trash before 30 days have passed. This way, the message won't be permanently deleted.
Moving messages out of Trash
If you find that you need a message you've moved to Trash,* follow these steps to put it back in your inbox:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Trash along the left side of any Gmail page. 3. Locate the message you'd like to move to your inbox, and check the box next to the sender's name. 4. Click Move to Inbox. * All conversations and messages in Trash are accessible for 30 days, in case you change your mind. After 30 days, Gmail automatically deletes your trashed messages, and you won't be able to retrieve them. Deleting sent messages
Deleting messages from Sent Mail removes the conversation from every view (Inbox, All Mail, Conversation). When you delete mail, the entire conversation is moved to Trash, unless you delete one message at a time. If you've mistakenly moved a message to Trash, you may be able to recover it.
Your Messages : Organizing : Deleting : Troubleshooting
Recovering deleted messages
If you've deleted a message permanently, by clicking Delete Forever in your Spam or Trash, it isn't possible to recover the message. If you've moved a message to Trash, by clicking Delete, but it's been fewer than 30 days and you haven't permanently deleted it, follow these steps to put it back in your inbox:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Trash along the left side of any Gmail page. 3. Locate the message you'd like to move to your inbox, and check the box next to the sender's name. 4. Click Move to Inbox. Have your messages gone missing? Click here to start investigating.
Your Messages : Organizing : Archiving : Getting Started
Archiving mail
Watch a video on archiving. Archiving moves messages out of your inbox and into All Mail, letting you tidy up your inbox without deleting anything. Any message you've archived can be found in All Mail, in any labels you've applied to it, and in Gmail search results. When someone responds to a message you've archived, the conversation containing that message will reappear in your inbox. To archive messages:
1. Select a message by checking the box next to the sender's name. 2. Click Archive.
If you have a conversation open, you can archive it by clicking Archive at the top of the page. To move an archived message back to your inbox, follow these steps:
1. Click All Mail. 2. Check the box next to the sender's name. 3. Click Move to Inbox.
Should I archive or delete?
When you're positive you won't need a message, use the Delete button to send it to Trash. Deleted messages and conversations are permanently removed from Gmail 30 days after you send them to Trash. Deleting unimportant mail is a great way to free up some of your storage, but with Gmail's free storage, you can probably keep those messages, too! If it's possible that you'll need a message or conversation in the future, we recommend using the Archive feature. Archived mail moves out of your inbox and in to All Mail -- you won't be bothered with extra messages cluttering your inbox, but you'll still be able to find a message if you need it six years from now! Help keep spam out of your inbox: We know it's fun to delete spam, but we hope you'll use the Report Spam button to flag unwanted mail. When you report spam, the Gmail Team can use your report to help improve our spam filters, and keep annoying messages out of your inbox.
Your Messages : Navigating : Searching : Getting Started
About Gmail search
You can use Gmail search the same way you'd use Google Search, by entering a word (or multiple words) that appears anywhere within the message you want to locate. If you're looking for a message that contains the word shopping, simply type shopping in the search field and press Search Mail. Your results will be displayed with your search terms highlighted in yellow. Gmail doesn't recognize special search characters like square brackets, parentheses, currency symbols, the ampersand, the pound sign, and asterisks. It also doesn't recognize partial or similar matches, so a search for travel will find travel, but not travels, traveler, or travle. If you're having trouble finding the result you want, you can refine your query by clicking Show search options next to the search box, and entering your criteria in the appropriate fields (or use our advanced operators). To learn more about Gmail's search features, click one of the options below:
About advanced search operators. The list of advanced search operators. Searching in Spam or Trash. Searching for a missing message.
Searching Spam and Trash
Gmail doesn't search for message in Spam or Trash unless you tell it to. Here's how you can include spam and trash in your search results:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sign in to Gmail. Click Show search options at the top of any Gmail page. Select Mail & Spam & Trash from the Search: drop-down menu. Enter all other criteria for your search in the appropriate fields. Click Search Mail.
Learn more about Gmail Search.
Your Messages : Navigating : Searching : Learn More
Using advanced search
Watch a video on using advanced search.
Advanced search operators are query words or symbols that perform special actions in Gmail search. These operators allow you to find what you're looking for quickly and accurately. They can also be used to set up filters so you can organize your inbox automatically. Some of the most useful operators are listed below. You can also use advanced search operators by clicking on Show search options beneath the Gmail search box. Operator Definition Example(s) Example - from:amy Meaning - Messages from Amy Example - to:david Meaning - All messages that were sent to David (by you or someone else) Example - subject:dinner Meaning - Messages that have the word "dinner" in the subject Example - from:amy OR from:david Meaning - Messages from Amy or from David Example - dinner -movie Meaning - Messages that contain the word "dinner" but do not contain the word "movie" Example - from:amy label:friends Meaning - Messages from Amy that have the label "friends" Example - from:david label:my-family Meaning - Messages from David that have the label "My Family" has:attachme Search for messages with an attachment Example - from:david has:attachment
from:
Used to specify the sender
to:
Used to specify a recipient
subject:
Search for words in the subject line
OR
Search for messages matching term A or term B*
*OR must be in all caps
(hyphen)
Used to exclude messages from your search
label:
Search for messages by label*
*There isn't a search operator for unlabeled messages
nt
Meaning - Messages from David that have an attachment Example list:info@example.com Meaning - Messages with the words info@example.com in the headers, sent to or from this list Example filename:physicshomework. txt Meaning - Messages with an attachment named "physicshomework.txt" Example - label:work filename:pdf Meaning - Messages labeled "work" that also have a PDF file as an attachment Example - "i'm feeling lucky" Meaning - Messages containing the phrase "i'm feeling lucky" or "I'm feeling lucky" Example - subject:"dinner and a movie" Meaning - Messages containing the phrase "dinner and a movie" in the subject Example - from:amy(dinner OR movie) Meaning - Messages from Amy that contain either the word "dinner" or the word "movie" Example - subject:(dinner movie) Meaning - Messages in which the subject contains both the word "dinner" and the word "movie" Search for messages anywhere in Gmail*
*Messages in Spam and Trash are excluded from searches by default
list:
Search for messages on mailing lists
filename:
Search for an attachment by name or type
""
(quotes)
Used to search for an exact phrase*
*Capitalization isn't taken into consideration
()
Used to group words Used to specify terms that shouldn't be excluded
in:anywhere
Example - in:anywhere movie Meaning - Messages in All Mail, Spam, and Trash that contain the word "movie" Example - in:trash from:amy Meaning - Messages from Amy
in:inbox in:trash
Search for messages in Inbox, Trash, or Spam
in:spam
that are in Trash Example - is:read is:starred from:David Meaning - Messages from David that have been read and are marked with a star Example - cc:david Meaning - Messages that were cc-ed to David Example - after:2004/04/16 before:2004/04/18 Meaning - Messages sent between April 16, 2004 and April 18, 2004.*
*More precisely: Messages sent after 12:00 AM (or 00:00) April 16, 2004 and before April 18, 2004.
is:starred is:unread is:read
Search for messages that are starred, unread or read
cc: bcc:
Used to specify recipients in the cc: or bcc: fields*
*Search on bcc: cannot retrieve messages on which you were blind carbon copied
after: before:
Search for messages sent during a certain period of time*
*Dates must be in yyyy/mm/dd format.
is:chat
Search for chat messages
Example - is:chat monkey Meaning - Any chat message including the word "monkey".
Using the Google Toolbar to search Gmail
First, download the Google Toolbar with a Gmail search button. If you are using Internet Explorer and already have the Google Toolbar installed, you should still download the latest version to add the Gmail search button. And if you're using Firefox, click here for instructions. Once you've downloaded the Gmail search button, enter your search terms in the Toolbar's search box, and click the Gmail button. If you click the Gmail button without entering any search terms, you'll be taken straight to your Inbox.
Boolean operators in searches and filters
Gmail's advanced operators will help you make your search and filter criteria more specific. For example, to create a filter for messages from 'GoogleAmy@gmail.com' and messages that contain the subject line 'Meeting Reminder,' you can enter 'from:GoogleAmy@gmail.com OR subject:'meeting reminder' in the 'Has the words:' field.
Here's how to clarify your filter criteria with advanced operators:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click 'Create a filter' at the top of any Gmail page. 3. Enter your filter criteria. In the 'Has the words:' field, you can use any advanced operators to filter messages meeting various criteria. Please note that the 'or' function in Gmail is represented by 'OR,' and the 'not' function is represented by a minus (-). You also can use quotes (" ") to specify an exact phrase. 4. Click 'Next Step' and select the action you'd like these messages to take. 5. Click 'Create Filter.'
To use advanced operators in your searches, click 'Show search options' to the right of the search field, and enter your search terms and advanced operators in the appropriate fields. You can check out a list of Gmail's advanced operators here. * Check out search as you have never seen it before. Gmail Theater presents an ensemble cast of engineers in The The Isle of Lost Emails. Watch the video on YouTube. *
Searching on multi-word labels
To search for messages with a specific label, enter 'label:,' an advanced operator, followed by the label's name, in the search field. If the label name has more than one word, you'll need to connect the words with dashes. For example, if you want to search for all messages from Bob in the label 'My Friends', enter the following in the 'Search Mail' field: from:Bob label:my-friends Click here if you would like to learn more about Gmail search. Learn the basics of using labels to better organize your mail. View a brief demo (requires MacromediaTM Flash).
Your Messages : Navigating : Browsing : Getting Started
What is 'All Mail'?
All Mail is your archive, a storage place for all the mail you've ever sent or received, but have not deleted.
You can see a list of archived messages by clicking All Mail. Archived messages are also available by searching, and under any assigned labels. To archive mail:
1. Select the message(s) you'd like to archive by checking the box(es) next to the sender's name. 2. Click Archive at the top of your inbox.
You also can archive mail after you open it -- just click Archive along the top of the message.
Your inbox
Think of your inbox as a control panel for your email. Gmail messages are grouped into 'conversations' so that all follow-ups and responses appear as a single line in your inbox. Here's how to interpret the columns in your inbox:
Use the check boxes to select conversations, and then perform actions on those selected conversations. Add stars to important messages or conversations. You can view all your starred mail by clicking Starred. Names of message senders are listed on the left. Unread messages are bolded. The total number of messages is listed in parentheses. All labels appear in the bottom left corner. Gmail displays snippets -- a line of text next to each message that reveals a bit of the content of the most recent message. The time or date the most recent message in a conversation arrived is displayed on the far right of a conversation line. Dates appear when messages are older than 24 hours.
About Archive and All Mail Since you have more than 2,500 megabytes of storage, we recommend that you archive messages rather than delete them. Once you delete a message, after all, it's gone for good. By archiving messages and conversations, you can take advantage of Gmail's powerful search functionality to retrieve later any message you've sent or received. Archived conversations will appear in All Mail, which is the holding place for all of the messages you've sent or received, but have not deleted.
Your Messages : Navigating : Browsing : Learn More
Keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts help you save time by allowing you to never take your hands off the keyboard to use the mouse. You'll need a Standard 101/102-Key or Natural PS/2 Keyboard to use the shortcuts. To turn these case-sensitive shortcuts on or off, click Settings, and then pick an option next to Keyboard shortcuts.
Shortcut Key Definition Action
c
Compose
Allows you to compose a new message. + c allows you to compose a message in a new window. Puts your cursor in the search box.
/
Search
k
Opens or moves your cursor to a more recent Move to newer conversation conversation. You can hit to expand a conversation. Opens or moves your cursor to the next oldest conversation. You can hit to expand a conversation. Moves your cursor to the next message. You can hit to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in
'Conversation View.')
j
Move to older conversation
n
Next message
p
Previous message
Moves your cursor to the previous message. You can hit to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in
'Conversation View.')
o or
Open
Opens your conversation. Also expands or collapses a message if you are in 'Conversation View.' Refreshes your page and returns you to the inbox, or list of conversations. Archive your conversation from any view. Archives the conversation, and all future messages skip the Inbox unless sent or cc'd directly to you. Learn more. Automatically checks and selects a conversation so that you can archive, apply a label, or choose an action from the
u
Return to conversation list
e
Archive
m
Mute
x
Select conversation
drop-down menu to apply to that conversation. Adds or removes a star to a message or conversation. Stars Star a message or conversation allow you to give a message or conversation a special status. Marks a message as spam and removes it from your conversation list. Replies to the message sender. + r allows you to reply to a message in a new window. (Only applicable in
'Conversation View.')
s
!
Report spam
r
Reply
a
Reply all
Replies to all message recipients. +a allows you to reply to all message recipients in a new window.
(Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
f
Forward
Forwards a message. + f allows you to forward a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation
View.')
Escape from input field
Removes the cursor from your current input field. Saves the current text as a draft when composing a message. Hold the key while pressing s and make sure your cursor is in one of the text fields -- either the composition pane, or any of the To, CC, BCC, or Subject fields -- when using this shortcut. Moves the conversation to Trash. Marks your message as 'read' and skip to the next message. Marks your message as 'unread' so you can go back to it later. Archives your conversation and moves to the previous one. Archives your conversation and moves to the next one. Undoes your previous action, if possible (works for actions with an 'undo' link). Updates your current conversation when there are new messages.
+ s
Save draft
# + i + u [ ]
Delete
Mark as read
Mark as unread
Archive and previous Archive and next
z
Undo
+ n
Update current conversation
q
Move cursor to chat search
Moves your cursor directly to the chat search box. Automatically removes the message or conversation from your current view.
From 'Inbox,' 'y' means Archive From 'Starred,' 'y' means Unstar From 'Trash,' 'y' means Move to inbox From any label, 'y' means Remove the label
y
Remove from Current View*
* 'y' has no effect if you're in 'Spam,' 'Sent,' or 'All Mail.'
.
Show more actions
Displays the 'More Actions' drop-down menu. Displays the keyboard shortcuts help menu within any page you're on.
?
Show keyboard shortcuts help
Combo-keys - Use the following combinations of keys to navigate through Gmail. Shortcut Key Definition Action
then
After composing your message, use this combination to send it Send message automatically. (Supported in Internet Explorer and Firefox, on Windows.) Archive and next Archives your conversation and moves to the next one. Takes you to 'All Mail,' the storage site for all mail you've ever sent or received (and have not deleted).
y then o
g then a
Go to 'All Mail'
g then s g then c g then d g then i g then t * then a * then n
Go to 'Starred' Takes you to all conversations you have starred. Go to 'Contacts' Takes you to your Contacts list. Go to 'Drafts' Go to 'Inbox' Takes you to all drafts you have saved. Returns you to the inbox.
Go to 'Sent Mail' Takes you to all mail you've sent. Select all Select none Selects all mail. Deselects all mail.
* then r * then u * then s * then t
Select read Select unread Select starred
Selects all mail you've read. Selects all unread mail. Selects all starred mail.
Select unstarred Selects all unstarred mail.
Using Gmail with screen readers
Gmail (Basic HTML) Guide
A guide for Jaws users, written by David Bailes at Chorlton Workshop for hsbp. More guides are available on the Jaws Guides page of the VIP Software Guides website.
Contents
• Introduction • Signing in • Page structure • Reading messages • Conversation list page • Conversation page • Sending messages • Contact list • Searching • Archiving • Settings • Labels • Filters • Creating a Gmail address
Introduction
This is a guide to using Google's web-based email. In most countries it's known as Gmail, but in Germany, Austria and the UK it's known as Google Mail, due to existing trademarks. Gmail is available in two different views: Standard, and Basic HTML. The Basic HTML view is primarily aimed at old web browsers which can't properly display the Standard view, and it contains less functionality than the Standard view. However, Google has modified the US
English version of the Basic HTML view so that it's more accessible for those using screen readers. Note that this isn't the case for other language versions of the Basic HTML view, so you must have your language set to US English to get the accessible Basic HTML view. If you already have a Gmail address, then you can change the language on the General Settings page, as described in the Settings section. For versions of Jaws up to and including version 9, Gmail is much more accessible in the US English Basic HTML view than in the Standard view, and this guide is written for the US English Basic HTML view. Jaws version 9 includes some support for the Standard view. There are two ways which Gmail uses to organize your messages which are central to understanding how to use Gmail: conversations and labels. These are introduced in the next two sections.
Conversations
A conversation consists of one or more messages with the same subject. When you view the contents of any of your folders, you're shown a list of conversations, rather than a list of messages. Because the messages have been grouped into conversations, this reduces the number of items in your folders, and makes finding messages easier. The next three sections give examples of how conversations are formed. Example 1 You send an email with the subject Elton John concert to a friend Paul, asking him whether he wants to go. A conversation with the subject Elton John Concert and containing your message is automatically created, and appears in your Sent Mail folder. Because the conversation consists of only a single message, you might like to think of it as a potential conversation. Paul replies to your message (without changing the subject). Because Paul's message has the same subject as the Elton John Concert conversation, it is added to this conversation. Also because the conversation now contains messages you've both sent and received, it now appears in both your Sent Mail and Inbox folders. Example 2 A friend Susan sends you and message with the subject Harry Potter, asking you what you thought of the ending of the latest book. A conversation with the subject Harry Potter and containing Susan's message is created, and appears in your Inbox. You reply to this message, without changing the subject. The message you send is added to the Harry Potter conversation, which now appears in both your Sent Mail and Inbox folders.
If Susan then replies to your reply, then this message is also added to the Harry Potter conversation. Example 3 You've subscribed to the Jaws For Windows mailing list. Someone on the list posts a message with the subject Jaws 9 Beta, and there are 10 replies by other people to this message. Then there will be a ―Jaws 9 Beta‖ conversation in your Inbox consisting of 11 messages. If you reply to the message, this will be added to the conversation, and the conversation will also now appear in your Sent Mail folder.
Labels
Most web-based email services and email clients like Outlook Express provide the facility for creating your own folders, and moving messages to these folders so that they're organized and so easier to find. In contrast, rather than using folders, Gmail allows you to create your own labels, and then apply one or more labels to a conversation. Using labels has the advantage that if a conversation can be equally well classified by more than one label, then you can apply all these labels. Using folders, you have to choose a single folder, even though the message might equally correctly place in other folders. So using labels rather than folders provides a better categorization of messages, which in turn can make messages easier to find.
Signing in
If you haven't already got a Gmail address, then obtaining one is described in the Creating a Gmail address section at the end of this guide. The following method for signing in takes you directly to the Basic HTML view of Gmail:
1. Go the web page with the address mail.google.com/mail/h/. 2. The initial focus is in the Username edit box. Press ENTER to go into Forms mode, type in your username, and then TAB to the Password edit box. 3. Type in your password, and press ENTER. You are taken to your Inbox in the Basic HTML view.
An alternative method of signing in is to use the normal signing in page at mail.google.com . When you sign in on this page, you're taken to the Standard view of Gmail. The first link on a Standard view page is a link to the Basic HTML view. So, to change to the Basic HTML view, just navigate to this link and open it. You can now set Basic HTML view as your default view. The link to set Basic HTML as your default view is the second link from the top of the page.
Page Structure
Almost all the Gmail web pages use the same overall page structure. So before going on to describe how to read and send messages, this section describes this overall structure and how to navigate it. Each page in the Basic HTML view contains the following elements or sections — it's only the main content section which varies from page to page, everything else is present on every page:
A link to switch to the standard view. A level 1 heading: either Google Mail by Google, or Gmail by Google, depending on which country you live in. Account options: a level 2 heading, followed by your email address, and the links Settings, Help, and Sign out Search controls: an edit box, Search Mail button, Search the Web button, and a Show search options link. These are described in the Searching section. Note that the edit box does not have a label, so Jaws says just “edit box”. However, it's the first control on the page, and so easy to find. Navigation section, which is described in the next section. Main content section. This varies from page to page, and normally contains a level 2 heading. Miscellaneous bits and bobs.
Navigation section
The navigation section contains the following elements:
A Compose Mail link, which has the access key C. Folders. A level 2 heading, followed by links for the following folders: o Inbox, for conversations which contain incoming messages, and which has the access key I. o Starred, for conversations which you've marked as especially significant. o Sent Mail, for conversations which contain messages which you've sent. o Drafts, for conversations which include a message you were writing and haven't yet sent because you saved the message as a draft, the internet connection failed, or the computer crashed. o All Mail. This contains a list of conversations which include all the messages which you've received or sent, archived, and which haven't been deleted. o Spam. For incoming messages which have been judged to be spam by Google Mail or the emails that you have marked as spam. After 30 days in this folder, a message is automatically deleted completely. o Trash. When you delete a conversation or a message (except from this folder), it's moved here. After 30 days in this folder, it's automatically deleted completely.
• Contacts link, which is also a level 3 heading. • Labels. A level 2 heading, followed by links for any labels you've created.
Some of the folder and label links can have a number in parentheses after them, and this is
highlighted by them also being made level 3 headings (only if they contain unread emails). The significance of these numbers is:
• A number after Inbox indicates the number of conversations containing unread messages. • A number after Drafts indicates the number of conversations in the Drafts folder. All these conversations contain a draft message. • A number after Spam indicates the number of conversations containing unread messages in the Spam folder. • A number after a label indicates the number of conversations with that label which contain unread messages.
Page navigation
• The heading structure of the pages is good, and so this is useful for navigation. In particular, using the quick navigation key 2 takes you through the following headings: Account options, Folders, Labels, and the heading of the main content section. • As noted above, both the Compose Mail and Inbox links have access keys. The keystrokes to open a link with an access key depend on the web browser: nesting level 1 • In Internet Explorer, press ALT + ACCESS KEY, and then ENTER. • In FireFox 1.5, press ALT + ACCESS KEY. • In FireFox 2.0, press SHIFT + ALT + ACCESS KEY. nesting level 1
Reading messages
This is an outline of how to read the messages in one of the folders:
1. Open one of the folder links, which are immediately after the level 2 heading Folders. After you first sign in, you're automatically taken to your Inbox folder, so to immediately read the messages in your Inbox, you can omit this step. 2. You're taken to a page which contains a list of conversations in that folder, and pages like these will be referred to as Conversation list pages. The list of conversations is, in fact, formatted as a table, with the columns giving various details about the conversations. To view a particular conversation, move to the subject of the conversation, which is a link, and open it. 3. You're taken to a page which contains all the messages in the conversation, and these pages will be referred to as Conversation pages. On this page you can easily navigate to the messages which you want to read.
The next two main sections describe Conversation list pages and Conversation pages in detail.
Conversation list page
When you open any of the folders, you're taken to a page containing a list of the conversations in that folder. This section describes the structure and navigation of a Conversation list page. In fact, as described latter in the guide, when you choose to view the conversations with a particular label, or search for messages, you're also taken to page containing a list of conversations, and these pages all have the same structure. A Conversation list page has a title which describes the list of conversations, for example, Inbox. Its main content section contains the following elements:
A level 2 heading: a name for the list of conversations, for example, Sent Mail. A series of action buttons, which are described in the Action buttons section below. Refresh link. The range of conversations shown in the table which follows, for example “1 - 50 of 402”. In addition, when appropriate, there are links to take you to other ranges of conversations. The links which may be present are: « Newest, < Newer, and Older >, and Oldest ». A table containing details of the conversations, which is described in the Conversation table section below. A repeat of the action buttons, the refresh link, and the range of conversations displayed.
Conversation table
Each row in the table contains the details of a conversation. The table has four columns, and a certain number of rows. (the number of rows is dependent on the user's settings) The columns of the table are as follows:
1. A checkbox, which by default is unchecked. These checkboxes are used together with the Action buttons as described in the Action buttons section below. 2. In most lists of conversations, the second column contains the names of the senders of the messages in the conversation. If there is more than one message in the conversation, then the number of messages is given in parentheses after the names. 3. The subject of the conversation, which is a link. To open a conversation, you open this link, and you are then taken to a Conversation page. If you're viewing the conversations other than those in the Inbox, then if the conversation is also present in the Inbox, then the subject is prefixed with the word Inbox. If any of the messages contain one or more attachments, then Jaws says "attachment" before the subject. 4. The last column contains either a time if it refers to today, or else a date. The meaning of the time depends on which folder is being viewed. For example, for the Inbox, the date/time refers to when the latest incoming message in the conversation was sent. For the Sent Mail folder, the date/time refers to when the latest outgoing message in the conversation was sent. The conversations in the table
are ordered by this date/time.
Conversations which contain unread messages are highlighted to sighted users by making the background color of the row a different color, and using bold text. This information is not available to Jaws users, and Jaws does not announce if a conversation contains unread messages. However, if needed, you can easily get a list of the conversations containing unread messages by using Google Mail's search, which is described in detail in the Searching section. To get this list:
1. Move to the first edit box on the page. 2. Press ENTER to go into Forms mode, type is: unread, and then press ENTER. You're taken to a Conversation list page containing the conversations which have unread messages.
Action buttons
The Actions buttons which appear both before and after the Conversation table are used together with the checkboxes in the Conversation. For example, to delete one or more conversations in the Inbox:
1. In the Conversation table, check the checkboxes of the conversations you want to delete. 2. Move the Delete action button, for example by pressing B three times, and press it.
The number and the actions of these buttons depends on which list of conversations is being viewed. The general pattern is:
There may be one or more buttons for the most frequently used actions. Then there's always a combo box containing more actions, and an associated Go button. To apply one of these actions: move to the combo box, press ENTER to go into Forms mode, select an action, TAB to the Go button, and press it.
For example, for the Inbox, there are buttons to Archive, Report Spam, and Delete. The More Actions combo box contains options to Mark as read, Mark as unread, Add star, Remove star, and Apply and Remove any labels you're created.
Conversation list page navigation.
To move to the start of the Conversation table, press CTRL + HOME, then X, since the checkbox on the first row of the table, is the first checkbox on the page. Navigating around this table is described in the next section. Using the quick navigation key T might sound like a good alternative, but it has a serious drawback. If there is only one conversation in the list, and so only one row in the table, Jaws does not treat this as a table, and says that there are no tables on the page. There is a good reason for this as web pages use tables for both layout and for presenting data, and tables with one row are usually used for layout. To move to the action buttons, use the quick navigation key B. To move to the more actions
combo box, use C.
Conversation table navigation To move around in a Conversation table which contains more than one row, you can use any of the following keystrokes:
To move to the next checkbox, press X. This also reads the senders of the messages in the conversation. To move up or down columns, then press CTRL + ALT + UP ARROW or CTRL + ALT + DOWN ARROW. To move to first cell, press CTRL + ALT + HOME. Note that if you use CTRL + ALT + LEFT ARROW or CTRL + ALT + RIGHT ARROW or CTRL + ALT + NUMPAD 5 to read the cell to the left or right or the current cell, then Jaws uses the cells in the first row of the table as column headings. Alas, they aren't headings, and it's very confusing. To move along rows it's less confusing just to use UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW. To read the next row, current row, or previous row, then press WINDOWS KEY + DOWN ARROW, or WINDOWS KEY + NUMPAD 5, or WINDOWS KEY + UP ARROW respectively.
Conversation page
When you open a subject link in the Conversation table of a Conversation list page, you're taken to a Conversation page. On this page, you can read all the messages in the conversation, and both act of the conversation as a whole, and the individual messages in the conversation.
The title of a Conversation page is the subject of the conversation, and the main content section contains the following elements:
A link back to the Conversation list page, for example « Back to Inbox. Actions buttons. These are often the same set of Action buttons which appeared on the Conversation list page. These buttons are used to apply actions to the whole of the conversation. The number of the conversation in the list of conversations, eg. “4 of 314”. In addition there are < Newer, and Older > links, when appropriate, which take you to the next newer or older conversation in the list respectively. Two or three links which act of the whole conversation. If there is more than one message in the conversation, then there's either an Expand all or a Collapse all link, as described in the Messages section below. There are always Print and New Window links, which print the conversation and open the conversation in a new window respectively. A level 2 heading: the subject of the conversation. This is followed by a link to the Inbox if the conversation appears in the Inbox, and any labels. The messages in the conversation, which are described in detail in the next section. Repeat of the Action buttons, and the number of the conversation in the list of conversations.
Messages
Messages can be in one of two formats: expanded or collapsed. In the expanded format, the message text and all relevant information is given, whereas in the collapsed format only the latest email is shown.
When you first move to a Conversation page, the last message and all unread messages are expanded — the rest are collapsed. Because only expanded messages have a heading; this makes it easy to find the unread messages in a conversation. If one or more of the messages is collapsed, then before the subject level 2 heading, there's an Expand all link, which expands all the collapsed messages. If all the messages are expanded, then there's a Collapse all link, which collapses all but the last message. Expanded Message An expanded message contains the following elements:
A graphic link to either add or remove a star, depending on whether the messages is Unstarred or starred respectively. The name of the sender, which is both a level 3 heading, and a link. If you open the link, the message is collapsed. This is followed by the email address of the sender. An attachment graphic, if the message has one or more attachments. The date and time when the message was sent. To: followed by the email address of the recipient. A series of links: Reply, Reply to all, Forward, Print, Delete, and Show original. The text of the message. If the message has one or more attachments, then there are links for viewing and downloading attachments. These are described in the Downloading attachments section below. If this is the last message of the conversation, then there are a set of controls for a quick reply, which are described in the Quick reply section below. Otherwise, there's a repeat of the series of links: Reply, Reply to all, etc.
Collapsed message A collapsed message contains the following elements:
Either an Unstarred graphic or a starred graphic, depending on whether the message is Unstarred or starred respectively. The name of the sender which is a link (but not a level 3 heading). If you open the link, the message is expanded. An attachment graphic, if the message has one or more attachments. The date and time when the message was sent.
Note that when there are a large number of collapsed messages, these are sometimes merged into a single collapsed message, which contains text such as ―17 hidden messages –‖, followed by a Show link. If you open this link, all the hidden messages are shown as individual collapsed messages.
Conversation page navigation
The subject of the conversation is the fourth level 2 heading on the page. Immediately before this heading are the links and Action buttons which are used for applying actions to the whole conversation. In all the expanded messages, the name of the sender is a level 3 heading, so you can use these headings to browse through the expanded messages. If you need to read any of the collapsed messages, rather than expanding them individually, it's often easier to open the Expand all link, and then use the level 3 headings of the expanded messages to find the ones you want to read.
Downloading attachments
As described above, whether a message has one or more attachments is indicated by “attachment” just before the date and time when the message was sent. In an expanded message, the links for viewing and downloading the attachments appear after the text of the message.
The following information and links are given for each attachment:
Name of the file. Size of the file. For some file types, for example .html and .txt, there's a View link, which opens a new window, and displays the attachment. For some other file types, for example .doc and .PDF, there's a View as HTML link, which opens a new window, converts the file to HTML, and displays the attachment. For some other file types, for example .MP3 and .zip, there is no such link. Either a Scan and download link, or a Download link, depending on whether you're using Internet Explorer or FireFox. If you open this link, then a dialog opens which gives you the choice of either saving the file or opening it with its default program.
In addition, if there's more than one attachment, then before the information about the individual attachments, there is the number of attachments, followed by either a link to Scan and download all attachments, or Download all attachments, depending on whether you're using Internet Explorer of FireFox respectively. If you open this link, then a dialog opens which allows you to either open or save a zip file containing all the attachments. If you're in a message that contains one or more attachments, then a useful method of moving to the links to view or download the attachments is to use the links list dialog (INSERT + F7), to find the next link beginning with Scan, if using Internet Explorer, or Download, if using FireFox, and move to
that link.
Quick reply
The last message on a Conversation page has a number of controls after the message text that allow you to quickly compose and send a reply, without having to go through the Compose Mail page. These controls are:
A More Reply Options buttons, which is equivalent to the Reply link above the message text, and takes you to the Compose Mail page. An edit box for your message. Send and Save Draft buttons. An “Include quoted text with reply” checkbox, which is checked by default.
So if you're in the last message on a Conversation page, you can just read down to the edit box, or press E, press ENTER to go into Forms mode, write the message, TAB to the Send button and press it. Note that this method does not allow you to change any fields of the message, or attach any files.
Sending messages
There are a number of ways of composing a message which you want to send. Most of these use the Compose Mail page, which is described below. In addition, you can also use the Quick Reply feature which is only available on the last message of a conversation, which is described in the Quick reply section above.
To compose a message using the Compose Mail page:
A new message from scratch. Open the Compose Mail link to go to the Compose Mail page. Since this link has the access key C, you can open the link in Internet Explorer by pressing ALT + C, then ENTER, and in Firefox 2 by pressing SHIFT + ALT + C. From your contacts. Open the Contacts link in the navigation section to go the Contacts page, which is described in detail in the Contact list section . Check the checkboxes of one or more contacts, and then press the Compose Mail button. You're taken to the Compose Mail page, where the To: field has been filled in for you. Replying to a message. Any expanded message on any Conversation page has a series of links just above the message text. If you open the reply link, then you're taken to the Compose Mail page, where the To: and Subject: fields have been filled in for you. In addition, the message edit box already contains a copy of the message to which you're replying. Forwarding a message. This is similar to replying to a message, as described in the previous option. Open the Forward link and you're taken to the Compose Mail page, where the Subject: field has already been filled in, and the message edit box contains a copy of the message, preceded by the words Forwarded message.
Compose Mail page
The Compose Mail page has the title “Compose Mail,” and the main content section contains the following elements:
Send, Save Draft, and Discard buttons. The level 2 heading: Compose Form. To, cc, bcc, and subject edit boxes. Three controls for adding attachments: Attachments: edit box, Browse button, and an Attach More Files button. Message edit box. Send, Save Draft, and Discard buttons.
So to send a message:
1. When you're taken to the Compose Mail page, Jaws says that the initial focus is in the To: edit box. If you are using either the Firefox browser or Internet Explorer, just press ENTER to go into forms mode, and start entering stuff. If for any reason, the cursor is not in the To: edit box, press E to move to the To: edit box, and then press ENTER to go into Forms mode. 2. Carry on pressing TAB to move between controls, and typing into the edit boxes. Adding attachments is covered in the next section. 3. After you've typed your message in the message edit box, simply TAB to the Send button and press it.
Adding attachments
To add attachments, you use the three controls which are between the subject: and message edit boxes: The Attachments edit box, the Browse button, and the Attach More Files button. Note that if you TAB or SHIFT + TAB to the Browse button in Forms mode, then Jaws does not say Browse button, it says nothing. (The Browse label gets appended to the Attachments label of the edit box for some reason.)
If you want to attach only a single file to a message:
1. Move to the Browse button (using the arrow keys after exiting forms mode), which immediately follows the Attachments: edit box. Press the button using SPACEBAR or ENTER. 2. A Choose File dialog opens, which has the same format as a standard Open dialog. Select a file, and press ENTER. 3. You are returned to the Compose page, with the focus on the Browse button. Jaws reads the full path of the file that has been entered into the Attachments edit box. (Rather than browsing you can just type the full path of the filename into the edit box, but browsing is normally easier.)
If you want to attach multiple files to a message: 1. Press the Attach More Files button.
2. You are taken to a page which has the title Attach Files. The main content section of the page contains: • Done and Cancel buttons • A table with 2 columns and 10 rows. Each row is made up of an edit box and a Browse button. • Attach More Files button. If you really want to attach more than 10 files. • Done and Cancel buttons 3. The easiest way of selecting files to attach is to use the Browse buttons, so there's no need to go into Forms mode on this page. Move to the first Browse button — using the quick navigation key B is one way to get there. Then follow the instructions which are given above for attaching a single file. 4. To attach the other files just move to the next browse button a repeat the procedure. 5. When you're finished attaching files, move to one of the Done buttons, and press it. 6. You're returned to the Compose Mail page. Above the Attachments edit box there are now a series of checkboxes for the attached files.
Drafts
If you open a conversation in the Drafts folder, then what happens depends on the number of messages in the conversation:
If the conversation only contains a single message, which is the message you were writing, then when you open the conversation you are taken to the Compose Mail page. If the conversation contains one or more messages, then you're taken to a Conversation list page. The message you were replying to is expanded, and has a Quick reply section following it, even if it isn't the last message in the conversation. This is always the first Quick reply section on the page, so the easiest way of continuing to write the message is to press the first More Reply Options button on the page, which takes you to a Compose Mail page.
Contact list
Whenever you reply to or forward an message, the address of the sender of the message is automatically added to your contact list.
To go to the Contact list page, open the Contacts link which is in the navigation section of every page, and which is also a level 3 heading. The functions available on the Contact list page are very basic. The title of the page is Contact list, and the main content section, contains the following elements:
A Compose button. The two phrases “Frequently Mailed” and “All Contacts”. One of them is a link, the other plain
text. They allow you to switch between two views of your contacts, either frequently mailed, or all. When you first enter the page, the view is frequently mailed, and so “All Contacts” is the link. An edit box and a Search Contacts button for searching your contacts. Some numbers describing how many of your contacts are displayed in the table below. Presumably, if you have more than 50 contacts, there are also links for moving between ranges of your contacts. A table containing a list of your contacts. The three columns of the table are: o A checkbox, which is used together with the Compose button for writing messages to your contacts. o The name of the contact. o The email address of the contact. Another Compose button, just in case you can't find the first one.
As with Conversation list pages, a quick way of moving to the first cell in the table is to press CTRL + HOME, and then X to move to the first checkbox. To compose a message to one or more of your contacts, simply check one or more of the checkboxes, and press one of the Compose buttons. You are taken to the Compose mail page, where the To: field has been filled in for you.
Searching
Gmail's search is extremely flexible and powerful. To perform a simple search: 1. Move to the Search edit box, which is the first form control on the page. 2. Press ENTER to go into Forms mode, type in one or more words, and press ENTER. 3. You are taken to a page which contains a list of the conversations which contain messages which match the search words. The title of the page, and the level 2 heading of the main content section is Search results for: “search words”.
The defaults for searches are:
All the messages in the All Mail folder are searched, that is, all the messages you're sent or received, but have not deleted. However, the Spam and Trash folders aren't searched. The matches are case insensitive The search words are matched against words in the subject, To, and From fields, and in the message text.
To perform more advanced searches, you can either use search operators in the text you enter into the search edit box, or you can use a form for entering various search options. These methods are described in the following two sections.
Search operators
By default, words used for searching are matched against the words in all the fields of the message and in the message text. Search operators allow you
to specify a single field of the message for matching, and also other attributes of the message, for example whether it's been read, which folder it's in, etc. Most of the operators are fairly straightforward, but the use of parentheses can be more difficult to grasp. The following sections give some simple examples, then some examples using parentheses, and finally the definitions of all the search operators. Simple examples
is: unread, matches messages which are unread. from: David, matches messages whose sender includes the name David. from:pluto@disney.com, matches messages from the email address pluto@disney.com. from: David subject:concert, matches messages whose sender includes the word David, and whose subject contains the word concert. rock OR concert, matches messages which contain either rock or concert. Note that OR must be spelled with capitals. "audio books from librivox". Messages containing the exact phrase "audio books from librivox."
Examples using parentheses Parentheses are used for grouping words to ensure that search expressions have the intended meaning. Here are some examples:
subject:(rock concert) matches messages in which the subject contains both rock and concert. In the absence of the parentheses, it would match messages in which the subject contains rock, and in which concert occurred anywhere. subject:"rock concert" matches messages in which the subject contains the exact phrase "rock concert". Parentheses are not needed here, because the phrase acts as a single unit. (rock concert) OR bananas matches messages which either contain the words rock and concert, or contain the word bananas. Without parentheses the expression would match messages which either contain the words rock and concert, or contain the words rock and bananas. from:( (Mickey mouse) OR (Donald duck) ) matches messages in which the from: field either contains Mickey and mouse, or contains Donald and duck. Note the need for both parentheses.
Definitions of all search operators
Operator is: unread is: read from: someone Definition
messages which are unread or read respectively
Specifies the sender. “someonerdquo; can be either one or more names, or an email address. Exa mouse), and from:pluto@disney.com.
to:someone subject:something label:something has:attachment filename:some filename filename:some file type OR quotes parentheses hyphen in:anywhere in:inbox in:trash in:spam is:starred cc:someone bcc:someone
Specifies the recipient. “someone” can be either one more names, or an email address. subject includes “something”.
label is “something”. If the label consists of more than one word, you have to put hyphens betwee label:donald-duck. messages with one or more attachments messages with the attachment “some filename”, for example, filename:jokes.txt.
messages with an attachment of the type “some file type”, for example filename:pdf. matches something or something else. OR must be in capitals matches an exact phrase, for example, "paris in the spring" used for grouping words, for example subject:(blues OR jazz). not. For example, -bananas, messages which don't contain the word bananas. messages anywhere in your mail, including spam and trash which are excluded by default.
messages in inbox, trash, or spam
messages which are starred Specifies either cc: recipient or bcc: recipient. “someone” can be either one or more names or an
Search options
To use the search options:
1. Open the Show search options link, which comes shortly after the Search edit box. 2. You are taken to a page with the title Search Options. In the main content section there are a number of form controls for setting various search options,
starting with a From: edit box. After these controls, there's a Search Mail button. Set some options, and then either press ENTER if you're in an edit box, or TAB to the Search Mail button, and press it. 3. You're taken a page containing a list of the conversations which contain messages which match your search options. The title and level 2 heading of the main content section are Search results for: “search options”, where the search options are expressed in terms of the search operators described in the previous section. Note that the main content section also includes the form controls for setting search options — they are before the level 2 heading.
Archiving
In addition to being able to delete conversations or individual messages, Gmail allows you to archive conversations from your Inbox. If you archive a conversation, the conversation is removed from your Inbox, but not from the All Mail folder, which contains everything which you haven't deleted.
After you have archived a conversation:
You can still find the messages in the conversation by searching for them, because the All Mail folder is used for searching. If the conversation contains messages sent by you, it still appears in the Sent Mail folder. If the conversation has a label applied to it, then it still appears when you view the conversations which have that label.
So archiving allows you both to have a small number of conversations in your Inbox, and to still have old messages available.
Settings
The settings for Gmail are divided into a number of different categories, and each category has its own page. This section gives an overview of these pages, and how to navigate to them. The Labels and Filters pages are described in detail in the Labels and Filters sections of this guide. The settings categories are:
General. This includes a combo box for setting the display language of Google Mail, and this must be set to English(US) to get the accessible Basic HTML view, as discussed in the Introduction. Accounts. Labels. Filters. Forwarding and POP. This includes settings which allow you to connect an email client, such as Outlook Express, to your Google Mail address.
To move to the Settings:general page, open the Settings link, which comes shortly after the Account Settings level 2 heading. All the settings pages have the title Settings. The main content section of all the settings pages contains the following:
A level 2 heading: Settings The categories. All but the current category are links, and are used for moving to the various category pages. Various elements which vary from category to category.
So, for example, to move to the Settings:Labels page:
1. First move to General settings page, as described above. 2. On this page, move to the level 2 heading Settings. 3. Read through the categories, until you get to the Labels link, and open it.
Labels
Gmail enables you to create your own labels, apply one or more labels to conversations, and use these labels for finding conversations. The labels which you've created appear immediately after the level 2 heading Labels in the navigation section. In addition, in any Conversation table, if a conversation has one or more labels, then these appear before the subject of the conversation.
The Settings:Labels page
On the Settings:Label page, you can view, rename, remove, and create labels (how to go to the various settings pages is described in the Settings section above). The main content section of the page contains the following:
A level 2 heading: Settings A list of the settings categories. All but Labels are links, and are used for moving to the other category pages. A table containing details of the labels which you've created. The table has two columns, which have the headings Setting and Choices, and which contain: o The name of the label, which is a link. This is followed by the number of conversations having this label. If you open the link, you're taken to a Conversation list page which contains all the conversations which have this label. o An edit box and a rename button, followed by a remove button. A Create a new label edit box, followed by a Create button.
Create a label
On the Settings:Labels page, to create a new label:
1. Move to the Create a new label edit box. 2. Press ENTER to go into Forms mode, type in a name for the label, and press ENTER. The page refreshes, and the new label appears in the table of labels.
Applying and removing labels
You can apply or remove labels on any Conversation page, or on any Conversation list page. On a Conversation page, any labels the conversation has appear after the subject of the conversation which is a level 2 heading. To apply or remove labels:
1. Move to the More Actions combo box, which appears amongst the Action buttons at the beginning and end of the main content section. Since it's the only combo box on the page, you can simply press C to move to it. 2. Press ENTER to move into Forms mode. The list of actions in the Combo box includes “Apply labels” followed by the existing labels, and also “Remove labels” followed again by the existing labels. Select a label in the appropriate section. 3. TAB to the Go button, which is the next control, and press it.
On a Conversations list page:
1. Check the checkboxes of the conversations either to which you want to apply a label, or from which you want to remove a label. 2. Move to the More Actions combo box, which appears amongst the Actions buttons above and below the conversations table. For example, press C to move the More Actions combo box after the table. 3. Follow steps 2 and 3 which were given above for a Conversation page.
Searching using labels
You can get a list of the conversations with a particular label by using the label links which are immediately after the level 2 heading Labels. If you open one of these links, you are taken to a page containing a list of the conversations with this label. The title of the page, and the level 2 heading of the main content section is Label:name. You can search using labels by using the search operator label:, as described in the Search operators section. For example, here's an alternative method for getting a list of conversations with a particular label:
1. Move to the search edit box, which is the first control on the page. 2. Press ENTER to go into Forms mode, type label:name, where “name” is a label, and then press
ENTER. 3. You are taken to a page containing a list of the conversations with this label. The title of the page and the level 2 heading of the main content sections is Search results for: Label:name.
Filters
In Gmail, you can create your own filters, which help you to organize your incoming messages. A filter automatically applies one or more actions to incoming messages which match some criteria.
The Settings:Filters page
On the Settings:Filters page, you can view, edit, delete, and create filters (how to get to the various settings pages is described in the Settings section above). The main content section of the page contains the following:
A level 2 heading: Settings The categories. All but the Filter category are links, and are used for moving to the various other category pages. For each filter which you've created there are: o “Matches:” followed by the criteria, which are expressed using the search operators. o “Do this:” followed by one or more actions. o edit and delete buttons. A Create a new Filter button.
Creating a filter
Creating a filter involves two stages: specifying the matching criteria, and then specifying one or more actions that will be taken on the messages which match the given criteria. On the Settings:Filters page:
1. Press the Create a new Filter button. 2. The page is refreshed. The main content section remains unchanged, but a group of elements for specifying the filter criteria now appear between the search controls and the navigation section. These elements are: • A level 2 heading: Create a filter. • 5 edit boxes, and a check box for specifying criteria. • Cancel, Test Search, and Next Step buttons. Enter the criteria using one or more of these controls. 3. If you want, you can check which existing messages match this criteria. To do this, press the Test
Search button, and the page refreshes. In the main content section there is now: • A level 2 heading: Search results for: “criteria” where criteria are your filter criteria defined using the search operators described in the Search operators section. • A Conversation table containing the conversations which contain messages which match the criteria. 4. Once you are happy with the criteria, press the Next Step button. 5. You're taken to a page where you can specify the action to be taken on the messages that match your criteria. Between the search controls and the navigation section are: • A level 2 heading: Create a filter. • 5 checkboxes for selecting actions. After the Apply the label: checkbox, there's a Choose label combo box, and after the Forward it to: checkbox, there's an email address edit box. • A checkbox for also applying the filter to the existing messages which match the criteria. The conversations which contain these messages are shown in the Conversation table which is in the main content section of the page. • Cancel, Back, and Create Filter buttons. Specify one or more actions using the controls, and press the Create Filter button. 6. You are returned to the Settings:Filters page, where the new filter is now listed.
Creating a Gmail address
The process of creating a Google Mail address includes verifying that you're a human being rather than some malicious software, by getting you to listen to some audio, and type in the numbers which are spoken. If you use the Firefox browser, and you haven't got the QuickTime plug-in already installed, then you are prompted to install this plug-in so that you can listen to the audio. So unless you've already got QuickTime installed, or really want to install it, it's best to use Internet Explorer for creating a Google Mail address. To get to the application form, go to mail.google.com, and open the link ―Sign up for Google Mail‖, or ―Sign up for Gmail‖. You're taken to a page with the title Google Accounts. The following sections describe the various sections of the form.
Change Language combo
This will probably be set to English, by which it means US English. This combo box must be set to English, because it's only the US English version of the Basic HTML view that is accessible.
First and last names
When you get to the First name edit box, press ENTER to go into forms mode, type in your first
name, then TAB to the next control, which is the Last name edit box. Type in your last name, and then TAB to the next control.
Desired login name
Your login name is both the name you use for signing in to your mail, and the part of your email address which appears before the @ sign. Note that in most countries, your email address will have the form login name@gmail.com, but in a small number of countries, including the UK, it will have the form of login name@googlemail.com. Your login name has to be at least 6 characters long. Many login names have already been taken by other people, so part of choosing a login name involves checking the availability of potential names:
1. Type a name into the Desired Login Name edit box, TAB to the check availability! button, and press it. 2. The page refreshes, you are taken out of Forms mode, and the focus remains on the check availability! button. Read line by line the text that has now appeared below the button. If the name is available, then it says “name” is available. You can then carry on reading down to choose a password which is described in the next section. 3. If the name is unavailable, is says “name” is not available, and displays 4 radio boxes, with suggested names which are available. If you're happy with one of these, just press SPACEBAR to set it, and then carry on reading down to choosing a password, which is described in the next main step. If you want to try another name, press SHIFT + E to move back to the edit box, press ENTER to go back into Forms mode, and try again.
Choose a password
Your password must be at least 8 characters long.
1. At the Choose a password edit box, press ENTER to go back into Forms mode, and type in your password. 2. TAB past the Password strength link to get to the Re-enter password edit box, and type in your password again. 3. TAB to the Remember me on this computer checkbox, and set as desired. 4. TAB to the Enable Web History checkbox. The following text appears above the checkbox: “Web History is a feature that will provide you with a more personalized experience on Google that includes more relevant search results and recommendations.” Set the checkbox as desired, and then TAB to the next control.
Security question
You have to set up a security question and answer which Google will ask you if you ever forget your password.
1. When you get to the security question combo box, select one of the options for the question.
Note that the last option which is immediately after “What was your first teacher's name” is “Write my own question”. When you select that option, Jaws does not read the option, but an edit box is created below the combo box for you to type in your question, and the focus is moved to the edit box. If you want to move back to the combo box, press SHIFT + TAB. 2. Once you've selected a question, or written your own, TAB past the learn more link to the Answer edit box, and type in your answer. 3. TAB to the next control.
Secondary email
If you have another email address, Google can use it if there are problems with your account. When you get to the Secondary email edit box, type in an existing email address if you've got one, and want to, and then TAB past the learn more link to the next control.
Location
The Location combo box, contains a large number of possible locations. It helps to use the first letter of the location to find it more quickly. Once you've found your location, TAB to the next control.
Verification
To check that you're a human being filling in this form, and not some automated process set up to create millions of spurious accounts, Google gets you to either type in the distorted characters in a picture, or to type in the numbers which are spoken in an audio recording which also contains a background of distracting speech. In this recording, a series of single digit numbers are spoken, a clear voice says ―once again‖, and then the series of numbers is repeated. To perform the audio verification:
1. When you get to the “type the characters you see or numbers you hear” edit box, TAB to the “listen and type the numbers you hear” link graphic, and open it. 2. You are taken out of Forms mode, and the focus is placed back in the previous edit box. The audio recording starts. Press ENTER to go into Forms mode, and then type the numbers that you hear. Because Jaws talks over the start of the recording as you're moved back to the edit box, and then go back into Forms mode, you may find it easier to wait till the voice says once again before typing the numbers in. 3. If you don't get the hang of it the first time, just TAB to the “listen and type the numbers you hear” link graphic, open it, and try again.
Terms of Service
To read the Terms of Service, Press NUMPAD PLUS to come out of forms mode, and then read a line at a time. You'll first pass over some links and text to
do with the verification, an introduction to the terms of service, a printable version link which opens in a new window or tab, and then the terms and conditions in an read-only edit box. Once you've read as much as you want in the edit box, you can use the quick navigation key D to move out of the edit box to the next different element, which is some text. Start reading line by line again, until you get to the ―I accept. Create my account button.‖ button.
Create an account button
Assuming you accept the conditions, press the button. The two cases of the account creation being successful or unsuccessful are described below. If the account creation is successful, then you're taken to a page with the title Introduction to Gmail, and with the words Introduction to Gmail, and Congratulations! near the top of the page. There's also an ―I'm ready - show me my account‖ link, which can take you to your inbox. Note that the page will be in standard view, so you'll have to open the first link on this page to change to the Basic HTML view. There'll be one message in your Inbox, welcoming you to Gmail or Google Mail. If the account creation is unsuccessful, then you're returned to the same page. Possible problems include:
You've left one or more of the required fields blank. After one or more of the edit boxes, there will be the words “Required field cannot be left blank”. The entries in the Choose a password and Re-enter password edit boxes weren't the same. After the Choose a password edit box, there will be the words“Passwords do not match”.
Note that after making the corrections, you have to repeat the verification stage, and re-enter your password twice, before pressing the create an account button again.
Accessibility information for Gmail's basic HTML view
Contents: What�s new Section headers Access keys Settings
Your Inbox How do I know I am in my inbox? Opening and reading messages Opening messages Reading messages Composing and sending messages Attachments Attaching a file Attaching multiple files Deleting messages
What's new?
Section Headers have been added in a hierarchical manner to make it easier to navigate through Gmail. Frequently used links now have access keys. Some of these links are: Inbox, Compose Mail, Reply, Reply All and Forward. Appropriate titles have been added to the editing choices in the Compose window, making it easier to identify the fields. Gmail's basic HTML view now supports a majority of the settings available in the normal view.
Section headers Here's a list of section headers you can navigate to:
link
Header h1 h2 Gmail Logo Account options, labels and Inbox sections Section
h3
Contacts link and labels with unread messages
Access keys Below is a list of access keys you can use. These access keys should be used with the modifier keys specific to your browser. For more information on using access keys, visit this Wikipedia entry (Please note that Wikipedia is not a Google site, so we can't vouch for its accuracy).
Access key i c r a f Link Inbox Compose Reply Reply All Forward
Settings Settings are now available in Gmail's HTML view. You can now change settings on the General, Accounts, Labels, and Forwarding and POP/IMAP tabs. To change your settings:
Find the settings link under the 'Account options' heading (quick key: h2) and click the link. Navigate to the settings section. Click on the appropriate link (General, Accounts, Labels, or Forwarding and POP/IMAP). Under the 'Settings' heading, make the changes you want. Table navigation can be used to navigate through these settings. 5. Make sure you save your settings or the changes will be lost. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Your Inbox Now, pressing the access key modifier together with 'i' will move the cursor to the Inbox link. You may need to press Enter to activate the link How do I know that I am in my Inbox? The Inbox view is in a tabular format. On the top and bottom of your Inbox are the Archive,
Report Spam, and Go buttons. You can also identify that you're in the Inbox by the presence of a check box, a sender's name, a subject, and a listed time for each message. Opening and reading messages Opening messages
To open a message: 1. In the Inbox, move the cursor to the subject line link. 2. Click the link to open the message. 3. The page will refresh with the opened messages. Click the Expand all link to view all the messages in the conversation.
Reading messages Once you have opened an messages, navigate to the message body. You can the read the message using the reading-related keyboard commands. Composing and sending messages
To compase a message: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Navigate to and click the Compose Mail link. Once in the Compose window, the cursor will be placed in the To: field by default. Type the address in the To:, Cc: or Bcc: fields, using Tab to move between fields. Type the message in the Message body field. Tab once to get to the Send button and click Enter.
Attachments Attaching a file You can attach files when you are composing new mail or replying to messages. All of the buttons required to attach files are located below the Subject: edit box. You can either type the path of the file you want to attach in the File upload edit box, or click the Browse... button and select the file from the pop-up window. Attaching multiple files To attach more than one file, use the Attach more files button located right below the Browse... button.
Deleting messages Changes to the HTML version of Gmail have made deleting easier. Now, you can simply check the checkboxes of messages you would like to delete and click the Delete button.
The envelope icon in the address bar
You may notice a small envelope in the address bar of your browser that looks like this: This little envelope is known as a favicon, or Favorites icon. Depending on what browser you're using, the Gmail favicon may also appear in your Favorites or Bookmarks lists, or next to the page title in tabbed interfaces.
Bookmarking Gmail pages
You can bookmark a specific view of Gmail, including a conversation or label view, at any time if you'd like to return to it later. To create a bookmark, just use your web browser's bookmarking functionality. Here's how: Firefox 2.0
1. Click Bookmarks. 2. Select Bookmark This Page....
Internet Explorer 7.0
1. Click Favorites. 2. Select Add to Favorites....
Your Contacts : Chat : Troubleshooting
Chat won't load
Symptoms: After clicking Sign into chat, nothing happens. No error is shown. Cause:
A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
A friend doesn't appear in the chat list
If someone is not appearing in your Chat list, it is likely that you have blocked that person or he or she has blocked you. To ensure you haven't blocked that person:
1. Click Contacts along the left side of any Gmail page.
2. Select the person in question. 3. Beside Show in chat list:, ensure you've selected Always or Auto.
If you still can't see your friend in your Chat list, please contact the person in question to make sure that he or she hasn't blocked you accidentally.
I can't invite contacts to a group chat
The group chat feature is available for anyone using the Google Talk network. Some of your contacts, including those connecting through a federated network like Earthlink, Gizmo Project, Tiscali, Netease, Chikka, and MediaRing, won't be able to participate in a group chat. You'll still see their addresses in your Chat list, and you can still chat with each of them one to one; however, when you invite one of them to a group chat, a message appears stating that the person cannot be invited. You can invite any of your contacts to join a group chat, regardless of what chat client they're using. An invitation will appear in their chat window.
I can't call contacts from Gmail
In order to make or receive voice calls using Gmail's chat features, you'll need to also be signed in to the downloadable Google Talk application and have it running in the background. Once you're signed in to the Google Talk application, you'll see a Call button on your contacts' profile cards. If that Call button is greyed out, your friend isn't signed in to the Google Talk client and isn't available for voice calls. If you haven't already downloaded the Google Talk client, you can do so from http://www.google.com/talk.
I don't hear sounds for incoming chats
There are a number of reasons why you might not be able to hear notifications for incoming chats:
Notifications aren't enabled. Make sure sounds are enabled in your Chat settings. You're using Flashblock. If you're using Flashblock, you'll need to adjust your settings. Your computer's speakers are muted, or the volume is very low. Make sure your computer's volume and speakers are on, and turned up high enough to hear sounds. Flash isn't enabled. Macromedia Flash must be enabled on your computer if you'd like Gmail to
play an audio notification for each incoming chat. Download it here.
If you have Flash installed on your computer and are still having problems hearing notifications, make sure Flash Player is installed and running correctly on your computer:
1. Visit http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/welcome. 2. In the Adobe Flash Player section, look for an Installation Complete banner featuring the Flash Player logo. You can roll over the About tab to see which version has been installed on your machine.
If you don't see this banner, please visit the Adobe site to troubleshoot your issue.
An IM wasn't delivered
We're sorry you're having trouble with chat in Gmail. Please check your Internet connection and ensure that your network or firewall isn't interfering with Gmail chat.
I'm using Flashblock. Why don't I hear sound notifications for incoming chats?
If you're using Flashblock, Gmail won't be able to play audio notifications for your incoming chats -- Flash must be enabled to hear notifications. You can adjust your settings in Flashblock if you'd like to use it in conjunction with Gmail. Here's how:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Open Firefox. From the Tools menu, select Extensions. Double-click on Flashblock. Enter mail.google.com under Whitelist. Click OK, and refresh your browser.
Your Contacts : Chat : Learn More
Emoticons AIM, colored labels, group chat, and rich emoticons only work in the latest version of Gmail, currently available for Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 2. Please upgrade your browser to take advantage of these new features.
To use emoticons, just choose one of these options:
Type a combination of keys (see the options below) and press Enter. Click the blue smiley-face button at the right of the text-entry field. A pop-up menu appears, where you can choose from different emoticon sets, including circular, rectangular, or standard.
Here's a list of our emoticons in standard format:
Emoticon Key Combination <3 :(|)
It's a monkey!
Rock out.
\m/ :-o :D :( x-( B-) :'( =D ;) :-| =) :-D ;^)
;-) :-) :-/ :P
Note: if you send an emoticon to someone who isn't using chat in Gmail, the emoticon may not display properly.
Changing your chat history settings
You can adjust your chat history settings in Gmail or Google Talk client -- changing your settings in Gmail applies the same change in Google Talk, and vice-versa. Chat history for Google Talk is only available to users who are signed in with a Gmail username. From Gmail:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Chat tab. 3. From the Chat tab: o Select 'Don't save chat history in my Gmail account' to disable chat history saving, or, o Select 'Save chat history in my Gmail account' to enable chat history saving. 4. Click Save Changes. From the Google Talk client: 1. Click Settings at the top of your Friends list. 2. Highlight Chat along the left side: o Select 'Don't save chat history in my Gmail account' to disable chat history saving, or, o Select 'Save chat history in my Gmail account' to enable chat history saving. 3. Click OK. Keep in mind that if you've disabled chat history saving, people you chat with may still choose to save chat histories in their Gmail settings. If you would prefer that someone you're talking to doesn't save your chat, you can take the conversation off the record. About AIM in Gmail Don't see AIM in Gmail? Make sure your language is set to English (US) and that you're using the latest version of Gmail, currently available with a fully supported browser.
Gmail chat now offers the option to sign in to your AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) account to chat with your AIM buddies from Gmail. Your AIM buddies will populate your Contacts list, and are searchable just like your Google Talk contacts. Chatting with your AIM buddies is easy -- just click on a name in your chat list, and start typing. Note that an AIM account is required to use this feature. AIM in Gmail is not a Google Talk and AIM federation; it's the ability to sign in to your AIM messaging account from Gmail. Gmail uses Open AIM to provide this feature. Here's more about AIM in Gmail:
Signing in and out Chatting with someone Keeping contacts visible in the chat list Changing which AIM screen name you sign in with Does Google store my AIM password?
Chatting off the record
(Note: chat history for Google Talk is only available if you have Gmail on your Google Account.)
Chats that have been taken off the record aren't stored in your Gmail chat history, or in the Gmail chat history of your contact. You and the person you're talking to can both see when a chat is taken off the record, and you'll be notified if off the record mode is disabled. Your off the record settings will apply whenever you chat with this person, until one of you makes a change.
To take a chat off the record:
1. Click the down arrow at the top-right corner of the chat window. 2. Select Go off the record.
To see a demonstration of going off the record, or turning off your chat history, click the video below. When you take a chat off the record, a message will appear confirming that future chats with this particular contact won't be saved, unless one of you changes the setting. If you decide at any time that your chats no longer need to be off the record, click Cancel at the top of the chat window, or Stop chatting off the record in the chat window's Options menu.
Keep in mind that if you're talking to someone who is connected to the Google Talk service with a third-party chat client, it's possible that his or her software is keeping a separate copy of the chat history.
Contacts' pictures
If you'd like to keep other people's Gmail pictures off of your Gmail pages, you can turn them off by using only those pictures that you've selected for them yourself.
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail at mail.google.com. Click Settings. In the Contacts' pictures section, select Only show pictures that I've chosen for my contacts. Click Save Changes.
If you haven't selected any pictures for your contacts, you won't see any pictures in your Gmail interface.
Gmail will automatically invite some contacts
If there are other Gmail users whom you frequently email, you'll be able to chat and see each other online without having to send an invitation. Gmail automatically determines which contacts you'll be able to talk to without having to invite each other -- if you don't want Gmail to automatically enable chat privileges with your contacts, follow these steps:
1. Log in to Gmail. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. 3. Open the Chat tab, and select Only allow people that I've explicitly approved to chat with me and see when I'm online. 4. Click Save Changes. Want to manage who can and can't chat with you? Learn how to block a contact from chatting with you. Sound notifications for chat
If you have Flash enabled on your computer, Gmail will play an audio notification for each incoming chat. Audio notifications are enabled by default, but you can always disable them. Here's how:
1. Sign in to Gmail.
2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Chat tab. 3. In the Sounds section, select Sounds off. 4. Click Save Changes.
About group chat AIM, colored labels, group chat, and rich emoticons only work in the latest version of Gmail, currently available for Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 2. Please upgrade your browser to take advantage of these new features.
The group chat feature lets you chat with many friends at once. There's no limit to the number of people you can chat with, and any participant can invite others to join. To get started, follow these steps:
1. Start a chat with a single person in your Contacts list. 2. Once you've started the chat, click Options at the bottom left of your chat window and select Group Chat. 3. In the field labeled 'Add a person to this chat,' enter the name of the contact(s) you want to add to your group chat.
To end your chat, click the X at the corner of the chat window. Others in the group chat will get a message saying that you've left the conversation. If you want to rejoin, you'll need to be invited back by a contact who's still in the group chat. The group chat will continue until all participants have left.
Keeping contacts visible in the chat list
Gmail's auto-show feature automatically selects the people who appear in Chat based on the people you already communicate with most often. If you'd like to add someone so he or she always appears in Chat, follow these steps:
1. Click Contacts along the left side of any Gmail page. 2. From the All Contacts list, select the person you'd like to add. 3. Beside Show in chat list:, select Always.
Blocking contacts
Blocking a contact prevents the person from talking to you and seeing when you're signed in to Gmail or Google Talk. Here's how:
1. Click Contacts along the left side of any Gmail page. 2. Select the person you'd like to block. 3. Beside Show in chat list:, select Block.
If you decide you'd like to communicate with someone you've blocked, just select Always or Auto from the menu beside Show in chat list:. You can also unblock a contact by typing their name in the Search, add, or invite field at the top of your Chat list. Then, in the blue box that appears, hover over your contact's name and select Show in chat list.
Signing in and out of AIM Don't see AIM in Gmail? Make sure your language is set to English (US) and that you're using the latest version of Gmail, currently available with a fully supported browser.
Signing in You'll first need to sign in to Gmail chat. If you're not already signed in, just click Sign in to chat from your Chat list. If you don't see your Chat list, make sure that you haven't selected turn off chat Gmail view, at the very bottom of your page. Once you're signed in, just click the down arrow next to your status message and select Sign in to AIM. If this is your first time connecting, you'll be prompted to enter your AIM screen name and password. Click Connect to continue. Some of your AIM buddies will appear in your Chat list, and the rest are accessible from the Search, Add, or Invite field. Just click a contact to initiate a chat session. Signing out Just click the down arrow next to your Chat list status message, and select Sign out from AIM (your_screen_name)
Who can see when I'm online?
The only people who can see when you're online are the contacts you can see online. You can see when someone's online if you invite him or her to chat or if you are automatically enabled to chat.
If you've blocked someone, that person won't be able to see when you are online. If you prefer that no one sees you're online, you can set your status as 'Invisible.' (Please note that, currently, invisibility is only available in Internet Explorer 7.0 and Firefox 2.0.) Learn about changing your status. * Check out chat as you have never seen it before. Gmail Theater presents an ensemble cast of engineers in Chat In The Name Of Love. Watch the video on YouTube. *
Switching between AIM screen names Don't see AIM in Gmail? Make sure your language is set to English (US) and that you're using the latest version of Gmail, currently available with a fully supported browser.
It's easy to change which AIM screen name you sign in with. If you're already signed in to AIM, here's how you switch to another account:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Click the Settings link at the top right of your Gmail account. Select Chat. Click Sign into a different AIM account. Enter the new screen name and password. Click Sign in.
If you aren't signed in to AIM and want to change which screen name you use with in Gmail, follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Click the Settings link at the top right of your Gmail account. Select Chat. Click Change AIM Settings. Enter the new screen name and password. Click Add my AIM buddies.
Note that you can only be signed in with one AIM screen name at a time.
Disabling Gmail's chat features for your entire network
We understand that it's sometimes necessary to disable instant messaging services on a network. If you need to prevent Gmail users on your network from chatting, we suggest blocking DNS lookups to chatenabled.mail.google.com, by returning 127.0.0.1. If you're not a network administrator, and you would simply like to view Gmail without chat turned on, click turn off chat from the bottom of any Gmail page. You'll be signed out of chat,
and your Chat list will be minimized. To turn chat back on, just click standard or click turn on chat.
Joining a group chat
To join a chat, you need to be invited, and to have others join your chats, you need to invite them. To invite someone:
1. Click Options > Group chat at the bottom of the chat window. 2. In the field labeled 'Add a person to this chat,' enter the name of the person in your Chat list that you want to invite. 3. Click invite.
You can only add contacts who are currently online. There's no limit to the number of participants in a group chat, and any participant can invite others to the chat. When a new participant joins the chat, you'll see a message stating 'Contact Name joined the chat' in the group chat window.
Does Google store my AIM password?
No. We ask for your password when you first sign in, and we forward it to AOL's OpenAuth service. Once AOL validates your log-in information, they send a token we can use to sign in to AIM on your behalf. We then promptly forget your password. The token is only valid when used by Google, can only be used to sign in to AIM, and expires after a while (which is why we'll periodically ask you to re-enter your password).
Don't see AIM in Gmail? Make sure your language is set to English (US) and that you're using the latest version of Gmail, currently available with a fully supported browser.
Customizing the chat list
You can change the way your chat list displays to make it easier for you to use. To resize your chat list:
1. At the bottom of your chat list, select Options next to Add Contact. 2. Choose the size of your chat list by selecting Tiny, Small, Medium, or Large.
You can also minimize your chat list -- just click Chat at the top of your chat list. To move the chat list so it displays under Labels:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Chat tab. Select below from the Chat list location: drop-down. Click Save Changes.
You can't reorder your chat list, but Gmail's auto-show feature organizes your contacts for you, based on how often you communicate with them. However, you can make sure certain contacts always appear in your list.
Why are chat invitations necessary?
The invitation process lets you control who can chat with you and see you online, and vice-versa -- just in case you have contacts that you'd rather not chat with instantly in Gmail. If you ever decide that you don't want to chat with someone in your Chat list, you can block the contact from chatting with you and seeing you online.
Adjusting AIM buddies' visiblility in your Chat list
Once you sign in to AIM in Gmail chat, your AIM buddies will appear in your Chat list. If you'd like to make sure that you can view an AIM buddy in Gmail, follow these steps:
1. Type the user's screen name in the Search, add, or invite field at the top of your Chat list. 2. In the box that appears, select Show in chat list.
Your contact will now always appear in your Chat list. If you'd like to hide an AIM buddy in your Chat list, follow these steps:
3. Locate the AIM buddy you wish to hide in your Gmail Chat list. You may need to click Options at the bottom of the list, then All contacts. 4. Hover over the user's name so that his or her profile card appears. 5. In the profile card that appears, click More and select Never show under Show in chat list.
If you change your mind, just type the contact's screen name in the Search, add, or
invite field, then select Show in chat list.
Why did I get a note about 'IM history in Gmail'?
This simply means that the person you're chatting with uses AIM® messaging in Gmail and may be using the chat-history feature. Chat history allows Gmail users to store the text of their chats, so they can easily search for those chats later. Here's a bit more about AIM in Gmail, chat history, and how you can go 'off the record': AIM in Gmail Gmail now offers users the option to sign in to their AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) account so they can chat with their AIM buddies without ever leaving Gmail. Chat history Chat history is a feature of AIM in Gmail that allows Gmail users to store the text of their AIM conversations right in Gmail, so they can search for those conversations and respond to them at any time in the future. Your friend can also turn off their chat history - that's called going 'off the record.' Going 'off the record' Chat history in Gmail is private and is viewable only to your friend when they sign in to Gmail. If you'd prefer your friend not to save your conversations, however, you can always ask your friend to go off the record.
Your Contacts : Managing Contacts : Getting Started
Creating contacts
To create a contact:
6. 7. 8. 9. Click Contacts along the left side of any page. Click the New Contact button in the top-left corner of the Contact Manager. Enter your contact's information in the appropriate fields. Click Save to add your contact.
You can enter additional contact info by clicking More Information or by clicking the add link next to the appropriate field. Enter your contact's information in the appropriate fields and click Save.
Email addresses are automatically added to your Contacts list each time you use the Reply, Reply to all, or Forward functions to send messages to addresses not previously stored in your Contacts list. Also, each time you unmark a message as Spam, your Contacts list is automatically updated so that future messages from that sender are received in your inbox.
About the Contact Manager
Similar to an online address book, the Contact Manager gives you easy access to the people you want to reach. All your email contacts are stored here -- just click Contacts along the left side of any Gmail page to access and edit your contacts' information. Learn how to:
o o o o o
Create, edit or delete contacts. Create, edit or delete a contact group. Search for a contact. Send to a contact group or send to multiple contacts at once. Import or export contacts.
Editing contacts
To edit or delete a contact, open your Contacts list by clicking Contacts on the side of any page, and following the appropriate instructions below. To edit a contact:
15. 16. 17. 18. Select the contact in the Contacts list. Click Edit at the top of the page. Make your desired changes. Click Save at the top of the page.
To add a contact to a contact group:
19. Select the contact in the Contacts list. 20. Open the Groups drop-down menu. 21. Under Add to..., select the group you'd like to add the contact to, or select New group to create a new group.
or
22. Select the group you'd like to add to. 23. Enter the contact's name or email address in the Add this to group box at the top of the contact list.
To remove a contact from a contact group:
24. Select the contact in the Contacts list. 25. Open the Groups drop-down menu. 26. Under Remove from..., select the group you'd like to remove the contact from.
To permanently delete a contact:
27. Select the contact in the Contacts list. 28. Click Delete Contact at the top of the page. 29. Click OK.
Please note that you'll need to use a supported browser to take advantage of the Contacts manager or any of the other latest Gmail features.
Searching for contacts
To search for a contact:
30. Sign in to Gmail. 31. Click Contacts along the side of any Gmail page. 32. Enter the name or email address you're searching for in the contacts search box. Keep these tips in mind when searching for contacts:
o o o
You can use prefixes. You can search by a person's first and/or last name. You can search by domain or username. For example, searching for 'gmail.com' will return all contacts with a Gmail address.
Note: At the moment, contacts search does not search fields other than 'Name' and 'Email.' This is a known issue, and we appreciate your patience as our engineers work to resolve it.
You can see all of the details about your contacts by printing them. Here's how:
36. 37. 38. 39. 40. Click Contacts on the side of any Gmail page. Click Print at the top of the Contact Manager. Select the details you'd like to display. Click Print. A new browser window or tab will open with the details you've chosen. Perform a search in your browser ('Ctrl + F' on a PC or 'Command + F' on a Mac) for the
contact information you're looking for.
Default contact groups
Your Contact Manager has a few default contact groups to help you organize your most used and most important contacts. These groups won't affect your ability to create custom contact groups. My Contacts organizes the addresses you care about. Contacts are automatically added to this group when you interact with them frequently. You can also manually add new contacts to this group if you know you'll want to find them often. Gmail will continue to add new contacts automatically to this group as they meet the criteria, but you can disable this feature if you'd rather it didn't. Suggested Contacts includes all email addresses that aren't part of any other contact group by default. All of the addresses you use are added automatically to this group so that you'll always be able to find them. If you move a contact from your Suggested Contacts to another default or custom contact group, they'll no longer appear in Suggested Contacts. Most Contacted includes the 20 addresses you use most frequently. Gmail automatically updates this list for quick and easy reference.
Your Contacts : Managing Contacts : Learn More
Importing contacts
You can import your address books (from Outlook, Hotmail, Yahoo!, orkut, and other services) into Gmail. Importing your contacts isn't difficult. To get started, follow these steps:
41. First, you'll need to format your contacts as a CSV file -- often times, address books exported from other mail providers are already formatted as CSV files. You can also create your own CSV file. 42. Once you have a CSV file with all your contacts' information, import the file and transfer your contacts to Gmail. Note that you can only import up to 3000 contacts at a time. If you have more than 3000 contacts, you'll need to create multiple CSV files to upload.
Creating or editing CSV files
Spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel make it easy to create and edit CSV files. Your CSV file should be formatted as a table and must include a header, or first line, that defines the fields in your table. Gmail accepts many common header fields (name, email address, etc.). If you're updating an existing file, you probably won't need to change your header field names; if you're creating a new file and need some guidance, you can use any of the field names used in the examples below.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind as you create your file:
o o
The file must include a field for the email address. The Name field can be a single column, like this:
header > name
contact info. > Jane Doe
o
If you'd rather, you can also use separate fields for the first, middle, and last names, like this:
first middle last header > name name name contact info. > Jane Doe
o
Fields can be listed in any order.
Here's an example of a sample file that can be created using Microsoft Excel:
First Last Name Name header > Jane contact info. > Doe Email Address Street Address Phone
623 East jane@gmail.com 68th Street, Apt. 3-B, New York,
(212) 5559975
NY
By saving this table as a .csv file, and importing it in to Gmail, one entry – for Jane Doe – is added to your Contacts list. Once you've entered all of your contacts into a table, save the document and select CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv) as the type of file you'd like to save. If prompted to verify your selection, click Yes or OK. For still more information about CSV files, open Help in Excel. Once you've saved the file, you're ready to import your CSV file to Gmail.
Importing CSV files
To import contacts to Gmail:
1. Create a custom CSV file, or export the address book from your other webmail provider or email client as a CSV file. 2. Sign in to Gmail. 3. Click Contacts (located below your list of views) on any Gmail page. 4. Click Import in the top portion of the Contact Manager. 5. Click the Browse... button and locate the CSV file you'd like to upload. 6. Select the file and click the Import button. Once you've successfully uploaded the document, Gmail will display the number of contacts imported.
A few things to keep in mind:
If some entries aren't included in your Contacts list, Gmail tells you why these entries were left out. If you receive error messages when attempting to import your contacts, you may need to edit your CSV file.
Exporting contacts from other mail providers
Learn how to export the address book from other webmail services -- choose your provider from the list below. [ Yahoo! - Hotmail - Hotmail Live - Outlook and Outlook Express - orkut - AOL - Others ]
Yahoo!: To import your Yahoo! Mail address book, save your file as a Yahoo! CSV. Instructions are available in the Yahoo! Address Book help section at: http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/ab/impexp/ Hotmail: Here's one way to export your contacts from Hotmail to Gmail: Using Internet Explorer:
o o o o o o o o o o
Sign in to your Hotmail account. Click the 'Contacts' tab. Click 'Print view.' Align the cursor with the first letter of the 'Name' column. Highlight your contacts by holding down the cursor and dragging it down the list. Hold down the 'Control + c' keys to copy the list. Open Microsoft Excel (or a similar spreadsheet program that supports comma separated values). Select cell A1 in Excel (the top square on the left side). Hold down the 'Control + v' keys to paste (don't use 'Paste Special'). Choose 'Save as' from the 'File' menu, and select the type 'CSV (Comma delimited).' Make a note of where you saved the file.
Using Mozilla or Firefox: Sign in to your Hotmail account. Click the 'Contacts' tab. Click 'Print view.' Align the cursor with the first letter of the 'Name' column. Highlight your contacts by holding down the cursor and dragging it down the list. Hold down the 'Control + c' keys to copy the list. Open Microsoft Excel (or a similar spreadsheet program that supports comma separated values). o Select cell A1 in Excel (the top square on the left side). o Right click in cell A1 and select 'Paste Special.' o Select 'Text,' and click 'OK.' o Choose 'Save as' from the 'File' menu, and select the type 'CSV (Comma delimited).' Make a note of where you saved the file. Hotmail Live o Sign in to your Hotmail Live account. o Click Contacts in the left pane. o On thetoolbar, click Options. o Click Export Contacts. o Under Export Contacts, click Export Contacts. o When prompted to open or save the file, click Save. o Select a location to save the file, and click Save. Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express: Here are some general directions to follow, though
o o o o o o o
instructions may vary by version. For more detailed instructions, open 'Help' in Outlook or Outlook Express and type 'export' in the search box. Look for topics that include 'export wizard,' 'export information,' 'exporting contacts' or 'exporting address book contacts' in the title. From Outlook: o Select File > Import/Export > Export from the main menu o Choose Comma Separated Values (Windows) > Select "Contacts" > Save exported file
From Outlook Express: Select File > Export > Address Book from the main menu. Select Text File (Comma Separated Values). Click Export. orkut: Log in to orkut, then click 'Friends' along the top navigation. Next, click 'Download your contacts' on the bottom of the page to save your contacts as a CSV file. AOL: AOL doesn't have the functionality to export your address book, so you'll have to create a custom CSV file if you use this service. Others: Refer to your service or client help section for information on how to export your address book. If you have trouble uploading a file in to Gmail, you may need to open the file in Excel, alter the columns and/or headers, and then save the file as .csv.
o o o
Learn how to export a CSV file from Gmail. Creating contact groups
To create a contact group:
1. 2. 3. 4. Click Contacts along the side of any page. Click the New Group button located in top portion of the Contact Manager. Enter the name of the group. Click OK.
To add contacts to a contact group:
1. Select the contacts in the Contacts list. 2. Open the Groups drop-down menu. 3. Under Add to..., select the group you'd like to add the contact to, or select New group to create a new group. or 1. Select the group you'd like to add to. 2. Enter the contact's name or email address in the Add this to group box at the top of the contact list.
Exporting Gmail contacts
You can quickly export your Gmail Contacts list into a CSV file. Here's how:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Sign in to Gmail. Click Contacts along the side of any Gmail page. Click Export at the top of your Contacts list. Choose whether to export all contacts or only one group. Select the format in which you'd like to export your contacts' information. Click Export. Choose Save to Disk then click OK. Select a location to save your file, and click 'OK.'
Depending on the requirements of the program to which you're importing your contacts, you can easily edit the this CSV to fit your needs. At the moment, contact exports will not include group information. This is a known issue, and we appreciate your patience as our engineers work to resolve it.
Sending to multiple contacts
It's easy to send one message to many to people at once. From the Contact Manager:
1. 2. 3. 4. Log in to your account. Click Contacts. Select all the contacts you'd like to send to. Click Email in the group details pane.
From the Compose window:
1. 2. 3. 4. Log in to your account. Click Compose. In the To: field, separate individual addresses or auto-complete suggestions with commas. Compose your mail.
Sending to a contact group
It's easy to send to contact groups. There are two ways to address a message to a contact group
you've created: From the Contact Manager:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Log in to Gmail. Click Contacts. Select the group you'd like to send to. Click All at the top of the contact list or select the individuals you'd like to send to. Click Email in the group details pane.
From the Compose window:
1. Log in to Gmail. 2. Click Compose. 3. In the To: field, enter the first few letters of the name of the contact group to which you'd like to send the message. 4. Select your contact group from the list of addresses the auto-complete feature suggests. 5. Compose your mail.
Managing contact groups
To edit the contact group name:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Click Contacts on the side of any page. Select the group you'd like to edit. Click Edit at the top of the page. Make your desired changes. Click Save at the top of the page.
To add contacts to a contact group:
1. Select the contacts in the Contacts list. 2. Open the Groups drop-down menu. 3. Under Add to..., select the group you'd like to add the contact to, or select New group to create a new group.
or
1. Select the group you'd like to add to. 2. Enter the contact's name or email address in the Add this to group box at the top of the contact list.
To remove contacts from a contact group:
1. Select the contact in the Contacts list. 2. Open the Groups drop-down menu. 3. Under Remove from..., select the group you'd like to remove the contact from.
To delete a contact group:
1. 2. 3. 4. Click Contacts on the left side of any page. Select the contact group from the groups list. Click Delete Group at the top of the page. Click OK.
This will delete the group but not the actual contacts themselves. Those will remain in your Contacts list.
Access Choices : Other : Mail via Atom RSS
About Atom
Atom is a system which makes it easy for you to receive, in one place, regular updates from news websites, blogs, and/or Gmail. You can use Atom with an aggregator (also known as a newsreader, feed reader, or RSS/Atom reader) to receive new message alerts. Each alert will include a preview of the message and a link to Gmail. To use Gmail with Atom, you must already have an aggregator. Within your aggregator, look for a selection titled 'Add Feed' or 'Create New Channel.' Once there, enter 'https://mail.google.com/mail/feed/atom' in the URL field, and enter your Gmail address and password in the fields provided. This will allow the aggregator to look for your new messages. If you'd like to have a label view in your aggregator, just add the label name to the end of the feed URL. So, to view your 'work' label as a feed, it's https://mail.google.com/mail/feed/atom/work/. Please keep in mind that Gmail messages will appear in your aggregator only if there are unread messages in your inbox.
Viewing Gmail messages with an aggregator
To view Gmail messages in your aggregator, just subscribe to a new feed, enter https://mail.google.com/mail/feed/atom in the URL field, and submit your Gmail address and
password. You don't need to do a thing from within Gmail; you do it all from within your aggregator. We recommend setting your aggregator to check for new Gmail messages once every ten minutes. Keep in mind when you subscribe to your Gmail feed that some aggregators allow you to share, syndicate, or otherwise re-publish the feeds you subscribe to. This means that even though your Gmail feed is private, its contents could be made public through one of these methods. So you'll want to double-check the privacy settings in your aggregator to make sure you aren't sharing any information you don't want to. Specific instructions will vary depending on what aggregator you're using. Also keep in mind that Gmail messages won't appear in your aggregator unless there are unread messages in your inbox.
Which aggregators support Gmail?
Any aggregator that supports Atom 0.3, SSL/HTTPS, and HTTP authentication will work with Gmail's Atom feed. We've had luck with the following third-party aggregators: Windows
BottomFeeder: http://www.cincomsmalltalk.com/BottomFeeder/ FeedDemon: http://www.feeddemon.com/ NewsGator: http://www.newsgator.com/ NewzCrawler: http://www.newzcrawler.com/ SharpReader: http://www.sharpreader.net/
Mac OS X
BottomFeeder: http://www.cincomsmalltalk.com/BottomFeeder/ NetNewsWire: http://ranchero.com/netnewswire/ Shrook 2 : http://www.fondantfancies.com/shrook/
Linux
BottomFeeder: http://www.cincomsmalltalk.com/BottomFeeder/
Please note that Google Reader doesn't support authenticated feeds at this time. I can't view my mail in my aggregator
Most problems in viewing Gmail messages with an aggregator can be traced to a few common causes. If you're experiencing problems, please check the points below. Also keep in mind that Gmail messages won't appear in your aggregator unless there are unread messages in your inbox.
Did you enter the feed information correctly?
Make sure you entered https://mail.google.com/mail/feed/atom in the URL field. Also, verify that your Gmail address and password are spelled and formatted correctly.
Does your aggregator support Gmail?
Your aggregator must support ATOM 0.3, SSL/https, and HTTP authentication in order to work with Gmail.
Have you tried reformatting the feed link?
We've found that some aggregators work with Gmail if users change the feed URL to include their Gmail username and password. You may want to try using the following format for your link URL: https://username:password@mail.google.com/mail/feed/atom. Please be aware that this link format makes your password visible in your aggregator's subscription list. If none of these steps resolve the problem, please contact your aggregator's support team for help diagnosing the issue.
Access Choices : Other : Notifier
About the Gmail Notifier
The Gmail Notifier is a downloadable application that alerts you whenever you have new Gmail messages. (Mac users, please read What is Google Notifier? for Mac-specific information.) After you download the Notifier, an icon will appear in your system tray (so you don't have to open a browser) to let you know if you have unread Gmail messages. Once you install the Notifier, you'll be able to:
Automatically check for new messages every two minutes. See a snippet of text from up to 30 unread messages. Select a sound to indicate when you have new mail. Make Gmail your default email application.
To use the Gmail Notifier, you need Windows 2000, Windows XP, or a more recent version of Windows. (Download the Notifier*)
The Notifier is not compatible with Windows ME at this time, but we look forward to offering support for more operating systems in the future. The Notifier is currently available in English only. If you have an idea for improving the Notifier, please click the 'Contact Us' link in the Gmail Help Center and send us your idea using the suggestions form. But before you do, please check out some of the things we're already working on.
*Note: If you've enabled the 'Always use https' setting in Gmail, you'll need to install a patch for the Notifier to work with this setting: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Download the patch (.zip). Open the folder. Double-click the notifier_https.reg file. Click yes when you're asked to confirm if you want to add the information to the registry. Restart the Notifier.
If you decide you no longer want to use the https setting, you'll need to install the other file included in the download to reset the Notifier. Use the same method as above, except with 'notifier_https_undo.reg.' About the Google Notifier
Google Notifier is a program for the Mac that lets you know whenever you receive a new Gmail message or have an upcoming event on Google Calendar. When a Gmail message arrives, or an event's time is near, you'll see a nifty translucent box on the screen that tells you about the message or the event. But wait -- there's more! With Google Notifier, you can:
See a list of your unread Gmail messages. Make Gmail your default email program. Quickly see upcoming events from your Google Calendar. Create a new Google Calendar event.
Best of all, you don't have to open a web browser to use Notifier. When you install Notifier, you'll see a couple of new menu extras, icons on the right side of your menu bar. Click the Gmail icon to see the subjects of your recently received emails, or click the Calendar icon to see your upcoming appointments. The Google Notifier requires OS X 10.3.8+ (including Tiger).
Installing or uninstalling the Notifier
Windows: Requires: Windows 2000 or Windows XP To install the Gmail Notifier:
1. 2. 3. 4. Go to http://mail.google.com/mail/help/notifier/. Click Download Gmail Notifier. Select Save when the File Download box appears. If the application does not install immediately, click on the GmailInstaller icon and follow the installation instruction prompts.
To uninstall the Gmail Notifier: 1. 2. 3. 4. Open the Windows Control Panel. Open Add or Remove Programs . Highlight Google Gmail Notifier in the list of programs currently installed on your computer. Click Remove.
Mac: Requires Mac OS 10.4 or above Compatible with PowerPC and Intel processors To install the Google Notifier in Mac OS X: 1. Go to http://mail.google.com/mail/help/notifier/notifier_mac.html. 2. Click Download Google Notifier for Mac. 3. Depending on which browser you're using, you might see another dialog here. For example, if you're using Safari, you'll have to click Download in Safari's Downloads window to confirm that you really want to download Google Notifier. 4. Drag the Google Notifier icon to the Applications folder. 5. Open the Applications folder. 6. Double-click the Google Notifier icon and enter your Gmail username and password.
To uninstall the Gmail Notifier from Mac OS X:
1. Drag the Google Notifier icon from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Note: The Notifier is currently available in English only.
Audible notifications
The Gmail Notifier (for Windows) and Google Notifier (for Mac) can play a 'new mail' sound each time you receive new messages. To specify an audible new message alert in Windows:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Download the Notifier. Open your main Windows system Control Panel. Open Sounds and Audio Devices. Click the Sounds tab at the top of the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialogue box. Select a sound for New Mail Notification. Click OK.
If you're using a Mac: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Download the Notifier. Click the Mail icon. Select Preferences. Click the Gmail tab. Select a sound from the New Mail Sound drop-down menu. Click OK.
What new features are you working on for the Gmail Notifier?
Here are some things we're working on to make the Notifier better:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. New mail notifications for multiple Gmail addresses on the same computer. Easy switching for 'mailto' options. Launch of Gmail from the Notifier using a secure connection (HTTPS). Ability to change the default browser used by the Notifier. New mail notifications for messages filtered to bypass your inbox.
Changing Google Notifier settings
Google Notifier has plenty of options you can choose from in order to make it work just the way you want. To change options, click either of the Google Notifier menu icons and choose Preferences. For example, if you don't use Gmail (or you don't want to be notified every time you get new mail in Gmail), you can turn that feature off. Here are the available settings in Preferences:
Account tab
Change the address you use to sign in. Have Notifier start automatically when you log in to your Mac. Gmail tab o Choose whether to be notified when new Gmail messages arrive. o Choose an email client (such as Mail or Entourage) to compose new messages. o Pick a sound to be played when new messages arrive. o Show (or don't show) the number of unread messages in the menu bar. o Show (or don't show) a pop-up when new messages arrive. Calendar tab o Choose whether to be notified of upcoming Calendar events. o Pick a sound to be played when events are upcoming. o Show (or don't show) the number of upcoming events in the menu bar. o Show a pop-up when an event is upcoming.
o o
Error 12029
To be sure the Notifier can alert you when new mail arrives, please check your internet connection. If you're connected, and still getting an error message, here's what you can do to fix it:
1. Open Internet Explorer, and log in to mail.google.com. 2. Right-click the Notifier icon in your system tray, and select Check Mail Now.
If you still receive this error message after following the above steps, your firewall or proxy setting might be interfering with the Notifier. Please verify that ports 80 and 443 are open, and that the Notifier is not blocked from accessing the internet in your firewall's settings.
Error 12007
To be sure the Notifier can alert you when new mail arrives, please check your Internet connection. If you're connected, and still getting these errors, here's what you can do:
1. Open Internet Explorer, and log in to http://mail.google.com. 2. Right-click the Notifier icon in your system tray, and select 'Check Mail Now.' If you still receive this error message after following the above steps, your firewall or proxy setting may be interfering with the Notifier. Please verify that ports 80 and 443 are open, and that the Notifier is not blocked from accessing the internet in your firewall's settings. Customizing Google Notifier with plugins
Yes! We've added the ability to write plugins, so if you're a Mac OS X user, you can customize your Google Notifier. Google does not endorse these plugins, nor are we able to offer user support or resolve any bugs associated with them. However, if you'd like to write your own plugin, we hope the following README will help get you started. Enjoy!
Writing Plugins for the Mac OS X Google Notifier
Overview Plugins can be written in Objective-C or AppleScript. On startup, the Google Notifier will look for plugins in 2 places:
1. /Library/Application Support/Google Notifier 2. ~/Library/Application Support/Google Notifier Plugins will be loaded, and they will get callbacks when new messages arrive. See below for more details on writing plugins in Objective-C and AppleScript.
Objective-C The Notifier will search the above path for Cocoa bundles (ending with either .bundle or .plugin), load the NSPrincipalClass (defined in the Info.plist), which must implement the GGPluginProtocol protocol, then send the class a +(void)pluginLoaded message. This is a good place to do static initialization. Similarly, before the application shuts down, the plugin should be sent a +(void)pluginWillUnload message. When new messages arrive, a new instance of the plugin class will be created (using a simple alloc/init), then a -(void newMessagesReceived:fullCount: message will be sent. Finally, the newly created object will be released. See GGPluginProtocol.h for more details. AppleScript The Notifier will search the above path for AppleScripts (ending with .scpt) on startup. When new mail arrives, a handler named NewMessagesReceived(...) will be called. A sample AppleScript plugin may look like: on NewMessagesReceived(messages, fullCount)
set firstMessage to first item in messages
set fromName to |authorName| of firstMessage ... end NewMessagesReceived
The arguments are:
messages: A list of records. Each record represents one message. The record has properties like 'summary,' 'authorName,' etc. Print the contents of one message to see its structure. fullCount: The total number of unread messages. This number may not be the same as the number of entries in 'messages,' because 'messages' may be capped at some limit. For example, if you have 33 unread messages, fullCount would be 33, while 'messages' may only contain the 20 newest messages.
A proxy or firewall is blocking access to mail notifications
You can help us address this problem by letting us know what kind of firewall/proxy you are using (manufacturer, model, and version). We're working hard to fix proxy and firewall issues as they arise, and any information you provide will help us in our diagnosis. Please note that if you are behind a corporate firewall that blocks access to Gmail, the Gmail Notifier is also blocked. If you are using a personal firewall, please note that the Notifier uses both SSL (TCP port 443) and regular HTTP (TCP port 80).
Selective notifications with the Google Notifier
If you've set up a filter to label certain messages, you can also set the Google Notifier to alert you only when those messages arrive. Just run this command from the Terminal:
defaults write com.google.GoogleNotifier Label -string "INSERT_LABEL_NAME"
For example, if you only want to receive notifications for mail labeled 'ImportantStuff,' you would enter the following: defaults write com.google.GmailNotifier Label -string "ImportantStuff" Bad Data 1
'Bad data' means the Notifier and Gmail aren't talking. Let's fix this! Please uninstall the Notifier and then download the latest version.
To uninstall the Notifier:
1. 2. 3. 4. Open your main Windows system 'Control Panel.' Open 'Add or Remove Programs.' Highlight 'Google Gmail Notifier' in the list of programs currently installed on your computer. Click 'Remove.'
Now, to download the latest version of the Notifier: 1. Visit http://mail.google.com/mail/help/notifier/. 2. Click 'Download Gmail Notifier for Windows' in the upper right corner of the page, and follow the prompts.
Error 12037
An 'invalid certificate' error usually means your operating system's calendar isn't correct. To fix this problem:
1. Double-click on the current time in your system tray. 2. Open the 'Date & Time' tab, and make sure that the current month and year are entered. 3. Click 'OK.'
Notifier icons Windows
Unread mail in your Gmail inbox No unread mail in your inbox Error
Macintosh Unread mail in your Gmail inbox No unread mail in your inbox Error Upcoming Calendar events No upcoming events
Calendar event now Calendar event past due
Calendar Error [ Download the Notifier ]
I received an error that says 'Cannot connect to your mailbox. Invalid user name or password.'
We're sorry to hear the Notifier can't connect to your mailbox. Please make sure you have logged in to the Notifier with your correct username and password by following the steps below:
1. 2. 3. 4. Right-click the Notifier icon in your system tray, and select 'Exit.' Open the 'Start' menu, and select 'Programs.' Click 'Gmail Notifier,' and re-enter your username and password in the dialogue box. Click 'OK.'
Notifier privacy concerns
Google respects and protects the privacy of individuals who use Google's products, including the Gmail Notifier and Google Notifier. When you use the Notifier, Google does not collect or store any personal information beyond what is normally collected when you use Gmail. The only software that comes with the Gmail Notifier or Google Notifier is the program needed to install the application. Google believes that you should never be tricked into installing software on your computer. Periodically, the Notifier contacts our servers to see if you are running the most current version. If necessary, we will automatically provide you with the latest update to the Notifier. The Notifier briefly stores email snippets — the small bit of text from the first few lines of your unread messages — in temporary memory on your computer. It does not permanently store any data nor does it transmit any data back to Google. When you select Remember my password upon logging in to the Gmail Notifier, Windows stores your information in 'Protected Storage.' This is the same location Internet Explorer stores its passwords. Your password is encrypted, and cannot be accessed by other users. For more information about our privacy practices with respect to Gmail and the Notifier, please see the Gmail Privacy Policy.
Bad Data 3
'Bad data' means the Notifier and Gmail aren't talking. Let's fix this! Just follow these steps:
1. Clear Internet Explorer's cache. This is necessary even if you use a different default browser. 2. Sign in to Gmail at http://mail.google.com. 3. Right-click the Notifier icon in your system tray, and select Check Mail Now. If you still see this error message after following the above steps, your firewall or proxy setting may be interfering with the Notifier. Please verify that ports 80 and 443 are open, and that the Notifier is not blocked from accessing the internet in your firewall's settings. I can't install the Notifier
The problems you've had installing the Notifier are most likely a result of not having administrative privileges over your operating system. What to do? Contact your system administrator so you can start getting new message alerts from the Gmail Notifier.
Access Choices : Gmail for Mobile Application : Getting Started
What are the Gmail application requirements?
To use the Gmail application, you'll need:
A mobile device that supports Java ME (J2ME), MIDP 2.0 A data plan The Verisign Class 3 public certificate with serial number '70:BA:E4:1D:10:D9:29:34:B6:38:CA:7B:03:CC:BA:BF' on your device.
Note: The Gmail app is not supported for Windows Mobile, Palm Treo, or BREW-enabled devices. Also, some mobile service providers may restrict data usage by applications. We recommend contacting your mobile provider to confirm the details of your data plan. Not all devices allow you to check for the Verisign certificate.
What is the Gmail for mobile application?
The Gmail for mobile application is an email program from Google that you can install on a mobile phone.
The application gives you easy and direct access to your messages and contacts, and it's compatible with most Java-enabled (MIDP 2.0) mobile devices. You can download the application from http://gmail.com/app (on your device).
Here are some reasons to get the Gmail mobile application:
Speed. Serious speed. The same Gmail functions you know and love, like search and Conversation View. The look and feel of Gmail, so you know it'll be easy to use. Automatic synching, so actions performed on your phone are reflected in the desktop Gmail interface, too.
Google doesn't charge you to access Gmail from a mobile phone, but depending on your service plan, you may be charged by your wireless service provider. Check with your provider for more information about fees associated with accessing the Internet from your mobile phone. How do I access the Gmail for mobile application with my mobile phone?
If your phone is compatible, simply browse to http://gmail.com/app in your phone's web browser to download the Gmail for mobile application. If your mobile phone doesn't meet the requirements for this application, you can still log in to your Gmail account using your phone's browser, at http://m.gmail.com. Learn more about the Gmail for mobile web.
What's a Verisign certificate? How do I get one?
The Gmail application requires a Verisign Class 3 public certificate with serial number '70:BA:E4:1D:10:D9:29:34:B6:38:CA:7B:03:CC:BA:BF' in order to operate properly. The Verisign certificate provides secure communication between your mobile device and Gmail. Many phones have this certificate pre-installed. However, not all phones allow you to check for this certificate, and you may not be able to update your phone with this certificate. It does occasionally happen that a phone may have the required certificate, but it isn't accessible by the Gmail application. If that occurs, we suggest contacting your mobile service provider. If your device doesn't have the required certificate, you may be able to download and install it yourself. These are general instructions; exact steps vary by device type, so we encourage you to check your user manual for more information. Direct download:
1. Open your phone's web browser and navigate to: http://www.verisign.com/cgibin/support/rootcert/getrootcert.cer 2. Download the file and open/install.
Via computer:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Visit http://www.verisign.com/cgi-bin/support/rootcert/getrootcert.cer Save the file to your computer. Transfer the file to your phone via Bluetooth or USB connection. On your phone, go to File Manager, Downloads, etc. Open and install the certificate file.
Need more help? Check out our discussion group to see what other Gmail users have to say.
What does it cost to use Gmail for mobile?
Google doesn't charge you to access your Gmail account from a mobile phone, but depending on your service plan, you may be charged by your mobile provider. Check with your provider for more information about fees associated with accessing the Internet from your mobile phone. Note for BlackBerry users: The Gmail application will run in the background, periodically checking for new email. This uses data. If you have a limited data plan and don't want Gmail to run in the background, you need to explicitly quit the program by selecting Menu > Exit Gmail.
What's the latest version of the Gmail for mobile application?
It depends on your device and language:
Non-BlackBerry devices: Version 1.5 is available in US English; 1.1 is available in Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. BlackBerry devices: Version 2.0 is available in US English*; 1.1 is available in French, German, Italian, Spanish.
*BlackBerry OS 4.1 or later is required for Version 2.0.
Note to Google Apps users: The latest version of the Mail by Google application is Version 1.1, available in US English only. You can also use Version 2.0 of the Gmail application with your Google Apps email address.
We're always working on making updates available to more devices, so please stay tuned.
How do I sign out of the Gmail for mobile application?
By default, the Gmail for mobile application will remember your login information and keep you signed in on your mobile phone. To change this setting:
1. Select Menu > Go to > Settings. 2. Uncheck the Always keep me signed in option.
How do I find out which version of the Gmail for mobile application is installed?
If you need to find the version number of the application that's installed on your mobile phone, please select Menu > More > Help. The version number and platform will be displayed.
Which languages are supported by the Gmail for mobile application?
The Gmail for mobile application is available in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish at this time.
Access Choices : Gmail for Mobile Application : Troubleshooting
I'm getting this error: 'Sorry, the Gmail mobile app will not work on your phone. Your phone doesn't have the appropriate certificate to communicate with Gmail. Try accessing Gmail on your mobile browser at http://m.gmail.com'
The Gmail application requires a secure connection in order to connect to the Gmail server. There is a mismatch between the Gmail certificates on the server, and those provided by your phone's manufacturer. You can try using the mobile web interface to Gmail by typing http://m.gmail.com in your phone's browser; sometimes the certificates used by the browser are different from those available to Java applications.
I'm getting this error: 'This program requires a data connection. Please contact your carri er, or visit the Gmail Mobile FAQ on your computer for more info.'
In order to operate, Gmail requires your device to have a working data plan, and your phone has
to be configured to allow network connections from Java applications. Please contact your mobile service provider to make sure you're subscribed to an appropriate data plan. Your provider can also check the connection settings for your phone. You may also need to change your network access or network permission settings, depending on your phone. To do so, please follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Access your mobile phone's list of downloads and applications and highlight Gmail. Select Settings, Options, or the like with Gmail still highlighted. Select Network access or Network permissions, depending on your phone. Change Ask every time to Ask first time for Network access, or Allow once to Always allow for Network permissions. 5. Save your changes.
Note: Please see your owner's manual for more information. You may also have to change the network connection settings on your mobile device in order for the Gmail for mobile application to access the Internet properly. We recommend a direct Internet connection, often called 'Web APN,' 'Internet APN,' or 'direct GPRS connection.' If you're not sure what type of connection you have, please look for the terms 'Gateway,' 'WAP Proxy,' 'Proxy (IP) address,' or 'Proxy server address' in the network connections menu. If one of these is present, and a value filled in, it probably means that Gmail is using a WAP connection rather than a direct connection. A direct Internet connection doesn't use a gateway or proxy address. If the Gmail application is accessing the Internet through a WAP connection (or 'WAP APN'), you'll likely need to create a new direct connection. Instructions for configuring direct connections vary by device and mobile provider, so please consult your user manual. In general, you'll need to:
1. Access your phone's network connection settings. 2. Create a new connection with a disabled or blank proxy, using the settings specified by your provider for web access. 3. Grant the Gmail application Internet access through the new connection.
Where can I find the Gmail for mobile application after I have downloaded it?
Phones from different manufacturers save downloaded applications into different locations.
Nokia: Try the My own folder. Samsung: Try the Downloads > Applications folder. Motorola: Check the Games & Apps folder. BlackBerry: Depending on your theme, it can be in the main menu or in the application folder.
I can't log in to the Gmail downloadable app.
If you're having trouble logging in to Gmail app, please check that your phone has a signal. In addition:
This application only works with Gmail accounts. If you have a BlackBerry, you can use the Google Apps mail application from m.google.com/a When entering your username, only enter the part before @gmail.com. Remember that passwords are case sensitive. You may need to change the text entry mode to access uppercase/lowercase characters (refer to your phone's documentation for instructions). Because some phones can have trouble with secure HTTPS connections, you may need to refresh your inbox. If your phone has limited memory, you can turn off prefetching from the Settings menu.
Please click here if you are getting an incorrect password error.
I'm getting this error: 'This program requires a working data connection. Please check your signal strength.'
You might see this if you've been able to connect in the past but are currently unable to. In order to operate, Gmail requires your device to have a working data plan, and your phone has to be configured to allow network connections from Java applications. Please contact your mobile service provider to make sure you're subscribed to an appropriate data plan. Your provider can also check the connection settings for your phone. First, confirm that you're able to access the web from your phone. For example, visit http://www.google.com Second, you may also need to change your network access or network permission settings, depending on your phone. To do so, please follow these steps:
1. Access your mobile phone's list of downloads and/or applications and highlighting "Gmail." 2. Select "Settings," or "Options," (exact terminology varies by device) with "Gmail" still highlighted. 3. Select "Network access" or "Network permissions," depending on your phone. 4. Change "Ask every time" to "Ask first time" for Network access, or "Allow once" to "Always allow" for Network permissions. 5. Save your changes.
Please make sure your data connection is working by visiting a website from your phone's native browser.
You may also have to change the network connection settings on your mobile device in order for the Gmail for mobile application to access the internet properly. We recommend a direct internet connection, often called "Web APN," "Internet APN," or "direct GPRS connection." If you're not sure what type of connection you have, please look for the terms "Gateway," "WAP Proxy," "Proxy (IP) address," or "Proxy server address" in the network connections menu. If one of these is present, and a value filled in, it probably means that Gmail is using a WAP connection rather than a direct connection. A direct internet connection doesn't use a gateway or proxy address. If the Gmail application is accessing the internet through a WAP connection (or "WAP APN"), you'll probably need to create a new direct connection. Instructions for configuring direct connections vary by device and mobile provider, so please consult your user manual. In general, you'll need to:
1. Access your phone's network connection settings. 2. Create a new connection with a disabled or blank proxy, using the settings specified by your provider for web access. 3. Grant the Gmail application internet access through the new connection.
I'm getting this error: "This program can't access Gmail until you grant it permission to send and receive data over the network."
You'll likely need to change your network access or network permission settings, depending on your phone. To do so, please follow these steps:
Access your mobile phone's list of downloads and/or applications and highlight Gmail. Select Settings, Options, (exact terminology varies by phone) with 'Gmail' still highlighted. Select Network access or Network permissions, depending on your phone. Change 'Ask every time' to 'Ask first time' for Network access, or 'Allow once' to 'Always allow' for Network permissions. 5. Save your changes. 1. 2. 3. 4.
If the issue persists, you may also try restoring your permissions to their default settings and then changing them back. Just follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Access your mobile phone's list of downloads and/or applications and highlight Gmail. Select Settings, Options, (exact terminology varies by phone) with 'Gmail' still highlighted. Select Network access or Network permissions, depending on your phone. For each setting, choose Apply Defaults and save your changes. Return to those same settings and change to 'Ask first time' for Network access, or to 'Always allow' for Network permissions. 6. Save your changes.
If you're still getting the error and you're using a BlackBerry device, you can try resetting your firewall prompts. To do so, follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Access your BlackBerry device's list of downloads and/or applications and highlight Gmail. Select Settings, Options, (exact terminology varies by device) with 'Gmail' still highlighted. Select Network access or Network permissions, depending on your phone. For each setting, choose Reset Firewall Prompts and save your changes.
Please see your owner's manual for more information. You may also have to change the network connection settings on your mobile device in order for the Gmail app to access the Internet properly. We recommend a direct Internet connection, often called 'Web APN,' 'Internet APN,' or 'direct GPRS connection.' If you're not sure what type of connection you have, please look for the terms 'Gateway,' 'WAP Proxy,' 'Proxy (IP) address,' or 'Proxy server address' in the network connections menu. If one of these is present, and a value filled in, it probably means that Gmail is using a WAP connection rather than a direct connection. A direct Internet connection doesn't use a gateway or proxy address. If the Gmail application is accessing the Internet through a WAP connection (or 'WAP APN'), you'll likely need to create a new direct connection. Instructions for configuring direct connections vary by device and mobile provider, so please consult your user manual. In general, you'll need to:
1. Access your phone's network connection settings. 2. Create a new connection with a disabled or blank proxy, using the settings specified by your provider for web access. 3. Grant Internet access to the Gmail application through the new connection.
When I log in to Gmail for mobile, it says my password is incorrect.
There are a few common reasons why Gmail users sometimes have trouble entering their password:
Gmail passwords are case-sensitive, so make sure your mobile phone isn't locked on uppercase or lowercase letters. On most phones, you can set the text entry mode to all lowercase letters, and use the shift key to change the case. See your phone's manual for details. If Gmail still says your password is incorrect after you check your phone's settings, you may want to reset your password. We suggest resetting your password from your desktop computer; to learn how, please read How do I change my password?
I don't see new mail arriving when using Gmail for mobile.
Gmail for mobile doesn't automatically refresh by itself - you'll need to manually refresh your inbox periodically. Each time you send an email, your inbox is automatically updated.
What type of network connection should I use with the Gmail application?
You may have to change the network connection settings on your mobile device in order for the Gmail for mobile application to access the Internet properly. We recommend a direct Internet connection, often called 'Web APN,' 'Internet APN,' or 'direct GPRS connection.' If you're not sure what type of connection you have, please look for the terms 'Gateway,' 'WAP Proxy,' 'Proxy (IP) address,' or 'Proxy server address' in the network connections menu. If one of these is present, and a value is filled in, it probably means that Gmail is using a WAP connection rather than a direct connection. A direct Internet connection doesn't use a gateway or proxy address. If the Gmail application is accessing the Internet through a WAP connection (or 'WAP APN'), you'll likely need to create a new direct connection. Instructions for configuring direct connections vary by device and mobile provider, so please consult your user manual. In general, you'll need to:
1. Access your phone's network connection settings. 2. Create a new connection with a disabled or blank proxy, using the settings specified by your provider for web access. 3. Grant the Gmail application Internet access through the new connection.
How can I prevent the prompts from appearing each time I make a network request on my Nokia phone?
If you're seeing network access permission or application access point selection messages for each network request, you can use your Nokia phone's application manager to change the J2ME application settings. For example, on a Nokia N70:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. From the main menu, select Tools > Manager. Scroll to Gmail. Select Options > Suite settings > Network access and change the setting to Ask first time. Select Options > Suite settings > Application access and change the setting to Always allowed. You can also modify the Edit user data and Read user data settings to Ask every time.
I'm getting this error: "Network error. Your enterprise Blackberry server does not allow connections to Gmail. See the Gmail Mobile FAQ for more information."
Check with your BES administrator, and inquire how you can get access to Gmail (a third party network-aware application) from your BlackBerry.
I'm getting this error: "Attachment could not be displayed."
It may be that your mobile device cannot handle this type of attachment. We recommend viewing it on a desktop computer.
Errors when attempting to read or send mail
If you enabled the 'Always use https' setting in Gmail, you may encounter errors when using the Gmail for mobile application. The specific errors vary by device, but in general you'll see 'unexpected error' or have the app suddenly quit on you. If you have Version 1.5 or later, you can work around these errors by also enabling the app's own 'Always use secure network connections (slower performance):' setting from your device and then signing out. Version 1.5 instructions Version 2.0 instructions If you don't have this setting in the app, you can:
Disable the 'Always use https' setting in Gmail Access Gmail via your mobile browser
Our engineers are working to make the https setting more compatible with the mobile app.
Access Choices : Gmail for Mobile Application : Learn More
Can I use the Gmail application on my Treo?
We don't officially support the Gmail application for Palm Treo devices at this time.
You're welcome to try it out at your own discretion. Your Treo will need a Java Virtual Machine installed - most new Treos come with this pre-installed, and show an IBM Java icon on the main menu. If you can't find the IBM Java selection, you may be able to install the JVM from the Productivity & Entertainment Software section of your Treo installation CD. Once you've installed the JVM:
1. Reboot your Treo. 2. Download the Gmail for mobile application by pointing your browser (not the JVM) to http://gmail.com/app 3. When prompted, choose Save (as opposed to Open).
Once you've downloaded the application, you'll see a Gmail icon in your main menu. You can also launch the application from the main menu's IBM Java icon. In order for the Gmail for mobile application to properly function on your Treo, the IBM JVM requires several configurations. Visit Preferences > IBM Java VM, and review these configuration settings on your Treo:
Check Use Double Buffering. Check Use high resolution coordinates. Don't set anything for HTTP Proxy. Set Memory maximum to at least 4Mb. Set Maximum java thread stack size to 4kb.
The Gmail for mobile application has additional configurations through the JVM. From IBM Java VM:
Select Gmail -1.0.0. > Menu > Permissions. Select HTTPS, and make sure to select Once when the application runs (session). Select HTTP, and make sure to select Once when the application runs (session).
Can I get the Gmail for mobile application on my Blackberry?
You can install the Gmail for mobile application by going to gmail.com/app through the browser on your BlackBerry device. The BlackBerry version gives you even faster access to your Gmail account by running in the background, checking for new mail, and offering autocomplete for quick message composition.
Note: On BlackBerry devices, the Gmail application will also run in the background, checking for new mail about every 20 minutes. This uses data. If you do not want Gmail to run in the background, you must explicitly quit the application by going to Menu > Exit Gmail.
Can I use the Gmail for mobile application on my Windows Mobile device?
We don't officially support the Gmail application for Windows Mobile devices at this time. You're welcome to try it out at your own discretion. You'll need to have a Java Virtual Machine installed on your phone - most new phones come with this pre-installed. If you don't already have one, you can download a JVM from IBM at http://www128.ibm.com/developerworks/websphere/zones/wireless/weme_eval_runtimes.html
Does the Gmail for mobile application support Google Apps mail accounts?
The latest version of the Gmail application for BlackBerry devices (Version 2.0) supports Google Apps email addresses. On other devices, to use the application with your Google Apps email address, you'll need to download a separate app designed for Google Apps at http://m.google.com/a This separate application is called Mail by Google (as opposed to 'Gmail') and is denoted on some devices by a blue 'M' icon. A red 'M' icon is used for the Gmail application. For added security, the Mail by Google application sends all traffic over HTTPS. Changes you make to the Always use secure connections setting will have no effect.
Please note the Mail by Google application only supports US English at this time.
How do I configure data access on my mobile phone?
Please contact your mobile service provider for assistance configuring your phone for full wireless data access.
How can I confirm that the Gmail for mobile application will work with my Sony Ericsson phone?
Some Sony Ericsson phones don't have the Verisign Class 3 public certificate that's required for the Gmail for mobile application.
To check whether your phone will work with the application:
1. Select Connect > Internet Settings > Security > Java Certificate. 2. Look for a Verisign Class 3 public certificate. The certificate serial number is '70:BA:E4:1D:10:D9:29:34:B6:38:CA:7B:03:CC:BA:BF.' If you don't have the required certificate, you may be able to download and install it yourself. Direct download: 1. Open your phone's web browser and navigate to: http://www.verisign.com/cgibin/support/rootcert/getrootcert.cer 2. Download the file and open/install
Via computer:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Visit http://www.verisign.com/cgi-bin/support/rootcert/getrootcert.cer Save the file Transfer the file to your phone via Bluetooth or USB connection On your phone, go to File Manager Open/install the certificate file
How do I configure a BlackBerry to handle multiple accounts?
Multiple accounts are supported in Version 2.0 of the application. Just go to Menu > Accounts and then select Add account. If you're using an older version of the app, you may run into issues when signing in and out of multiple accounts with your BlackBerry device (the 8700, especially), due to the way the proxy server caches secure connection info. If not configured correctly, the BlackBerry may sign you in with old credentials, even if you've just finished entering new credentials at the sign-in page. To avoid this issue:
1. From your main BlackBerry menu, select Options > TLS or Options > Advanced > TLS. 2. Select Handheld.
Can I use any shortcuts in the Gmail application?
The Gmail for mobile application supports most of the shortcuts used with the desktop version of Gmail. The exact shortcuts vary depending on your device and keypad. To check out a full list of shortcuts available for your device, go to Menu > More > Help.
How do I find the model number of my phone?
Most phone models are printed underneath the battery, and you can also check your phone's user's manual. Depending on when you purchased your phone, you might be able to look up the model number on your mobile service provider's web site.
How can I turn off prefetching to save bandwidth?
If you'd like to turn off prefetching in the application:
1. Select Menu > Go to > Settings. 2. Uncheck the Preload unread email option. If you're concerned about data use with prefetching, we preload only up to 50kb of messages when refreshing your inbox. As a comparison, www.google.com uses about 25kb of data when accessed on your mobile phone. Is Gmail for mobile in sync with Gmail on my desktop?
Logging in to your Gmail account from the mobile interface is the same as logging in from your computer. If you send a message from your mobile phone, it will appear as Sent Mail when you log in from your desktop computer, and vice-versa.
Does the Gmail for mobile application support auto-refresh?
Your inbox will automatically refresh each time you send a message. If you'd like to refresh your inbox more frequently, you'll need to do it manually.
Will I still be using data if I exit Gmail on my BlackBerry?
You need to explicitly quit the program by going to Menu > Exit Gmail in order to ensure that Gmail is not running in the background. If you go to your Application or Main Menu without explicitly exiting, the Gmail application will run in the background, periodically checking for new email and using data.
Can I save a draft on the Gmail application?
Version 2.0 offers Mobile Drafts, which lets you store drafts locally on your device and send them later. You can access those drafts by going to Menu > Mobile Drafts, where you can resume editing your draft. Version 1.5 offers a handy 'Finish Later' feature. If you've started typing a message but can't finish it immediately, you can select Finish Later from the main menu. To go back, simply visit Menu > Resume. Please note that you'll only be able to save one message at a time. You can always compose new messages, but if you want to save a second new message, you'll need to finish or discard the previous message that you've saved for later.
How can I scroll up or down quickly in the Gmail for mobile application?
Hold the up or down key, or use the left or right key on your mobile phone.
How do I uninstall the application?
The uninstall process varies from phone to phone, but here are the steps for most mobile devices:
1. Access your mobile device's list of downloads or applications.
Note: phones from different manufacturers save downloaded applications into different locations.
o o o o
BlackBerry: Try Options > Advanced Options > Applications Nokia: Try the My own folder Samsung: Try the Downloads > Applications folder Motorola: Check the Games & Apps folder
2. Highlight or select Gmail or Mail by Google. 3. Select Delete, Remove, or a similar term from your list of options and settings.
Access Choices : Mobile Browsers : Getting Started
What is Gmail for mobile browser?
Gmail for mobile browser lets you access your Gmail account from your mobile phone. Just enter http://gmail.com in your phone's web browser to log in to your account. Gmail for mobile browser offers a number of cool features:
The interface is automatically optimized for the phone you're using. You can access attachments, including photos, Microsoft Word documents, and .pdf files. If you enter phone numbers in your Gmail Contacts list, you can reply to messages by phone.
Which Gmail for mobile option is best for me?
You can access Gmail through your phone's web browser or from a downloadable application (on supported mobile devices). To find out which method suits you and your mobile device best, watch a video or read more info.
How do I access Gmail for mobile from my phone's browser?
Each phone and mobile provider has a different way of letting you view websites like Gmail. Here are some general instructions that will help you access your Gmail account from your mobile phone:
1. Connect to the web. If you aren't sure how, scroll through your phone's menu, and look for the option to access the web and launch your phone's web browser. 2. Select the option to enter or access a URL. 3. Enter http://gmail.com, and select OK (sometimes called Go To or Send).
What does it cost to use Gmail for mobile browser?
Google doesn't charge you to access your Gmail account from a mobile phone, but depending on your service plan, you may be charged by your wireless provider. Check with your provider for more information about fees associated with accessing the Internet from your mobile phone.
Is Gmail for mobile browser available in all languages?
Gmail for mobile browser interface is now available in many different language settings, including:
English-US English-UK French Italian German Spanish Dutch Japanese Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Simplified) Brazilian Portuguese Russian Turkish Polish Finnish Swedish Danish Hungarian Slovenian Lithuanian Thai Vietnamese Catalan Slovak Romanian Greek Croatian Bulgarian Czech Serbian Estonian Ukrainian Latvian Icelandic Hindi Tagalog
As long as the language you'd like is in the list above, the Gmail mobile browser interface will match the same language that your Gmail account is already set to. To change the language view in your Gmail account:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Log in to your Gmail account's standard interface on a computer at http://mail.google.com. Click Settings from the top of any Gmail page. Select a language from the Gmail display language drop-down menu in the Language section. Click Save Changes.
Your account interface will appear in the language of your choice after you click Save Changes. Remember, your account's display language doesn't affect the language in which your messages are sent and received.
Which phones work with Gmail for mobile browser?
Gmail for mobile browser works with most phones that meet the minimum requirements. In general, you can expect your phone to work - just try it out!
Access Choices : Mobile Browsers : Troubleshooting
Why can't I log in on Gmail for mobile browser?
A number of things can cause login problems on Gmail for mobile browser.If your phone meets the minimum requirements but you're still experiencing difficulties logging in to Gmail, check the list below for solutions to some common problems.
I get a 'Page too large' error I get a cookie error I get a security / certificate error I received a message that says 'Error: Connection to Server Lost' I get a message that says 'For a better Gmail experience, use a supported browser' I get a message that says 'Fetch redirected page' I'm not directed to the Gmail for mobile interface on my mobile phone. Gmail says my username or password is incorrect
For device-specific problems that aren't related to Gmail or Google, we recommend contacting your mobile provider or phone's manufacturer directly.
Why do I get a security / certificate error when I go to Gmail from my mobile browser?
Some phones display an "Invalid certificate" or "Could not verify domain" message when attempting to connect to Gmail. This may mean that your phone doesn't meet the minimum
requirements needed to access Gmail for mobile browser. Treo 600 Users : If you receive an error that says: "Invalid certificate (unknown error). Display this page anyway?", click "OK" to continue. You'll then be able to access Gmail. The Treo 600 doesn't recognize newer security certificates used by Gmail for mobile. Sprint Sanyo Users : If you receive a message that says: "Exit from SSL mode", click "OK" to continue. You'll then be able to access Gmail for mobile.
Username or password is incorrect.
There are a few common reasons why Gmail users sometimes have trouble entering their passwords on the Gmail sign-in page:
Gmail passwords are case-sensitive, so make sure your mobile phone isn't locked on uppercase letters or lowercase letters. On most phones, you can set the text entry mode to all lowercase letters, and use the shift key to change the case. See your phone's manual for details. Once you've checked your username and password, clear your browser's cache and cookies, and sign in to Gmail again - try signing in with 'Remember Me' unchecked. If Gmail still says your password is incorrect after you check your phone's settings, you may want to reset your password from a desktop computer.
Why won't Gmail for mobile browser work on my phone?
If your phone meets the minimum requirements but you're still experiencing difficulties logging in to Gmail, check the list below for solutions to some common problems. I get a '502 bad gateway' error when I go to Gmail from my mobile browser.. I get a 'page too large' error when I go to Gmail from my mobile browser.. I get a message that says 'fetch redirected page' when I go to Gmail from my mobile browser.. I get a security / certificate error when I go to Gmail from my mobile browser. I received a message that says 'Error_ Connection to Server Lost.'. I'm not directed to the Gmail mobile browser interface on my mobile phone. Why? When I log in to Gmail from my mobile browser, it says my password is incorrect..
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Why do I see a message that says 'For a better Gmail experience, use a supported browser'?
I received a message that says: 'Error: Connection to Server Lost.'
You'll see this message if your phone loses its signal. Once your phone is able to pick up a signal again, visit http://gmail.com to sign in to Gmail. For device-specific problems that are not related to Gmail or Google, we recommend contacting your network provider or phone's manufacturer directly.
I get a cookie error when I try to sign in.
Some phones may display a cookie error when trying to sign in to Gmail. If this happens:
Check that your mobile phone meets all of the minimum requirements needed to access Gmail for mobile browser. Check your phone's browser settings to make sure that the setting for cookies is turned on and enabled for all sites. Clear your browser's cache and cookies, and sign in to Gmail again at http://gmail.com. You should sign in with Remember Me unchecked.
For device-specific problems that are not related to Gmail or Google, we recommend contacting your network provider or phone's manufacturer directly.
I'm not directed to the Gmail for mobile browser interface on my mobile phone. Why not?
If you are directed to the standard Gmail interface when accessing your account on your mobile phone, visit http://m.gmail.com. Otherwise, you should reach Gmail for mobile browser interface at http://gmail.com. If navigating to http://m.gmail.com doesn't resolve this issue, make sure that your mobile phone meets the minimum requirements needed to access Gmail for mobile browser.
Why do I get a "502 bad gateway" error when I go to Gmail from my mobile browser?
Some phones display a "502 bad gateway" message when attempting to connect to Gmail. Please check that your phone meets the minimum requirements to access Gmail. If your mobile
phone meets the minimum requirements, and you still continue to experience the same error message, we recommend that you contact your mobile service provider for more information.
Why do I see a message that says: 'For a better Gmail experience, use a supported browser'?
Your phone is directing you to Gmail's basic HTML view. If you'd like to use Gmail for mobile, just visit http://gmail.com
I sent a text message to my phone with the Gmail URL, but it never arrived.
If you sent yourself a text message with the Gmail URL and it never arrived, you can try sending it again. If you still aren't able to receive the message, navigate to http://gmail.com in your mobile web browser to access Gmail on your mobile phone.
I get a "Page too large" error when I go to Gmail from my mobile browser. Why?
Some phones display a 'Page too large' message when attempting to connect to Gmail. If this happens, please visit http://m.gmail.com instead of http://gmail.com or http://mail.google.com. If you still can't get to Gmail, make sure that your mobile phone meets the minimum requirements needed to access Gmail for mobile browsers.
I get a message that says: 'fetch redirected page' when I go to Gmail from my mobile browser.
Sometimes your phone's web browser will ask if you want to 'fetch' or go to a certain web page when you sign in to Gmail. The message might say something like, 'Fetch redirected page?' or 'Continue to http://www.google.com/accounts/?'. Click Yes or OK to continue; these prompts are just part of the sign-in process on some phones.
How do I access Gmail for mobile browser from my Motorola RAZR phone?
We've heard from some users who've had trouble accessing Gmail from their mobile browser
using a Motorola RAZR. We're working with Motorola to fix the problem, but in the mean time, here's how you can access Gmail from your RAZR:
1. 2. 3. 4. Go to your phone's Settings menu. Scroll down and click Web Access . Scroll down and click Go to URL . Enter gmail.com to access Gmail for mobile.
If your issue is not related to Gmail or Google, we recommend contacting Motorola directly.
Why is Gmail so slow on my mobile phone?
Most mobile devices don't have high speed access to the internet, so access to Gmail from your mobile device is likely to be slower than it is from your desktop. Some newer phones have high speed internet access, which can improve the speed of any mobile website you visit. Also, you will likely have faster access when your phone signal is strongest.
I don't see when new mail arrives if I use Gmail for mobile browser.
Your Inbox doesn't refresh automatically in Gmail for mobile browser, so you may not see when new messages arrive. To check for new mail on your mobile phone, click Inbox at the bottom of the page. This refreshes your Inbox, showing you any new messages that have arrived since you logged in.
Access Choices : Mobile Browsers : Learn More
What are the minimum phone requirements for Gmail for mobile browser?
These are minimum requirements to access Gmail for mobile web browsers:
Your web browser needs to be XHTML compliant. To determine whether your browser is compatible, please point it to www.google.com/xhtml and perform a search. If it doesn't work, your browser may not be XHTML compliant.
Your phone's browser should have cookies enabled and your mobile network should also allow cookies. The setting for cookies is usually located in your phone's browser settings. Contact your
mobile service provider to determine if they allow cookies on their network.
Your mobile phone network should allow secure SSL traffic. Contact your mobile provider to check this too.
Is Gmail for mobile browser in sync with Gmail?
Yes. Logging in to your Gmail account from the mobile interface is the same as logging in from your computer. If you send a message from your mobile phone, it will appear in Sent Mail when you log in from your desktop computer, and vice-versa. Keep in mind that messages you view in Gmail for mobile browser are only marked as Read when you open each individual message. If you look at the full conversation (snippets from multiple messages), none of the messages will be marked as Read.
How do I go to the URL contained in the text message?
There are a few different ways to access the URL contained in the text message, depending on what kind of phone you're using. Often times, you can just click the URL in the message and go straight to the web site. If the URL in your text message isn't hyperlinked, scroll through your phone's menu and select the option to go to the URL. If your phone doesn't offer this functionality, you can manually enter the URL in your web browser. Here are some general instructions on how to enter the Gmail URL in your web browser:
1. Connect to the web. If you aren't sure how, scroll through your phone's menu, and look for the option to access the web and launch your phone's web browser. 2. Select the option to enter or access a URL. 3. Enter http://gmail.com, and select OK (sometimes called Go To or Send).
How do I find the model number of my phone?
Most phone models are printed underneath the battery, and you can also check your phone's user's manual. Depending on when you purchased your phone, you might be able to look up the model number on your mobile service provider's web site.
How do I create a bookmark on my mobile phone?
You can easily access Gmail whenever you need to by creating a bookmark in your mobile phone's web browser. Check out the steps below for general instructions on bookmarking mobile web pages. If you still aren't sure how to create a bookmark on your phone, check your user's manual. Here's how to create mobile bookmarks (sometimes called a Favorite or Shortcut)
1. Connect to the web. If you aren't sure how, scroll through your phone's menu, and look for the option to access the web and launch your phone's web browser. 2. Select the option to enter or access a URL. You can find this option by selecting Menu or Options on your phone. 3. Enter http://gmail.com, and select OK (sometimes called Go To or Send). 4. Select the option to bookmark the page. 5. Add a title for your bookmark, if given the option. 6. Save your bookmark by selecting OK (your phone might say: Save or Done). Or... 1. Connect to the web. If you aren't sure how, scroll through your phone's menu, and look for the option to access the web and launch your phone's web browser. 2. Select the option for bookmarks. 3. Enter the URL of the web page you want to bookmark. 4. Add a title for your bookmark, if given the option. 5. Save your bookmark by selecting OK (your phone might say: Save or Done).
Access Choices : IMAP : Getting Started
Supported IMAP client list
Once you've enabled IMAP in Gmail, just configure your mail client or wireless device to download Gmail messages. To learn about configuration settings, click the name of your mail client or wireless device below. If your mail client isn't listed here, we're not yet able to provide assistance with its configuration, but we suggest trying out the instructions for other mail clients. Mail Clients
Outlook Express (Windows) Outlook 2003 (Windows)
Outlook 2007 (Windows) Apple Mail Apple Mail 3.0 (Leopard) Windows Mail Thunderbird 2.0 Other*
Wireless Devices
iPhone Blackberry* Symbian* Windows Mobile 5* Windows Mobile 6* SnapperMail*
* While configuration instructions are available, we're currently unable to provide support for these clients.
Getting started with IMAP for Gmail
What is IMAP? IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol, lets you download messages from Gmail's servers onto your computer so you can access your mail with a program like Microsoft Outlook Express or Apple Mail, even when you aren't connected to the Internet. IMAP creates a constant connection between mail clients (desktop and/or mobile) and Gmail.
What's the difference between IMAP and POP?
Unlike POP, IMAP offers two-way communication between your web Gmail and your email client(s). This means when you log in to Gmail using a web browser, actions you perform on email clients and mobile devices (ex: putting mail in a 'work' folder) will instantly and automatically appear in Gmail (ex: it will already have a 'work' label on that email the next time you sign in). IMAP also provides a better method to access your mail from multiple devices. If you check your email at work, on your mobile phone, and again at home, IMAP ensures that new mail is accessible from any device at any given time. Finally, IMAP offers a more stable experience overall. Whereas POP is prone to losing messages or downloading the same messages multiple times, IMAP avoids this through two-way syncing capabilities between your mail clients and your web Gmail.
If you're trying to decide between using POP and using IMAP with Gmail, we recommend IMAP.
How much does IMAP cost?
IMAP for Gmail is free.
Great! How do I get started?
First, you'll need to enable IMAP in Gmail. Once IMAP is enabled, follow the configuration instructions for your client of choice. Currently, only the clients listed are supported for IMAP. If you'd like to download your Gmail messages with a different client, please check to see if it's on our list of supported POP clients. When you've enabled IMAP and set up your client, sign in to Gmail through the client and watch your messages arrive. You'll notice that all of your custom Gmail labels will appear in your client as folders, with your labeled messages inside. While we'd like to make your IMAP experience match the Gmail web interface as much as possible, some Gmail-specific features and terms, such as conversation threading and stars, won't appear in your client. Don't worry; you can still perform all the usual Gmail functions, just in a slightly different way. The IMAP behavior chart shows you how to perform common functions on your IMAP client. Please note that every client handles IMAP in a slightly different way. If you're curious about the specific use of your client, contact the client's support team.
Where can I learn more?
Explore these topics for more information about the basic features of IMAP in Gmail:
What happens when I delete a message? Will IMAP download all my mail? Why aren't my messages threaded? What are these new labels in my web Gmail? How is spam handled? Why don't all my views and labels appear?
Enabling IMAP
You can retrieve your Gmail messages with a client or device that supports IMAP, like Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail. To enable IMAP in Gmail:
1. Sign in to Gmail.
2. 3. 4. 5.
Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Select Enable IMAP. Configure your IMAP client and click Save Changes.
Note: At this time, it's not possible to enable IMAP while using the basic HTML interface. Please use the standard view to see this option.
Access Choices : IMAP : Troubleshooting
Known IMAP issues
My non-English labels are not displaying in Outlook 2003 or Outlook Express. Most users should see all of the labels in their web interface replicated as folders in their IMAP client. However, if you are using an English version of Outlook 2002, Outlook 2003 or Outlook Express, but your web interface is set to a language that uses non-Latin characters, your folder names will not display properly. In addition, some subject and sender names may show as garbled text. This is an issue with these versions of Microsoft Outlook. For more details, please contact Microsoft's customer service department. Non-Latin characters can corrupt message headers. Message headers contain technical information necessary for the successful delivery of messages between email servers. Gmail's IMAP implementation re-encodes the information stored in message headers, but non-ASCII characters may become garbled. For example, this can affect the 'To:' line in an email message if a name is written in a language that uses non-Latin characters. Several issues can result from corrupt message headers, including delivery problems. The Gmail Team is working to resolve this issue. I have thousands of messages and my email client is crashing. Most desktop clients will perform poorly with large numbers of messages in a folder, or may even crash. The number varies from client to client and also depends on your machine's performance and memory. This limit can range from 20,000 messages to 100,000 messages. Considering Gmail's high quota for mail that can store well over 100,000 text messages, it's possible that your mail client will experience this problem, particularly in processing your '[Gmail]/All Mail' folder. If you have this many messages in your labels, we recommend doing some housework to clean up your labels in the Web interface. Remember, the web interface shows counts of threads, not
messages. On the other hand, most mobile IMAP clients are designed for low bandwidth, and low memory/performance systems, and don't attempt to download all messages. If you only use IMAP from mobile clients, you probably don't have to change your current Gmail label habits. My client is taking forever to download my messages.
Many desktop email clients will attempt to download a limited set of information about every message in a folder (headers or index). Others will attempt to download all of the messages in a folder. Some will even attempt to download all of the messages in all of the folders. If you have a lot of messages, this can take a long time, and your IMAP client might not be usable until after it has finished this initial sync with the server. Future syncs should be faster.
I'm having problems sending mail
There are a few common reasons why Gmail users may have trouble sending mail with Gmail's IMAP feature. If you can't send mail, here's a troubleshooting checklist:
Are you able to log in to the Gmail web interface?
Visit http://mail.google.com to log in to Gmail. If you see a CAPTCHA (a security image with distorted letters), you'll need to log in before you can enable IMAP access. If you're locked out of Gmail, please wait one hour and log in to Gmail again.
Have you enabled IMAP in Gmail?
Sign in to the Gmail web interface.Open the 'Forwarding and POP/IMAP' tab on your 'Settings' page, and configure IMAP. After enabling IMAP in Gmail, make sure you click 'Save Changes' so Gmail can communicate with your mail client.
Did you enable SSL for the SMTP server?
Make sure SSL is active for SMTP in your mail client. For more information, please review the configuration instructions for your specific client.
Did you set 'allow authentication' for the SMTP server?
Check that 'allow authentication' is active for the SMTP server in your mail client. For more information, please review the configuration instructions for your specific client.
Did you enter the correct username and password?
Verify that your username is spelled correctly, and that you've entered '@gmail.com.'
Also, you should re-enter your password just to be sure it's correct.
Are you trying to send attachments?
As a security measure to prevent potential viruses, Gmail does not allow you to send or receive executable files that could contain damaging executable code. Also note that with Gmail, you can send and receive messages up to 20 megabytes (MB) in size.
Still can't send mail?
If you tried configuring your SMTP server on port 465 (with SSL) and port 587 (with TLS), but are still having trouble sending mail, try configuring your SMTP to use port 25 (with SSL). Apple Mail users: At times, Mail may misinterpret your SMTP server settings. If you currently have 'smtp.gmail.com:username@gmail.com' in the 'Outgoing Mail Server:' field of your settings, please try changing the field to 'smtp.gmail.com' and saving your settings.
Seeing duplicate Sent messages?
To understand settings that affect deleting and storing messages and drafts, please visit our recommended client settings.
Can you connect to the SMTP server?
To better diagnose the problem, you'll need to run a telnet test, which will check that your computer can contact our SMTP servers. If you're running Windows Vista, you'll first need to enable the Telnet feature:
1. Click the Start button, then Control Panel, and Programs. 2. Click Turn Windows Features On or Off. 3. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. 4. In the Windows Features box, check the box labeled Telnet Client, and click OK. (It may take a few minutes for the installation to complete.)
To run the telnet test on a Windows computer:
5. Open the Start menu, and select Run. 6. Enter command in the Open: field, and click OK. 7. Enter 'telnet smtp.gmail.com 465,' and hit Enter, or if you're using Outlook 2007, enter 'telnet smtp.gmail.com 587' instead. (Does the information in the prompt window clear? If not, please note the message that appears.) 8. Close the prompt window.
To run the Telnet test on a Mac:
9. Click the Macintosh Hard Drive icon, and open the Applications folder. 10. Open Utilities, and select Terminal. 11. Depending on what port you're using to send, type 'telnet smtp.gmail.com 25' or 'telnet smtp.gmail.com 587' in the prompt window and press Enter.
If you receive an error message after performing step 3, your network administrator or security software has blocked access to our servers. We recommend contacting your local network administrator or Internet Service Provider (ISP) for more information.
I'm having trouble logging in with my username and password
If you're repeatedly prompted for your username and password, or if you're getting an 'invalid credentials' or 'web login required' error, we suggest that you verify the following settings in your mail client:
Make sure that you entered @gmail.com after your username. For example: john.doe@gmail.com Re-enter your password to ensure that it's correct. Keep in mind that passwords are casesensitive. Make sure your mail client isn't set to check for new mail too often. If your mail client checks for new messages more than once every 10 minutes, your client might repeatedly request your username and password.
If the issue persists:
Try clearing the CAPTCHA. If you're a Google Apps user, visit https://www.google.com/a/yourdomain.com/UnlockCaptcha in order to clear the CAPTCHA. Be sure to replace 'yourdomain.com' with your actual domain name. Try changing your password according to our tips on creating a strong password.
I'm having problems downloading mail
A few common reasons can cause trouble downloading mail with Gmail's IMAP feature. If you can't download mail, please follow this troubleshooting checklist:
Are you able to log in to the Gmail web interface?
Visit http://mail.google.com to log in to Gmail. If you see a CAPTCHA (a security image with distorted letters), you'll need to log in before you can enable IMAP access. If you're
locked out of Gmail, please wait one hour and log in to Gmail again.
Have you enabled IMAP in Gmail?
Sign in to the Gmail web interface. Open the 'Forwarding and POP/IMAP' tab on your 'Settings' page, and configure IMAP. After enabling IMAP in Gmail, make sure you click 'Save Changes' so Gmail can communicate with your mail client.
Did you enable SSL for the IMAP server?
Make sure SSL is active for IMAP in your mail client. For more information, please review the configuration instructions for your specific client.
Did you enter the correct username and password?
Verify that your username is spelled correctly, and that you've entered '@gmail.com.' Also, we suggest you re-enter your password just to be sure it's correct.
Is your download taking a long time?
Many desktop email clients will attempt to download a limited set of information about every message in a folder (headers or index). Others will attempt to download all of the messages in a folder. Some will even attempt to download all of the messages in all of the folders. If you have a lot of messages, this can take a long time, and your IMAP client might not be usable until after it has finished this initial sync with the server. Future syncs should be faster. Also, we recommend disabling your client's anti-spam or junk mail filters, as noted in our recommended client settings.
Why is my mail client crashing when I download messages?
Most desktop clients will perform poorly with large numbers of messages in a folder, or may even crash. The number varies from client to client and also depends on your machine's performance and memory. This limit can range from 20,000 messages to 100,000 messages. Considering Gmail's high quota for mail that can store well over 100,000 text messages, it's possible that your mail client will experience this problem, particularly in processing your '[Gmail]/All Mail' folder. If you have this many messages in your labels, we recommend doing some housework to clean up your labels in the Web interface. Remember, the web interface shows counts of threads, not messages.
Can you connect to the IMAP server?
Why don't all my views and labels appear?
Not all of your default views in the Gmail web interface will appear in your IMAP client at this time. We're working on making Gmail for IMAP as much like the web interface as we can, but in the meantime, you won't see views such as Chats in your client. (Note: while you can add additional labels to hidden views to show up in your mail client, this may result in distorted messages or other unforeseen consequences.) Most users should see all of the labels in their web interface replicated as folders in their IMAP client. If you're using an English version of Outlook 2002, Outlook 2003, or Outlook Express, but your web interface is set to a language that uses non-Latin characters, your folder names will not display properly. In addition, some subject and sender names may show as garbled text. This is an issue with these versions of Microsoft Outlook. For more details, please contact Microsoft's customer service department.
iPhone SSL errors
If you're receiving SSL-related errors, such as 'Cannot Connect Using SSL' when accessing Gmail via IMAP, check that your iPhone settings are correct. If your settings are right, you may be connecting through a wi-fi network that contains a firewall. Please try connecting to IMAP through a connection other than wi-fi to see if this resolves the issue. If the problem continues, we suggest following up with your service provider or with your wireless network's support team.
Header download for the [Gmail] folder did not complete
While this error message may appear in certain Windows mail clients, it should not affect your ability to download and sync messages via Gmail IMAP. For more information on avoiding or preventing this error, we suggest following up with the Microsoft support team.
CN security certificate error
Symptom: When trying to access Gmail via IMAP, you encounter the error, 'The server you are connected to is using a security certificate that could not be verified. The certificate's CN name does not match the passed value. Do you want to continue using this server?' Explanation: Make sure you've set up your mail client for IMAP access rather than POP access. In addition, please verify that you have entered 'imap.gmail.com' rather than 'pop.gmail.com' as your Incoming Server setting.
Why aren't my Drafts showing up in Gmail's web interface?
In order for Drafts you've composed in your mail client to show in your web Gmail, you may need to set your client's Draft folder as the '[Gmail]/Drafts' folder. As these settings differ for each mail client, we suggest contacting the developer of your mail client for further instructions.
Incorrect dates on uploaded messages
Messages uploaded or copied into Gmail using IMAP may display the wrong date in your inbox or other labels. The correct dates should appear in conversation view. This is a known issue, and we appreciate your patience as we work to resolve it.
Unable to append message
It's possible to upload local (non-Gmail) messages to Gmail by moving messages from their local location in your email client to one of Gmail's folders. However, some messages can't currently be uploaded due to formatting incompatibilities. At the moment, we're unable to provide support for uploading messages.
Too many simultaneous connections
According to the Gmail Terms of Use, each user account is intended for single use. This means that if you have multiple users frequently accessing the same account or more than one IMAP client accessing Gmail at the same time, you may reach a connection threshold and receive the error message, 'Too many simultaneous connections.' Gmail currently has a limit of 10 simultaneous IMAP connections per account. Please note that your mail client may actually open multiple connections in the background. This means it's possible to reach a connection threshold simply by using only two mail clients to access the same account at the same time. If you often use multiple mail clients or mobile devices with the same Gmail account, we recommend closing and/or signing out of any mail clients you're not actively using.
Updates not reflected in multiple clients
When multiple mail clients are connected to the same Gmail account at the same time, one mail client won't always automatically reflect changes made by the other client. However, if your mail clients are set to periodically check mail or sync with the IMAP server, then they should reflect changes each time they sync. You can also restart your mail client or refresh a folder (for example, select another folder and then go back to the original folder) as a way to force one mail client to sync again with the IMAP server. If you often use multiple mail clients with the same Gmail account, we recommend closing and/or signing out of any mail clients you're not actively using.
Access Choices : IMAP : Learn More
Recommended IMAP client settings
All IMAP clients differ, and you can configure your mail client's settings to best suit your needs. However, to work optimally with Gmail, we recommend certain settings. Click on your client below to view our recommended configuration. iPhone Thunderbird 2.0 Apple Mail Outlook 2003 Outlook Express As a general rule, we suggest the following. Sending:
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Do NOT save sent messages on the server. If your client is sending mail through Gmail's SMTP server, your sent messages will be automatically copied to the [Gmail]/Sent Mail folder. DO save draft messages on the server. If you want your drafts in your mail client to sync correctly with Gmail's web interface, set your client to save drafts to the [Gmail]/Drafts folder.
Deleting:
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Do NOT save deleted messages on the server. Messages that are deleted from an IMAP folder (except for those in [Gmail]/Spam or [Gmail]/Trash) only have that label removed and still exist in All Mail. Hence, your client doesn't need to store an extra copy of a deleted message. Do NOT save deleted messages to your [Gmail]/Trash folder because this will delete a
o
message in all folders. Do NOT save deleted messages to your [Gmail]/All Mail folder as some clients will try to empty this folder and ultimately fail. This can lead to delayed mail access or excessive battery consumption on a mobile device.
Junk mail and spam:
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Do NOT enable your client's junk mail filters. Gmail's spam filters also work in your IMAP client, and we recommend turning off any additional anti-spam or junk mail filters within your client. Your client's filter will attempt to download and classify all of your existing messages, which may slow down your client until the process is complete.
How do actions sync in IMAP?
Your IMAP client will show all of your default Gmail views under a special [Gmail] folder hierarchy. Here's a guide to how other actions in your IMAP client will appear in the Gmail web interface. Action on mobile device/client (e.g. iPhone/Outlook) Open a message Flag a message Move a message to a folder
Result in Gmail on the web
Mark a message as read Apply a star to the message Apply a label to the message Apply a label showing folder hierarchy ('MainFolder/SubFolder')* Create a label Report a message as spam Move a message to Trash Store message in Sent Mail Remove the message from inbox** Remove that label from the message** Delete the message permanently
Move a message to a folder within a folder*
Create a folder Move a message to [Gmail]/Spam Move a message to [Gmail]/Trash Send a message Delete a message in inbox** Delete a message from a folder** Delete a message from [Gmail]/Spam or
[Gmail]/Trash
*IMAP translates labels with a forward slash (/) into a folder hierarchy like you see in your computer's file system. If you have a label such as 'Family/Friends,' you may want to reconsider your naming schemes because your IMAP client will display it as a folder named 'Family' with a subfolder named 'Friends.' Note: Please note that if you're using an iPhone with software update 1.1.3 or later and you automatically configured IMAP by tapping the large Gmail icon in Mail, messages trashed from your iPhone will be moved to the [Gmail]/Trash folder rather than the [Gmail]/All Mail folder, where these messages are set to be permanently deleted after 30 days. For more information, please see our article on deleting and archiving on iPhones or visit Apple Support. To avoid this type of deletion behavior, please manually configure your iPhone.
Deleting IMAP messages
If you delete a message from your inbox or one of your custom folders in your IMAP client, it will still appear in [Gmail]/All Mail. Here's why: in most folders, deleting a message simply removes that folder's label from the message, including the label identifying the message as being in your inbox. [Gmail]/All Mail shows all of your messages, whether or not they have labels attached to them. If you want to delete a message from all folders, move it to the [Gmail]/Trash folder. If you delete a message from [Gmail]/Spam or [Gmail]/Trash, it will be deleted permanently. For client-specific settings that affect deleting and storing messages and drafts, please see our Recommended IMAP client settings.
Important: Please note that if you're using an iPhone with software update 1.1.3 or later and you automatically configured IMAP by tapping the large Gmail icon in Mail, messages trashed from your iPhone will be moved to the [Gmail]/Trash folder rather than the [Gmail]/All Mail folder, where these messages are set to be permanently deleted after 30 days. For more information, please see our article on deleting and archiving on iPhones or visit Apple Support. To avoid this type of deletion behavior, please manually configure your iPhone.
Will using IMAP download all my mail?
Not unless your client is set to do so. Most IMAP clients will download only the headers of your Gmail messages while you're connected to the Internet. However, a few clients will download all of your mail by default. Your messages will download completely when you select your client's option to work offline. You'll be able to read, sort, and compose replies to your messages while you're working offline. Once you're connected to the Internet again, you'll be able to sync your client with the Gmail interface on the web.
Archiving and deleting on iPhones
Deleting and archiving messages on the iPhone works differently depending on your iPhone's software version, or how you set up your iPhone. If you're running version 1.1.2 OR you've manually set up IMAP by following these instructions, this is how message deletion and archiving will work: Tap the trash button on any message > Archives message so that it will only appear in [Gmail]/All Mail and your iPhone Trash folder. Note: This is how Gmail IMAP works in most mail clients. For more information, please visit http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=78755. If you've updated to version 1.1.3 or later AND you've automatically configured Gmail by tapping the large 'Gmail' button in Mail, the same actions will differ in the following way: Tap the trash button on any message > Moves message to the [Gmail]/Trash folder, where it will be permanently removed in 30 days. Important: If a message has any other labels, the message will also be deleted from its corresponding IMAP folders. If you wish to archive a message in this new implementation, simply move the message to your [Gmail]/All Mail folder. This can be done by opening the message on your iPhone, tapping the 'Folder' icon located between the 'Trash' and 'Refresh' icons, and then tapping your [Gmail]/All Mail folder to move the message. For additional information regarding this change, please visit Apple Support.
Gmail folders in your mail client
The [Gmail] subfolders represent the special labels visible in the Gmail web interface: All Mail, Drafts, Sent Mail, Spam, Starred and Trash. [Gmail]/All Mail contains all of your messages in Gmail, including your sent and archived messages. Any messages that you see in your inbox will also appear in the [Gmail]/All Mail folder. If you save any drafts in the web interface, they can be found in the [Gmail]/Drafts folder. We recommend that you set this folder as the drafts folder for your email client, so that any drafts you save in your client will be waiting for you in the web interface as well. Moving a message to [Gmail]/Trash in your email client will move the message to Trash in the web interface and will mark the message for permanent deletion. Moving a message to [Gmail]/Spam will report the message to Gmail as spam and will also mark the message for permanent deletion. We strongly recommend that you do not set either of these folders as the trash folder for your email client. Please note that you cannot remove the [Gmail] subfolders from your email client.
How is spam handled?
Gmail's spam filters also work in your IMAP client by automatically diverting messages that are suspected of being unwanted messages into '[Gmail]/Spam' and keeping them out of your inbox. If you find a message that should be marked as spam, just move it to '[Gmail]/Spam.' This is just like clicking 'Report Spam' in the Gmail web interface and helps us to improve our spam filters. If you find a message wrongly classified as spam, you can move the message out of '[Gmail]/Spam' to the appropriate folder in your client. Note that your client may have its own junk mail filtering technology, which is separate from Gmail's spam filtering. We recommend using only Gmail's spam filtering and turning off any additional anti-spam or junk mail filters within your client. If you still decide to enable client side spam filtering, your client will download an extra copy of every message.
What are these new labels in my web Gmail?
After you perform certain actions in your IMAP client for the first time, you'll notice a
few new labels when you next log in to Gmail's web interface. For example, sending a message in your client creates a 'Sent Messages' label in Gmail, indicating which messages you sent through your client and not through Gmail's web interface. Some actions that will result in new Gmail labels are: creating drafts, sending and deleting messages, moving messages to a junk mail folder, and creating new folders in your client. Note that the specific names of these new labels will vary depending on which client you're using. If you create folders within folders in your client, Gmail will treat these as separate labels. Gmail indicates which folder is a nested folder by adding a '/' before the corresponding label in the web interface. Please note that some folder names are 'reserved' as special system folders in the Gmail web interface. If you attempt to create a folder name that conflicts with a reserved folder name such as 'Chats' or 'Sent,' these folders will display with an '[IMAP]' prefix ('[Imap]/Chats').
How do I configure IMAP for a Google Apps email address?
Configuring IMAP access for your Google Apps email address is very similar to configuring it in Gmail. However, any time you're asked for your username during the configuration process, you'll need to enter your full email address, including your domain (username@your_domain.com). All other settings are the same.
Why aren't my messages threaded?
Like POP, IMAP treats messages individually and not as a threaded conversation. If you move a message to an IMAP folder in your mail client, only that message in the conversation will move to that folder. However, in the web interface, the whole conversation will be given the corresponding label. The same rules will apply to labels applied through filters. Additionally, IMAP clients store a copy of a message for each label in which it appears. For example, if one particular message in Gmail's web interface has the labels, 'From Best Friends,' 'Classmates,' and 'Soccer,' then the same message will be stored four times in your mail client; three times for each label and once in the 'All Mail' folder. If the message is starred, it will be downloaded a fifth time in the 'Starred' folder.
Does Gmail support all IMAP features?
Gmail IMAP is a fairly complete implementation of IMAP, but the following features are currently unsupported:
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\Answered and \Recent flags on messages. Substring search. All searches are assumed to be words. Searching arbitrary headers. Only some headers are available for searches: From/CC/BCC/To/Subject. There is no SIEVE interface to Gmail filters. Only plain-text LOGIN over SSL tunneled connections are supported.
Can I upload messages through IMAP?
It's possible to upload old messages from other email accounts to Gmail using your IMAP client, by transferring them to Gmail's web interface. If you'd like to upload messages, we have a few recommendations:
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Upload messages in small groups. Uploading is slow and can limit your available bandwidth. Messages that exceed Gmail's size limits will not upload. If you receive the error message 'Unable to append message to folder,' Gmail was unable to parse the message's formatting. Skip that message and continue uploading others.
Please note that uploading an excessive number of messages to Gmail via IMAP may lead to being temporarily locked out of Gmail. If this happens to you, please be aware that these lockouts are temporary and you should be able to re-access Gmail shortly. While our engineers are working diligently to make the upload process faster and easier, we're currently unable to provide support for message uploading. We appreciate your patience while we work to improve Gmail.
Can I apply multiple labels to a message using my IMAP client?
Yes. If you want a message to have more than one label, just copy the message to a folder instead of moving it. A message that is copied to one or more folders in your IMAP client will be marked with the corresponding label(s) when viewed in the Gmail web interface.
Access Choices : POP : Getting Started
Supported POP client list
Once you've enabled POP in Gmail, you can configure your mail client or wireless device to download Gmail messages. To see our recommended settings or troubleshoot POP issues, click the name of your mail client or wireless device below. If your mail client isn't listed here, we're unfortunately not yet able to provide assistance with its configuration. Mail Clients
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Apple Mail 3.0 Outlook Express Outlook 2002 Outlook 2003 (see our animated demo) Outlook 2007 Thunderbird 2.0 Windows Mail Other
Wireless Devices
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BlackBerry® Internet Service iPhone
Enabling POP
You can retrieve your Gmail messages with a client or device that supports POP, like Microsoft Outlook or Netscape Mail. To enable POP in Gmail:
26. Sign in to Gmail. 27. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. 28. Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
29.
Select Enable POP for all mail or Enable POP for mail that arrives from now on. 30. Choose the action you'd like your Gmail messages to take after they are accessed with POP. 31. Configure your POP client* and click Save Changes. *To learn about configuring POP access, please visit the POP client configuration list.
About POP
POP, or Post Office Protocol, lets you download messages from Gmail's servers onto your computer so you can access your mail with a program like Microsoft Outlook Express or Netscape Mail, even when you aren't connected to the Internet. POP access is free for all Gmail users, and we have no plans to charge for it in the future. If you're thinking about using POP, however, we encourage you to consider IMAP, which offers all the benefits listed above plus two-way communication between your web Gmail and your email client. Learn more:
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What is IMAP, and what's the difference between IMAP and POP? How do I enable POP? How do I configure my mail client? POP for Outlook 2003 animated demo
Access Choices : POP :
Outlook 2003 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
The Quick Answer
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Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Outlook 2003. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted.
To set up your Outlook client to work with Gmail:
38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. Enable POP in your email account. Don't forget to click Save Changes when you're done. Open Outlook. Click the Tools menu, and select E-mail Accounts... Click Add a new e-mail account, and click Next. Choose POP3 as your server type by clicking the radio button, and click Next. Fill in all necessary fields to include the following information: User Information Your Name: Enter your name as you would like it to appear in the From: field of outgoing messages. Email Address: Enter your full email address (username@gmail.com or username@your_domain.com)
Server Information Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step. Incoming mail server (POP3): pop.gmail.com Outgoing mail server (SMTP): smtp.gmail.com Login Information User Name: Enter your Gmail username (including @gmail.com). Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format username@your_domain.com Password: Enter your email password
44. Click More Settings... and then click the Outgoing Server tab. 45. Check the box next to My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication and select Use same settings as my incoming mail server.
46. Click the Advanced tab, and check the box next to This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL) under Incoming Server (POP3).
47. Check the box next to This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL) under Outgoing Server (SMTP), and enter 465 in the Outgoing server (SMTP) box. 48. Click OK. 49. Click Test Account Settings... After receiving Congratulations! All tests completed successfully, click Close. 50. Click Next, and then click Finish. 51. Download the latest updates for Outlook from Microsoft. This will help prevent the most common Outlook errors Gmail users see.
Congratulations! You're done configuring your client to send and retrieve Gmail messages. If you experience problems using POP with Outlook, please check the Common Errors or Troubleshooting tabs.
Outlook Express Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
The Quick Answer
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Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Outlook Express. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted.
To set up your Outlook Express client to work with Gmail:
0. Enable POP in your email account. Don't forget to click Save Changes when you're done. 1. Open Outlook or Outlook Express. 2. Click the Tools menu, and select Accounts... 3. Click Add, and then click Mail...
4. Enter your name in the Display name: field, and click Next. 5. Enter your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) in the Email address: field, and click Next. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.'
6. Enter pop.gmail.com in the Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP or HTTP) server: field. Enter smtp.gmail.com in the Outgoing mail (SMTP) server: field. Google Apps users, enter the server names provided; don't add your domain name in this step.
7. Click Next. 8. Enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the Account name: field. Enter your email password in the Password: field, and click Next.
9. Click Finish. 10. Highlight pop.gmail.com under Account, and click Properties.
11. Click the Advanced tab. 12. Fill in the following information:*
Check the box next to This server requires a secure connection (SSL) under Outgoing Mail (SMTP). Enter 465 in the Outgoing mail (SMTP): field. Under Outgoing Mail (SMTP), check the box next to This server requires a secure connection (SSL). Under Incoming mail (POP3), check the box next to This server requires a secure connection (SSL). The port will change to 995.
*The order of Outgoing and Incoming mail server fields varies by version. Make sure you enter the correct information in each field.
13. Return to the Servers tab, and check the box next to My server requires authentication.
14. Click OK.
Congratulations! You're done configuring your client to send and retrieve Gmail messages. If you experience problems using POP with Outlook, please check the Common Errors or Troubleshooting tabs.
Outlook 2007 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
The Quick Answer
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Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Outlook 2007. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted.
To configure Outlook 2007 for your Gmail address:
56. 57. 58. 59. 60. Enable POP in your email account. Don't forget to click Save Changes when you're done. Open Outlook. Click the Tools menu, and select Account Settings... On the E-mail tab, click New... If you are prompted to Choose E-mail Service, select Microsoft Exchange, POP3, IMAP, or HTTP, and click Next. 61. Fill in all necessary fields to include the following information:
Your Name: Enter your name as you would like it to appear in the From: field of outgoing messages. Email Address: Enter your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com). Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format username@your_domain.com. Password: Enter your email password. Manually configure server settings or additional server types: Leave this option unchecked if you want to automatically configure Outlook 2007. If you want to manually configure Outlook 2007, check this box now. Google Apps users should configure manually as follows.
62. Click Next. If you are configuring Outlook 2007 automatically, you're done! Just click Finish.
63. If you are configuring Outlook 2007 manually, select Internet E-mail and click Next. 64. Verify your User Information, and enter the following additional information:
Server Information Account Type: POP3 Incoming mail server: pop.gmail.com (Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in these steps) Outgoing mail server (SMTP): smtp.gmail.com Logon Information User Name: Enter your Gmail username (including @gmail.com). Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format username@your_domain.com Password: Enter your email password.
Require logon using Secure Password Authentication (SPA): Leave this option unchecked.
65. Click the More Settings... button, and select the Outgoing Server tab. 66. Check the box next to My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication and select Use same settings as my incoming mail server.
67. Click the Advanced tab, and check the box next to This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL) under Incoming Server (POP3). 68. In the Outgoing server (SMTP) box, enter 587, and select TLS from the drop-down menu next to Use the following type of encrypted connection:.
69. Click OK. 70. Click Test Account Settings... After receiving 'Congratulations! All tests completed successfully', click Close. 71. Click Next, and then click Finish.
Congratulations! You're done configuring your client to send and retrieve Gmail messages. If you experience problems using POP with Outlook, please check the Common Errors or Troubleshooting tabs.
Thunderbird 2.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
The Quick Answer
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Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Thunderbird 2.0. Google Apps users will need to configure POP manually using the special instruction
provided.
To configure Thunderbird 2.0 for your Gmail address:
74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. Enable POP in Gmail. Don't forget to click Save Changes when you're done. Open Thunderbird. Click the Tools menu, and select Account Settings... Click the Add Account... button to launch Account Wizard. Select Gmail, and click Next. Fill in the necessary fields to include the following information:
Your Name: Enter your name as you would like it to appear in the From: field of outgoing messages. Email Address: Enter your Gmail username (everything before @gmail.com).
80. Click Next, then click Finish.
81. On the Server Settings tab in the Account Settings window, uncheck the box next to Leave messages on server.
Congratulations! You're done configuring your client to send and retrieve Gmail messages. To configure Thunderbird 2.0 for your Google Apps email address:
82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. Enable POP in your email acount. Don't forget to click Save Changes when you're done. Open Thunderbird. Click the Tools menu, and select Account Settings... Click the Add Account... button to launch Account Wizard. Select Email account and click Next. Fill in the necessary fields to include the following information:
Your Name: Enter your name as you would like it to appear in the From: field of
outgoing messages. Email Address: Enter your full email address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.'
88. Select POP as the type of incoming server you're using and enter the server information as follows, then click Next (Note: enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step):
Incoming Server: pop.gmail.com Outgoing Server: smtp.gmail.com
89. Enter your full email address in the format 'username@your_domain.com' in both the Incoming User Name: and Outgoing User Name: fields, then click Next. 90. Name your account in the Account Name: field, if desired. Click Next, then click Finish. 91. On the Server Settings tab in the Account Settings window, do the following: Change the Port: to '995' Under User secure connection:, select SSL Verify that the box next to Leave messages on server is unchecked, then click OK.
Congratulations! You're done configuring your client to send and retrieve Google Apps email messages. If you experience problems using POP with Thunderbird, please check the Common Errors or Troubleshooting tabs.
Windows Mail Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
The Quick Answer
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Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Windows Mail. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted.
To configure Windows Mail for your Gmail address:
94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. Enable POP in your email account. Don't forget to click Save Changes when you're done. Open Windows Mail. Click the Tools menu, and select Accounts... Click Add... Select Email Account, and click Next. Enter your name as you would like it to appear in the 'From:' field of outgoing messages, and click Next.
100. Enter your full Gmail address (username@gmail.com). Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' 101. Fill in all necessary fields to include the following information:
Incoming mail server type: POP3 Incoming mail (POP3 or IMAP) server: pop.gmail.com. Google Apps users, enter the server name provided, don't add your domain name in these steps. Outgoing e-mail server (SMTP) name: smtp.gmail.com Outgoing server requires authentication: enabled
102. Click Next, and enter your full Gmail address (including '@gmail.com') and your Gmail password. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.'
103. Click Next, and then check the box next to Do not download my e-mail at this time. Click Finish. 104. On the Internet Accounts screen, make sure that your pop.gmail.com mail account is selected, and click the Properties button. 105. On the Advanced tab, enter 465 in the in the box next to Outgoing mail (SMTP), and check the box next to This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL). 106. Check the box next to This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL) under Incoming mail (POP3). The box next to Incoming mail (POP3) should automatically update to 995.
107. Click OK. You're done! Close the Internet Accounts window and click Send/Receive to start checking your Gmail messages.
If you experience problems using POP with Windows Mail, please check the Common Errors or Troubleshooting tabs.
Apple Mail 3.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
To set up your Apple Mail 3.0 client to work with Gmail:
108. 109. 110. Enable POP in Gmail. Don't forget to click Save Changes when you're done. Open Apple Mail. Click Mail, and select Preferences...
111. Open the Accounts tab, and click the plus sign (+) along the bottom to add a new account.
112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117.
Enter your name in the Full Name: field. Enter your Gmail address in the Email Address: field. Enter your Gmail password in the Password: field. Check the box next to Automatically set up your account. Click on Create. Now you're done! Your settings should now look like this:
Outlook Express Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
If POP isn't working properly for you, please ensure that your settings are identical to those listed below. Even small differences may prevent Gmail's POP service from functioning properly. E-Mail Accounts tab
Your Name: E-mail address: User Name: Password: (optional) (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com') (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com') (your Gmail password)
Remember password:
(optional)
Log on using Secure Password Authentication: disabled Incoming mail server (POP3): Outgoing mail server (SMTP): pop.gmail.com smtp.gmail.com
Outgoing Server tab
My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication: enabled Use same settings as my incoming mail server: enabled
Advanced tab
Incoming server (POP3): 995
This server requires a secure connection (SSL) enabled Outgoing server (SMTP): 465 or 25
This server requires a secure connection (SSL) enabled Server Timeouts Leave a copy of messages on the server (Greater than 1 minute, we recommend 5) disabled
Outlook 2002 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Outlook 2002. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted.
To set up your Outlook client to work with Gmail:
2. Enable POP in your email account. Don't forget to click Save Changes when
you're done. Open Outlook. Click the Tools menu, and select Accounts... Click Add, and then click Mail... Enter your name in the Display name: field, and click Next. Enter your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) in the Email address: field, and click Next. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' 8. Enter 'pop.gmail.com' in the Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP or HTTP) server: field. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the Outgoing mail (SMTP) server: field. Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step. 9. Click Next. 10. Enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the Account name: field. Enter your email password in the Password: field, and click Next. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
11. 12. 13. 14.
Click Finish. Highlight pop.gmail.com under Account, and click Properties. Click the Advanced tab. Under Outgoing Mail (SMTP), check the box next to This server requires a secure connection (SSL). 15. Enter '465' in the Outgoing mail (SMTP): field. 16. Under Incoming mail (POP3), check the box next to This server requires a secure connection (SSL). The port will change to '995'.
17. Click the Servers tab, and check the box next to My server requires authentication.
18. Click OK. 19. Download the latest updates for Outlook from Microsoft. This will help prevent the most common Outlook errors Gmail users see.
Congratulations! You're done configuring your client to send and retrieve Gmail messages. If you experience problems using POP with Outlook, please check the Common Errors or Troubleshooting tabs.
Outlook 2003 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
If POP isn't working properly for you, please ensure that your settings are identical to those listed below. Even small differences may prevent Gmail's POP service from functioning properly.
Apple Mail 3.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
If POP isn't working properly for you, please ensure that your settings are identical to those listed below. Even small differences may prevent Gmail's POP service from functioning properly. From the Mail menu, click Preferences. Select your Gmail POP account in the Accounts tab.
Outlook Express Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Outlook can generate a number of errors if improperly configured or not up to date. Click an error below to read the steps needed to fix it. Repeatedly prompted for your username and password or 'invalid credentials' error. The connection to the server has failed. Account: 'Gmail', Server: 'pop.gmail.com', Protocol: POP3, Port: 110, Secure(SSL): Yes, Socket Error: 10060, Error Number: 0x800CCC0E The message could not be sent because the server rejected the sender's e-mail address. The sender's e-mail address was 'example@gmail.com'. Subject 'example', Account: 'pop.gmail.com', Server: 'smtp.gmail.com', Protocol: SMTP, Server Response: '530 5.5.1 Authentication Required f45sm8616pyh', Port: 25, Secure(SSL): Yes, Server Error: 530, Error Number: 0x800CCC78 Your server has unexpectedly terminated the connection. Possible causes for this include server problems, network problems, or a long period of inactivity. Account: 'pop.gmail.com', Server: 'pop.gmail.com', Protocol: POP3, Port: 995, Secure(SSL): No, Error Number: 0x800CCC0F. Your SMTP server has not responded in 60 seconds. Would you like to wait another 60 seconds for the server to respond? A time-out occurred while communicating with the server. Account: ' pop.gmail.com', Server: 'smtp.gmail.com', Protocol: SMTP, Port: 465, Secure(SSL): No, Error Number: 0x800CCC19
The host 'smpt.gmail.com' could not be found. Please verify that you have entered the server name correctly. Account: 'pop.gmail.com', Server: 'smpt.gmail.com', Protocol: SMTP, Port: 465, Secure(SSL): Yes, Socket Error: 11001, Error Number: 0x800CCC0D. An unknown error has occurred. Account: 'Gmail', Server: 'pop.gmail.com', Protocol: POP3, Port: 995, Secure(SSL): Yes, Error Number: 0x800C0133.
Outlook Express Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Outlook 2003 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Outlook 2003 can generate a number of errors if improperly configured. Please select your error message below for further instructions: Repeatedly prompted for your username and password or 'invalid credentials' error. Task 'pop.gmail.com - Receiving' reported error (0x800CCC18) : Your e-mail server rejected your login with Secure Password Authentication. Verify your account properties. Under Tools, click E-mail accounts. Task 'pop.gmail.com - Receiving' reported error (0x80042108) : Outlook is unable to connect to your incoming (POP3) e-mail server. If you continue to receive this message, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP). Task 'pop.gmail.com - Receiving' reported error (0x800CCC92) : Your e-mail server rejected your login. Verify your user name and password in your account properties. Under Tools, click E-mail accounts. The server responded: -ERR [SYS/PERM] Your account is not enabled for POP access. Please visit your Gmail settings and enable POP access. Task 'pop.gmail.com - Sending' reported error (0x800CCC7D) : Your outgoing (SMTP) server does not support SSL-secured connections. If SSL-secured connections have worked in the past, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP). If the error isn't resolved by the information on this page, please try troubleshooting your issue. Additionally, you can try searching the Microsoft Knowledge Base for your specific error message.
Thunderbird 2.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
If POP isn't working properly for you, please ensure that your settings are identical to those listed below. Even small differences may prevent Gmail's POP service from functioning properly.
Outlook 2007 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
If POP isn't working properly for you, please ensure that your settings are identical to those listed below. Even small differences may prevent Gmail's POP service from functioning properly.
Windows Mail Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
If POP isn't working properly for you, please ensure that your settings are identical to those listed below. Even small differences may prevent Gmail's POP service from functioning properly.
Outlook 2003 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Apple Mail 3.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Apple Mail can generate a number of errors if improperly configured. Please select your error message below for further instructions: The POP server 'pop.gmail.com' rejected the password for user 'username.' Please re-enter your password, or cancel. Please enter the password for user 'username' on POP server pop.gmail.com.
There may be a problem with the mail server or network. Check the settings for account 'Gmail' or try again. The connection to the server 'smtp.gmail.com' on port 25 timed out.
Outlook 2007 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Outlook 2007 can generate a number of errors if improperly configured. Please select your error message below for further instructions: An encrypted connection to your mail server is not available. Click Next to attempt using an unencrypted connection. Repeatedly prompted for your username and password or 'invalid credentials' error. Log onto incoming mail server (POP3): Cannot find the e-mail server. Verify the server information in your account properties. Log onto incoming mail server (POP3): Outlook cannot connect to your incoming (POP3) e-mail server. If you continue to receive this message, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP). None of the authentication methods supported by this client are supported by your server. Your server does not support the connection encryption type you have specified. Try changing the encryption method. Contact your mail server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP) for additional assistance. Cannot send the message. Verify the e-mail address in your account properties. The server responded: 530 5.5.1 Authentication Required.
Apple Mail 3.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Windows Mail Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Windows Mail can generate a number of errors if improperly configured. Please select your error message below for further instructions: Account: 'pop.gmail.com', Server: 'pop.gmail.com', Protocol: POP3, Server Response: '-ERR [AUTH] Username and password not accepted.', Port: 995, Secure(SSL): Yes, Server Error: 0x800CCC90, Error Number: 0x800CCC92. Repeatedly prompted for your username and password or 'invalid credentials' error. Account: 'pop.gmail.com', Server: 'pop.gmail.com', Protocol: POP3, Server Response: '-ERR [SYS/PERM] Your account is not enabled for POP access. Please visit your Gmail settings page and enable your account for POP access.', Port: 995, Secure(SSL): Yes, Server Error: 0x800CCC90, Error Number: 0x800CCC92. The host '[xxx.xxx.xxx]' could not be found. Please verify that you have entered the server name correctly. The connection to the server has failed, for server: pop.gmail.com. The connection to the server has failed, for server: smtp.gmail.com. The message could not be sent. The authentication setting might not be correct for your outgoing e-mail [SMTP] server. For help solving this problem, go to Help, search for "Troubleshoot Windows Mail", and read the "I'm having problems sending e-mail" section. If you need help determining the proper server settings, pelase contact your e-mail service provider.
Outlook 2007 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Thunderbird 2.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Thunderbird 2.0 can generate a number of errors if improperly configured. Please select your error message below for further instructions: Sending of password did not succeed. Mail server pop.gmail.com responded: Username and password not accepted. Repeatedly prompted for your username and password or 'invalid credentials' error.
Failed to connect to server [xxx.xxx.xxx]. Could not connect to server pop.gmail.com; the connection was refused. Sending of message failed. The message could not be sent because connecting to SMTP server smtp.gmail.com failed. The server may be unavailable or is refusing SMTP connections. Please verify that your SMTP server setting is correct and try again, or else contact your network administrator. An error occurred while sending mail. The mail server responded: 5.7.0 Must issue a STARTTLS command first. Please verify that your email address is correct in your Mail preferences and try again.
Outlook 2002 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
If POP isn't working properly for you, please ensure that your settings are identical to those listed below. Even small differences may prevent Gmail's POP service from functioning properly.
Thunderbird 2.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Windows Mail Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Outlook 2002 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Outlook 2002 can generate a number of errors if improperly configured. Please select your error message below for further instructions: Cannot send the test message. Please verify the email address field. Your password was rejected. ERR [AUTH] Username and password not accepted. Task - 'Sending' reported error (0x800CCC0F) : The connection to the server was interrupted. If
this problem continues, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP). Task 'Gmail - Sending and Receiving' reported error (0x8004210B) : The operation timed out waiting for a response from the sending (SMTP) server. If you continue to receive this message, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP). Your account is not enabled for POP access. Please visit your Gmail settings page and enable your account for POP access. The connection to the server has failed. Server: 'pop.gmail.com'. Protocol: POP3, Port: 995, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 10061, Error Number 0x800CCC0E. 530 5.7.0 Must issue a STARTTLS command first. Port 465, Secure SSL: No, Server Error: 530, Error number 0x800CCC78. The message could not be sent because the server rejected the sender's e-mail address. Protocol SMTP, Server Response: '530 5.5.1 Authentication Required.' Port: 465, Secure(SSL): Yes, Server Error: 530, Error number 0x800CCC78. If the error isn't resolved by the information on this page, please try troubleshooting your issue. Additionally, you can try searching the Microsoft Knowledge Base for your specific error message.
Outlook Express Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Here are some common issues with our POP service that are not client-specific. How do I download mail to multiple POP clients? To access your messages with multiple POP clients, use recent mode in every client to make sure that all messages are made available, rather than only to the first client to access new mail. Recent mode fetches the last 30 days of mail, regardless of whether it's been sent to another POP client already. To enable Recent mode, replace 'username@gmail.com' in the Username field of your POP client settings with 'recent:username@gmail.com' and ensure that the Leave messages on server option in your POP client is enabled. Why can't I download messages I send from my POP client? In order to avoid duplicates, Gmail doesn't download copies of messages sent from within your client. However, these messages will appear in the inbox of your web Gmail.
How do I access POP for a Google Apps email address? Configuring POP access for your Google Apps email address is very similar to configuring POP access in Gmail. The only difference is that any time you're asked for your username during the configuration process, you'll need to enter your full email address (username@your_domain.com). All other settings are the same. Why don't my POP settings stay saved? After you enable POP access in Gmail, you can verify the status in the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab, by clicking Settings at the top of any Gmail page. Although the radio button next to your selected option doesn't stay selected, the status is displayed next to POP Status:. When POP is enabled, your settings display POP Status: POP is enabled. Why am I locked out of Gmail after enabling POP? To ensure that you aren't locked out of Gmail while your messages are downloading to your email client, adjust your client's settings so it won't check for new messages too frequently. If you're locked out of Gmail, please wait one hour and then try signing in again.
Apple Mail 3.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Outlook 2003 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Outlook 2002 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Thunderbird 2.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Outlook 2007
Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Windows Mail Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Outlook 2002 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
PICI - TSO - Pick DL No Error
Downloading issues
Some or all messages don't download The same messages download repeatedly I can't download to multiple clients Sent msgs don't download Trash, spam, and chats don't download My issue isn't listed
PICI - Settings - OL2007
E-Mail Accounts tab
Your Name: E-mail address: Incoming mail server (POP3): Outgoing mail server (SMTP): User Name: (optional) (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com') pop.gmail.com smtp.gmail.com (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com')
Password: Remember password:
(your Gmail password) (optional)
Log on using Secure Password Authentication: disabled
More Settings: Outgoing Server tab
My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication: enabled Use same settings as my incoming mail server: selected
More Settings: Advanced tab
Incoming server (POP3): This server requires a secure connection (SSL) Outgoing server (SMTP): 995 enabled 587
Use the following type of encrypted connection TLS Server Timeouts Leave a copy of messages on the server (Greater than 1 minute, we recommend 5) disabled
PICI - Settings - Windows Mail
Servers tab
Incoming mail server (POP3): Outgoing mail server (SMTP): E-mail username: pop.gmail.com smtp.gmail.com (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com')
Password: Remember password: Require logon using SPA:
(your Gmail password) (optional) disabled
My server requires authentication: enabled
Servers tab - Outgoing Mail Server: Settings
Use same settings as my incoming mail server: selected
Advanced tab
Outgoing server (SMTP): 465 or 25
This server requires a secure connection (SSL) enabled Incoming server (POP3): 995
This server requires a secure connection (SSL) enabled Server Timeouts Leave a copy of messages on the server (Greater than 1 minute, we recommend 5) disabled
PICI - TS - Telnet POP (Mac)
To better diagnose the problem, you'll need to run a telnet test, which will check that your computer can contact our POP servers. To run the Telnet test on a Mac:
1. Click the Macintosh Hard Drive icon, and open the Applications folder. 2. Open Utilities, and select Terminal. 3. Type 'telnet pop.gmail.com 995' in the prompt window and press Enter.
PICI - TSO - Displays DL error? - B
Does your client display an error?
Yes, my mail client shows an error message No, my mail client does not show an error
PICI - TS - TPS instructions
The issue you're experiencing indicates that security or anti-virus software could be blocking your mail client's access to our servers. Please disable any internet security software you have installed on your computer or router and try accessing POP again.
PICI - TSO - Worked before (POPTS)
Have you recently used Gmail's POP service with this client and address?
Yes, this address just worked recently No, this address has not worked recently
PICI - TS - 123 (PC)
In order to resolve this issue, please try the following troubleshooting steps:
1. If you're not using recent mode, ensure that the option to Leave messages on server in your POP client settings is not checked. 2. Try enabling recent mode in your POP client by replacing 'username@gmail.com' in the Username field of your POP client settings with 'recent:username@gmail.com', and enable Leave messages on server in your POP client settings. Recent mode fetches the last 30 days of mail, regardless of any other factors. If you don't 'Leave messages on server' your messages will be moved to Trash after download. 3. Try deleting the entry for your Gmail address in your POP client and then re-adding it with all the correct settings. Please note that you may lose your local copy of any previously downloaded Gmail messages. 4. Try Gmail IMAP as a better alternative to accessing your messages on your mail client.
PICI - TS - No Connect SMTP (Mac)
If you are having trouble sending mail, please try the following in order:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Confirmed that SSL is enabled for SMTP in your mail client and try sending. Configuring your SMTP server on port 587 and try sending. Configure your SMTP server on port 25 and try sending. Switch back to port 587 and try sending. In the 'Outgoing Mail Server:' field, delete the entire existing entry and replace it with just 'smtp.gmail.com' or 'smtp.googlemail.com' and try sending.
PICI - DecTree - Windows Mail
PICI - TS - Pick issue type
Your next step will depend on what type of issue you're facing.
PICI - TS - Run POP TS
You can help us diagnose your issue by running the Gmail POP Troubleshooter. The Troubleshooter checks your POP client settings, your Gmail settings, and your connection to the Gmail POP service, pinpointing any errors and providing instructions on fixing them. Please download and run the Troubleshooting tool, follow the instructions it provides and choose an option below to indicate whether your issue is resolved.
PICI - TS - Check Auth
This error message usually indicates that you are not authenticating your outgoing mail. Make sure that 'My outgoing server requires authentication' is checked, and that you are using the same credentials as your incoming server.
PICI - TSO - Pick sending error
Sending errors
Couldn't connect smtp.gmail.com Connection timed out I received a bounce message My issue isn't listed
PICI - TS - 123 (Mac)
In order to resolve this issue, please try the following troubleshooting steps:
1. If you're not using recent mode, ensure that the option to Remove copy from server after retrieving a message in the Advanced tab of your POP client settings is checked. 2. Try enabling recent mode in your POP client by replacing 'username@gmail.com' in the Username field of your POP client settings with 'recent:username@gmail.com', and uncheck the box next to Remove copy from server after retrieving a message in your Advanced POP client settings. Recent mode fetches the last 30 days of mail, regardless of any other factors. If you don't Leave messages on server your messages will be moved to Trash after download. 3. Try deleting the entry for your Gmail address in your POP client and then re-adding it with all the correct settings. Please note that you may lose your local copy of any previously downloaded Gmail messages. 4. Try Gmail IMAP as a better alternative to accessing your messages on your mail client.
PICI - TS - Placeholder
Account Settings (Main Tab):
Account Name: Your Name: E-mail address: (optional) (optional) (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com')
Outgoing mail server (SMTP): smtp.gmail.com
Server Settings Tab:
Server Type: Server Name: Port: User Name: Use secure connection: POP Mail Server pop.gmail.com 995 (your Gmail username) SSL
Leave messages on server: disabled
Outgoing Server (SMTP) tab:
Server Name: Port: User Name: smtp.gmail.com 25 (or 587) (your Gmail username)
Secure Connection: TLS, if available
Running a Mac SMTP Telnet test
To better diagnose the problem, you'll need to run a telnet test, which will check that your computer can contact our SMTP servers.
To run the Telnet test on a Mac:
1. Click the Macintosh Hard Drive icon, and open the Applications folder. 2. Open Utilities, and select Terminal. 3. Depending on what port you're using to send, type 'telnet smtp.gmail.com 25' or 'telnet smtp.gmail.com 587' in the prompt window and press Enter.
PICI - TS - Displays DL error?
Your next step will depend on whether your issue generates an error message in your mail client or if the client fails without showing an error.
PICI - TSO - Telnet POP clears? - A
Did the prompt window clear?
Yes, the telnet test cleared No, the telnet test produced an error
PICI - TSO - Pick DL Error
Downloading errors
Service temporarily unavailable Password rejected POP not enabled Sector 4 Connection closed Connection timed out My issue isn't listed
PICI - TSO - Pick sending error - Outlook
Sending errors
Can't send test message Couldn't connect smtp.gmail.com Connection timed out I received a bounce message My issue isn't listed
PICI - TSO - Telnet SMTP clears? - A
Did the prompt window clear?
Yes, the telnet test cleared No, the telnet test produced an error
Running a full telnet test (PC)
To better diagnose the problem, you'll need to run a telnet test, which will check that your computer can contact our POP servers. If you're running Windows Vista, you'll first need to enable the Telnet feature:
1. Click the Start button, then Control Panel, and Programs. 2. Click Turn Windows Features On or Off. 3. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. 4. In the Windows Features box, check the box labeled Telnet Client, and click OK. (It may take a few minutes for the installation to complete.)
To run the telnet test on a Windows computer:
1. Open the Start menu, and select Run. 2. Enter command in the Open: field, and click OK. 3. Enter 'telnet pop.gmail.com 995,' and hit Enter.
PICI - TS - Pick error
Please choose the error or symptom that best matches your experience.
PICI - Settings - OL2003
E-Mail Accounts tab
Your Name: E-mail address: User Name: Password: Remember password: (optional) (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com') (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com') (your Gmail password) (optional)
Log on using Secure Password Authentication: disabled Incoming mail server (POP3): Outgoing mail server (SMTP): pop.gmail.com smtp.gmail.com
Outgoing Server tab
My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication: enabled Use same settings as my incoming mail server: enabled
Advanced tab
Incoming server (POP3): 995
This server requires a secure connection (SSL) enabled Outgoing server (SMTP): 465 or 25
This server requires a secure connection (SSL) enabled
Server Timeouts Leave a copy of messages on the server
(Greater than 1 minute, we recommend 5) disabled
PICI - Settings - OE
E-Mail Accounts tab
Your Name: E-mail address: User Name: Password: Remember password: (optional) (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com') (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com') (your Gmail password) (optional)
Log on using Secure Password Authentication: disabled Incoming mail server (POP3): Outgoing mail server (SMTP): pop.gmail.com smtp.gmail.com
Outgoing Server tab
My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication: enabled Use same settings as my incoming mail server: enabled
Advanced tab
Incoming server (POP3): 995
This server requires a secure connection (SSL) enabled
Outgoing server (SMTP):
465 or 25
This server requires a secure connection (SSL) enabled Server Timeouts Leave a copy of messages on the server (Greater than 1 minute, we recommend 5) disabled
PICI - TSO - Fix? - Googlemail POP
Did these steps resolve your issue?
Yes, POP is working properly now No, I'm still experiencing problems
PICI - TSO - Displays DL error? - A
Does your client display an error?
Yes, my mail client shows an error message No, my mail client does not show an error
PICI - TSO - Fix? - Check Auth
Did these steps resolve your issue?
Yes, POP is working properly now No, I'm still experiencing problems
PICI - TS - Enable POP
It appears that POP has not been enabled in your Gmail settings. To enable POP, please follow
these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail via the web interface. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP in the orange Mail Settings box. Select Enable POP for mail that arrives from now on or Enable POP for all mail . 5. Choose the action you'd like for your Gmail messages after they are accessed with POP. 6. Click Save Changes.
If POP already appeared enabled in your settings, please disable it, then reenable it after an hour has passed.
PICI - TSO - Fix? - Enable POP
Did these steps resolve your issue?
Yes, POP is working properly now No, I'm still experiencing problems
PICI - DecTree - OL2002
PICI - TS - Server errors
The server errors you're experiencing are most often temporary and will resolve themselves within 24 hours. If the errors have started recently, please wait 24 hours before troubleshooting further.
PICI - TSO - Telnet POP clears? - B
Did the prompt window clear?
Yes, the telnet test cleared
No, the telnet test produced an error
PICI - TS - Placeholder
Servers tab
My incoming mail server is a: POP3 server Incoming mail (POP3): User Name: Password: pop.gmail.com (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com') (your Gmail password)
Outgoing Mail Server: Settings
Server Name: Server port: smtp.gmail.com 25 or 587
Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): Checked Authentication: Password
Advanced tab
Enable this account: Include when automatically checking for new mail: Checked Checked
Remove copy from server after retrieving a message: Checked (Incoming) Port: Authentication: 995 Password
PICI - DecTree - OL2007
PICI - TSO - Fix? - Update Outlook
Did updating your client resolve your issue?
Yes, POP is working properly now No, I'm still experiencing problems
PICI - DecTree - OL2003
PICI - TS - No Connect SMTP (PC)
If you are having trouble sending mail, please try the following in order:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Confirmed that SSL is enabled for SMTP in your mail client and try sending. Configuring your SMTP server on port 465 and try sending. Configure your SMTP server on port 25 and try sending. Switch back to port 465 and try sending. Change your Outgoing SMTP server from 'smtp.gmail.com' to 'smtp.googlemail.com' and try sending.
PICI - TS - Captcha
If you're receiving 'Username and password not accepted' or 'invalid credentials' errors, or if you're repeatedly prompted to enter your username and password in your mail client, please visit https://www.google.com/accounts/DisplayUnlockCaptcha and try clearing the CAPTCHA. If you're a Google Apps user, visit https://www.google.com/a/yourdomain.com/UnlockCaptcha. Be sure to replace [yourdomain.com] with your actual domain name. This extra step is required when many logins have occurred within a short period of time.
Running a full telnet test (Mac)
To better diagnose the problem, you'll need to run a telnet test, which will check that your computer can contact our POP servers. To run the Telnet test on a Mac:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Click the Macintosh Hard Drive icon, and open the Applications folder. Open Utilities, and select Terminal. Type 'telnet pop.gmail.com 995' in the prompt window and press Enter. Note whether the prompt clears or not. Depending on what port you're using to send, type 'telnet smtp.gmail.com 25' or 'telnet smtp.gmail.com 587' in the prompt window and press Enter. 6. Note whether the prompt clears or not. 7. Close the prompt window.
PICI - TS - Contact
Report your issue
PICI - TS - Intro text
This page is designed to walk you through all of our troubleshooting information in an orderly fashion. At each step, we'll provide instructions or further questions to help narrow down the issue you're facing. Following the instructions exactly will help ensure the best results. These instructions are aimed at problems with your POP client settings and the interaction of your POP client with our servers. If you're having trouble enabling POP or saving changes to your Gmail settings, please use our troubleshooter. Let's get started:
PICI - TSO - Telnet SMTP clears? - B
Did the prompt window clear?
Yes, the telnet test cleared No, the telnet test produced an error
PICI - TSO - Find POP TS Log?
Were you able to locate the Troubleshooter log file?
Yes, the troubleshooter produced a log. No, the troubleshooter crashed or did not produce a log.
PICI - DecTree - Apple Mail 3.0
PICI - TSO - Fix? - Server errors
Did waiting 24 hours resolve your issue?
Yes, POP is working properly now No, I'm still experiencing problems
PICI - Other Issues
Here are some common issues with our POP service that are not client-specific. How do I download mail to multiple POP clients? To access your messages with multiple POP clients, use recent mode in every client to make sure that all messages are made available, rather than only to the first client to access new mail. Recent mode fetches the last 30 days of mail, regardless of whether it's been sent to another POP client already. To enable Recent mode, replace 'username@gmail.com' in the Username field of your POP client settings with 'recent:username@gmail.com' and ensure that the Leave messages on server option in your POP client is enabled. Why can't I download messages I send from my POP client? In order to avoid duplicates, Gmail doesn't download copies of messages sent from within your client. However, these messages will appear in the inbox of Gmail when you access your mail from the web.
How do I access POP for a Google Apps email address? Configuring POP access for your Google Apps email address is very similar to configuring POP access in Gmail. The only difference is that any time you're asked for your username during the configuration process, you'll need to enter your full email address (username@your_domain.com). All other settings are the same. Why don't my POP settings stay saved? After you enable POP access in Gmail, you can verify the status in the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab, by clicking Settings at the top of any Gmail page. Although the radio button next to your selected option doesn't stay selected, the status is displayed next to POP Status:. When POP is enabled, your settings display POP Status: POP is enabled. Why am I locked out of Gmail after enabling POP? To ensure that you aren't locked out of Gmail while your messages are downloading to your email client, adjust your client's settings so it won't check for new messages too frequently. If you're locked out of Gmail, please wait one hour and then try logging in again.
PICI - TS - Screens (PC)
You can help us diagnose your issue by sending us screenshots of your mail client settings and any errors you're seeing. To send us screenshots, follow these steps:
1. Open your mail client settings and reproduce any errors you're experiencing. 2. Press the Print Screen button on your computer's keyboard (usually located on the upper right side of your keyboard). This takes a snapshot of your screen so you can show us what you see. 3. Create a new document in a word processing program (for example, Microsoft Word), and paste the screen shot into the new document. 4. Save the document. 5. Click the link below to contact us. 6. Attach the document in the field provided.
Running a PC Telnet test
To better diagnose the problem, you'll need to run a telnet test, which will check that your computer can contact our SMTP servers.
If you're running Windows Vista, you'll first need to enable the Telnet feature:
1. Click the Start button, then Control Panel, and Programs. 2. Click Turn Windows Features On or Off. 3. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. 4. In the Windows Features box, check the box labeled Telnet Client, and click OK. (It may take a few minutes for the installation to complete.)
To run the telnet test on a Windows computer:
1. Open the Start menu, and select Run. 2. Enter command in the Open: field, and click OK. 3. Enter 'telnet smtp.gmail.com 465,' and hit Enter.
PICI - TS - Log color
If you've found the log, please open it in your web browser by double-clicking the file. The log file contains an entry for each action the tool took in diagnosing your problem, including verifying your client settings, trying to connect to our servers, checking for messages to download and seeing if it could send a test message. Green entries mean that test action completed. Red entries indicate that the test action failed. As a first step, please scroll from the top of the report to the bottom, looking for any red entries.
PICI - TS - Log red
If your log contained one or more red lines with errors, this can indicate a problem with your Gmail settings, with your POP client settings or with our POP servers. Please locate the first error listed in your log and check the Details column for our summary of the issue, then choose the matching error below.
PICI - TSO - Log green options
POP problems
Some or all messages don't download
The same messages download repeatedly I can't download to multiple clients Sent msgs don't download Trash, spam, and chats don't download
PICI - TSO - Fix? - Settings
Did these steps resolve your issue?
Yes, POP is working properly now No, I'm still experiencing problems
PICI - TS - Contact - U2U
For further information please visit the Gmail Help Discussion Group.
PICI - TSO - Fix? - Run POP TS
Were you able to resolve your issue using the Troubleshooting tool?
Yes, POP is working properly now No, I'm still experiencing problems
PICI - TS - Bounce message
Delivery failures are not typically caused by the mail client itself. To diagnose your issue please read about bounce messages.
PICI - TSO - Pick issue type - B
When are you encountering problems?
Login Lockout Sending Downloading
PICI - TSO - Worked before
Have you recently used Gmail's POP service with this client and address?
Yes, this address just worked recently No, this address has not worked recently
PICI - TSO - Log red errors
Log errors
Bad credentials or lockout Name pop.gmail.com does not resolve in DNS Name smtp.gmail.com does not resolve in DNS SocketError 1: The remote host closed the connection User has not enabled POP access I have a different log error
PICI - TSO - Pick issue type - A
When are you encountering problems?
Login Sending
Downloading
PICI - TS - CaptchaWeb
Lockouts are often caused when abnormal or excessive usage with POP access is detected in a very short period of time. This is often caused by users frequently downloading their entire inboxes to a mail client or using third-party software that automatically signs in to Gmail and is not supported by Google. Please note that these lockouts are temporary, and you will be able to access Gmail again within 24 hours.
PICI - TSO - Fix? - Equifax
Did these steps resolve your issue?
Yes, POP is working properly now No, I'm still experiencing problems
PICI - TS - Recent Mode
To access your messages with multiple POP clients, use recent mode in every client to make sure that all messages are made available, rather than only to the first client to access new mail. Recent mode fetches the last 30 days of mail, regardless of whether it's been sent to another POP client already. To enable recent mode, replace 'username@gmail.com' in your POP settings with 'recent:username@gmail.com'.
PICI - TS - Troubleshooter log instructions
Additionally, please attach the POP Troubleshooter's log file, GmailPOPLog.html, located on your Desktop.
PICI - TS - Resolved
We're glad to hear your problem has been resolved. Click here to return to Gmail.
PICI - TS - Equifax
To resolve this issue, please try adding our POP SSL certificate (signed by Equifax Secure Certificate Authority) to your certificate store. Here's how:
1. Visit http://www.geotrust.com/resources/root_certificates/index.asp. 2. Click Download - Equifax Secure Certificate Authority (Base-64 encoded X.509) listed under GeoTrust Root Certificates 1-8. 3. This should add the certificate automatically to your certificate store.
If the certificate is not automatically added:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Open your Windows Start menu and choose Run. Type 'notepad' in the window that opens and press OK. Copy the entire contents of the certificate page to Notepad. In Notepad, click on File, then Save as. Enter 'Equifax.cer' as the file name and select All Files from the Save as type drop-down menu. Click Save. Locate and double-click the Equifax.cer file to install the certificate through the Certificate Import Wizard.
PICI - TS - Googlemail POP
In order to resolve this issue, please try changing your incoming POP server from 'pop.gmail.com' to 'pop.googlemail.com' and download again.
PICI - TS - Settings
Please ensure that your settings are identical to those listed below. Even small differences may prevent Gmail's POP service from functioning properly.
PICI - TS - Telnet POP (PC)
To better diagnose the problem, you'll need to run a telnet test, which will check that your computer can contact our POP servers. If you're running Windows Vista, you'll first need to enable the Telnet feature:
1. Click the Start button, then Control Panel, and Programs. 2. Click Turn Windows Features On or Off. 3. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. 4. In the Windows Features box, check the box labeled Telnet Client, and click OK. (It may take a few minutes for the installation to complete.)
To run the telnet test on a Windows computer:
1. Open the Start menu, and select Run. 2. Enter command in the Open: field, and click OK. 3. Enter 'telnet pop.gmail.com 995,' and hit Enter.
PICI - DecTree - OE
PICI - DecTree - TB 2.0
PICI - Settings - OL2002
E-Mail Accounts tab
Your Name: E-mail address: User Name: Password: Remember password: (optional) (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com') (your Gmail address, including '@gmail.com') (your Gmail password) (optional)
Log on using Secure Password Authentication: disabled Incoming mail server (POP3): Outgoing mail server (SMTP): pop.gmail.com smtp.gmail.com
Outgoing Server tab
My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication: enabled Use same settings as my incoming mail server: enabled
Advanced tab
Incoming server (POP3): 995
This server requires a secure connection (SSL) enabled Outgoing server (SMTP): 465 or 25
This server requires a secure connection (SSL) enabled Server Timeouts Leave a copy of messages on the server (Greater than 1 minute, we recommend 5) disabled
PICI - TS - Messages DL Once
If you've enabled POP, Gmail will download a copy of every message you send or receive in the web interface, except for messages in Chats, Spam, and Trash. In order to avoid duplicates, Gmail doesn't download copies of messages sent from within your client, or messages already available in your client.
PICI - TS - Contact - Screens
Report your issue
PICI - TS - POP log find
After running its tests, the POP Troubleshooting tool will generate a report detailing your settings and test results, creating a file on your Desktop called GmailPOPLog.html. If your POP problem hasn't been fixed by the Troubleshooter's suggestions, please try to find this file on your computer's desktop.
PICI - TS - Log green
If your Troubleshooting log has no red entries, our tool wasn't able to pinpoint the cause of your issue. Depending on the symptoms you're experiencing, there may be further troubleshooting steps available or you may need to contact us for further invstigation. Please pick the symptom below that best matches your experience.
PICI - TS - Screens (Mac)
You can help us diagnose your issue by sending us screenshots of your mail client settings and any errors you're seeing. To send us screenshots, follow these steps:
1. Open your mail client settings and reproduce any errors you're experiencing. 2. Hold down the Apple and Shift keys and press the number 3 key on your computer's keyboard. This will take a snapshot of your screen and save the file on your desktop. 3. Click the link below to contact us. 4. Attach the document in the field provided.
PICI - TS - Contact Network Admin
The error you're experiencing indicates that your network is blocking access to Gmail's POP servers. Please contact your local network administrator or your Internet Service Provider's
customer support department for further instructions.
PICI - TSO - Fix? - TPS
Did these steps resolve your issue?
Yes, POP is working properly now No, I'm still experiencing problems
PICI - TSO - Log color?
Is your troubleshooting log all green?
Yes, the troubleshooter log is all green No, there are some red entries in the log
PICI - TSO - Fix? - No Connect SMTP
Did these steps resolve your issue?
Yes, POP is working properly now No, I'm still experiencing problems
Access Choices : POP : Troubleshooting
About the Gmail POP Troubleshooter
The Gmail POP Troubleshooter tool helps you with the setup of Outlook, Outlook Express, and Thunderbird 1.5 for Gmail POP access. By checking client settings, server ports, and your connection to Gmail, the tool is able to pinpoint any errors and provide instructions on fixing them. The Troubleshooting tool also generates a report detailing your settings and test results -- if you have trouble, you'll have the option of sending your report to Google for further troubleshooting assistance.
Requirements: works with Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2007, Outlook Express 6, and Thunderbird 1.5. Currently only available for Windows. Download the Gmail POP Troubleshooter.
Access Choices : POP : Learn More
Attention iPhone POP users
If you configured Gmail access on your iPhone by tapping the large 'Gmail' icon in mail setup, please note that installing software update 1.1.3 will automatically convert Gmail on your iPhone from POP access to IMAP access. This means that actions you take on your iPhone will now sync with actions in your Gmail web interface (i.e. messages you read on your iPhone will show up as 'Read' in the web interface). This also means that messages you delete on your iPhone will be moved to the Trash folder in the Gmail web interface, and thus deleted after 30 days. Please exercise caution when deleting messages, as this behavior is markedly different from POP access. For more information regarding IMAP, visit our IMAP Access topic. For additional information regarding this change, please visit Apple Support. If you wish to use Gmail IMAP access without deleting messages on your iPhone, please follow these instructions.
If you wish to continue using POP access on your iPhone, please follow these instructions to manually configure POP.
Using POP on multiple clients or mobile devices
If you're accessing your Gmail using POP from multiple clients, Gmail's recent mode makes sure that all messages are made available to each client, rather than only to the first client to access new mail. Recent mode fetches the last 30 days of mail, regardless of whether it's been sent to another POP client already. In your POP client, replace 'username@gmail.com' in the Username field your POP client settings with 'recent:username@gmail.com'. Blackberry users will be signed in to recent mode automatically, without adding 'recent:'.
Once you enable recent mode, please be sure to configure your POP client to leave messages on the server according to the instructions below: In Outlook, on the Advanced tab, check the box next to Leave a copy of messages on the server. In Outlook Express, on the Advanced tab, check the box next to Leave a copy of messages on server. In Apple Mail, on the Advanced tab, remove the check next to Remove copy from server after retrieving a message.
In Thunderbird, on the Server Settings tab, check the box next to Leave messages on server.
Deleting messages in Gmail after POP downloads
To delete messages accessed with POP:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. Select delete Gmail's copy from the drop-down menu in the POP Download section. Click Save Changes.
What happens to messages stored on Gmail's servers?
Gmail offers enough storage to keep copies of messages you might need to search for later. By leaving mail on our servers, you can download it to other computers in the future.* If you really don't want your messages stored in Gmail, you can automatically delete them when they are accessed with POP. After thirty days, deleted messages are permanently removed from Gmail. * All messages may be downloaded to another computer once; after downloading mail, it will not download again.
How do I download messages to another computer once I've enabled POP?
You can download your Gmail messages to another computer at any time.* To download messages you received before enabling POP, just follow these steps:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Select Enable POP for all mail. Choose the action you'd like your Gmail messages to take after they are accessed with POP. Click Save Changes. Configure your POP client.
* All messages may be downloaded to another computer once; after downloading mail, it will not download again.
Your Settings Tabs : Web Clips : Getting Started
About Web Clips
Web Clips show you news headlines, blog posts, RSS and Atom feeds, and relevant sponsored links, right at the top of your inbox. Each clip displays the source from which it was received, how long ago the clip was published, and a link to access the entire story or page containing the clip. From your inbox, you can scroll through clips you've already seen by clicking the left arrow (<) or see new clips by clicking the right arrow (>). To customize Web Clips for Gmail:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Web Clips tab. 3. Browse popular clips by selecting a topic link along the left. Search for feeds by entering topics that interest you -- use this feature like you would Google Search. Or, enter specific feed URLs. 4. Click Add next to the clips you'd like to see in Gmail.
To remove a clip, visit the Web Clips tab under Settings and click remove next to the clip. To disable clips entirely, uncheck the box next to Show my web clips above the Inbox. Note: Clips of your favorite RSS and Atom feeds are displayed randomly, and aren't targeted to the contents of your mail.
RSS and Atom feeds
Many websites use RSS (Really Simple Syndication) and Atom feeds to send updated headlines to their users via services similar to Web Clips. All sorts of web sites and publishers produce feeds - newspapers often publish feeds of daily headlines or breaking news stories, magazines might publish feeds about top stories, and other sites use feeds to alert customers to new products, upcoming events, or other important information. Web Clips offers a list of feeds from popular sites (including the New York Times, CNN, and
many others), or you can add your own.
Your Settings Tabs : Web Clips : Learn More
Adding custom feeds to 'Web Clips'
Add your favorite RSS (Really Simple Syndication) and Atom feeds to Gmail using Gmail Clips. Here's how:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page.
3. 4. 5. 6.
Open the Web Clips tab. Enter the feed URL you'd like to view in the field under Search by topic or URL. Click Search. Once Gmail locates the feed, click Add so you can view it in Web Clips!
Your Settings Tabs : Chat : Getting Started
Chat history
(Note: chat history for Google Talk is available only if you have Gmail on your Google Account.) Chat history allows you to store the text of your Gmail and Google Talk chats in Gmail so you can easily search for them later. You can even respond to these chats like you would to regular Gmail messages. To access your chat history, click the Chats label in Gmail. A list of chats will appear, similar to the way conversations are listed in your inbox. You can forward, label, star, and trash chats just like Gmail messages. When you search in Gmail, any matching chat conversations will show up along with email conversations in the results. All chats are labeled Chats and are marked with the chat icon ( so you can easily distinguish them from emails.
)
To take better advantage of Gmail's chat functionality, learn how to change your chat history settings, how to go 'off the record' or browse our full list of chat topics.
Chatting with someone
You can chat with anyone who has a colored ball icon next to his or her name. When someone's online, a green, yellow, or red colored ball will appear. Here's how to chat with someone who's available: From Chat:
1. 2. 3. 4. Find the name of the person you'd like to chat with. Click the person's name to open a chat window. Enter your message in the text field, and press Enter. Wait for your contact to respond!
* You can also search for a contact by entering his or her name in the box at the top of Chat. Just enter the name of the person you'd like to chat with, and then enter your message in the chat window.
From Contacts:
1. Click Contacts along the left side of any Gmail page. 2. Select the name of the person you'd like to chat with, and click the Chat link to open a chat window. 3. Enter your message in the text field, and press Enter. 4. Wait for your contact to respond! When you've finished chatting, click the X in the top right corner to close the window.
* Check out chat as you have never seen it before. Gmail Theater presents an ensemble cast of engineers in Chat In The Name Of Love. Watch the video on YouTube. *
About Chat
Gmail's chat features let you talk to people from directly within Gmail, by connecting you to the Google Talk network. The Google Talk network is made up of millions of people who use the Google Talk IM product, or a service that supports open server-to-server federation. If you'd like to make free voice calls over the Google Talk network, you'll need to download and use the free Google Talk client.
* Check out chat as you have never seen it before. Gmail Theater presents an ensemble cast of engineers in Chat In The Name Of Love. Watch the video on YouTube. *
Seeing who's online and available to chat
When your contacts are available to chat, a colored ball will appear next to their names. The people you communicate with most often will show up in Chat, and those who are online and available to chat (with a green colored ball icon) will appear at the top of that list.
Contacts who are idle, or away from their computers, will have yellow colored balls next to their names. Contacts who are busy will have red colored balls next to their names. Contacts who are offline will have grey colored balls next to their names.
If a contact doesn't have a ball next to his or her name, you won't be able to chat. Learn how to send your friend an invitation to chat!
Keep in mind that more of your contacts than those listed in Chat may be online. To see everyone who's available, click Options at the bottom of your chat list. Beside Show in chat list, select All contacts. * Check out chat as you have never seen it before. Gmail Theater presents an ensemble cast of engineers in Chat In The Name Of Love. Watch the video on YouTube. *
Inviting someone to chat Don't see AIM in Gmail? Make sure your language is set to English (US) and that you're using the latest version of Gmail, currently available with a fully supported browser.
Watch a video on inviting someone to chat. Before you can chat with someone in Gmail, you'll need to invite them by following the instructions below. Your friend will see the invitation above their Contacts list in Gmail asking if they'd like to be able to chat with you. Until they accept, you'll see 'Invited' next to their name in your Contacts list. Once they've accepted your invitation, you'll see a status button to the left of their name in your Chat list, which indicates whether they're available (green), busy (red), idle (yellow), or offline (gray). At that point, just click on their name to send them a chat message. To invite a Gmail user:
1. In the 'Search, add, or invite' box at the top of the Chat area, type your friend's username. If they're already in your Contacts, Gmail will pre-populate their username. 2. Click Invite to chat. 3. In the window that appears, click Send Invites. A yellow notification banner lets you know your invitation has been sent successfully.
Alternatively, you can click Add Contact at the bottom of the Chat area, enter your friend's username, and then click Send Invites. If you invite someone who doesn't use Gmail or Google Talk, we'll send an email asking them to sign up for one of these products. To invite an AIM user who isn't already on your Buddy List:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to AIM. Click Add Contact. Click Or, add AIM buddies. Click Send Invites.*
*Please note: unlike Chat invitations to Gmail contacts, your invited AIM contacts won't see your request until you send a chat to them. Note to Google Apps users: The ability to chat with people outside the Google Talk network isn't currently included in Google Apps.
Changing your status
Under Chat, click the arrow next to Set status here. Select the status you'd like to appear next to your name in your friends' chat lists. Here's what the different statuses mean:
Green: Available Yellow: Idle. Your status automatically changes to idle when you're away from your computer for 15 minutes. You can't manually select to appear idle. Red: Busy. This lets your contacts know you're busy and don't want to be interrupted. Grey: Signed out of chat, or Invisible. (If you set your status to 'Invisible,' you'll appear to be signed out even while you're actually signed in.)
You can also create custom status messages. Here's how: 1. From the Set status here drop-down menu, select Custom Message... (you can set custom statuses when you are available and when you're busy). 2. Enter your custom message in the box, and press Enter. Your status message can be anything you want - something funny, your favorite quote, a cool web link, or just a note to say you're hard at work or away from the computer. To clear your custom message, click the text under your name in Chat and delete it, or select another message from the status drop-
down menu.
If you also use the downloadable Google Talk client or the Google Talk Gadget, your status will be shared by the applications, as long as you're signed in to all of them. Keep in mind that you can sign out of chat in Gmail, and still be online through Google Talk and vice versa.
Gmail chat and Google Talk differences
Gmail's chat features and the downloadable Google Talk application are very similar in functionality. Both Gmail and the Google Talk client let you connect to the Google Talk network, which is made up of millions of people who use the Google Talk IM product, or a service that supports open server-to-server federation. Google Talk offers some additional customization options, and also provides notifications of incoming mail to Gmail. On its own, Gmail's chat features allow you to talk to people from directly within Gmail. If you're signed in to the Google Talk application in the background, Gmail will also allow you to make free voice calls from your friends' profile cards. * Check out chat as you have never seen it before. Gmail Theater presents an ensemble cast of engineers in Chat In The Name Of Love. Watch the video on YouTube. *
Chatting with non-Gmail users
Chat in Gmail lets you chat with anyone on the Google Talk network, regardless of whether they use Gmail as their email service. You can also sign in to your AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) account from Gmail to chat directly with your AIM buddies. Learn more. At this time, you can't chat with contacts who use MSN Messenger, ICQ, or Yahoo! Messenger. But you can invite them to chat, and they'll be invited to join Gmail. * Check out chat as you have never seen it before. Gmail Theater presents an ensemble cast of engineers in Chat In The Name Of Love. Watch the video on YouTube. * Note to Google Apps users: At this time, Google Apps supports chatting with people on the Google Talk network only. Additionally, your IT admin may restrict your ability to chat with people outside your domain.
Turning chat off
There are times and places to chat in Gmail. If that's not your time or place, you can follow the instructions to turn chat off. To stop chatting for the time being:
1. Under Chat, click the arrow next to Set status here. 2. Select Sign out of chat. After you sign out, your contacts won't be able to see you online or IM you from within Gmail, and you won't be able to see or contact them, either. If you use Google Talk and are signed in after signing out of chat in Gmail, your friends will still be able to see you online and chat with you through Google Talk.
To turn off chat in Gmail:
1. Click turn off chat along the bottom of any page. You will be signed out of chat, and your Chat list will be minimized. To turn chat back on, just click turn on chat. Browsers that support chat
Chat in Gmail isn't yet compatible with all of our supported browsers. Gmail chat is supported on the older version of Gmail in Internet Explorer 6.0 and Firefox 1.0. In the newer version of Gmail, you can use chat with Internet Explorer 7.0+, Firefox 2.0+ or Safari 3.0+. We're working to make chat compatible with additional browsers. In the meantime, we suggest downloading a chat-supported browser. Mozilla Firefox is available for free download at: http://www.mozilla.org/products
Your Settings Tabs : Forwarding & POP/IMAP : Forwarding
How do I forward my mail to another email account automatically?
Gmail lets you automatically forward incoming mail to another address, if you'd like. Here's how to forward messages automatically:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. Enter the email address to which you'd like your messages forwarded. Select the action you'd like your messages to take from the drop-down menu. You can choose to
keep Gmail's copy of the message in your inbox, or you can send it automatically to All Mail or Trash. 5. Click Save Changes.
You also can set up filters to forward messages that meet specific criteria. You can create 20 filters that forward to other addresses. You can maximize your filtered forwarding by combining filters that send to the same address.
How are POP and auto-forwarding different?
The Gmail Team is committed to making sure you always can access your mail. That's why we're offering POP access and auto-forwarding. Both features are free for all Gmail users and we have no plans to charge for them in the future. POP, or Post Office Protocol, lets you download messages from Gmail's servers onto your computer so you can access your mail with a program like Microsoft Outlook Express or Netscape Mail, even when you aren't connected to the Internet. Learn more. With auto-forwarding, you can redirect some or all of your messages to another email address, automatically. Auto-forwarding is different from POP access because you need to sign in to another email address to access the Gmail messages you've redirected. Learn more.
Your Settings Tabs : Filters : Getting Started
Using filters
Gmail's filters allow you to manage the flow of incoming messages. Using filters, you can automatically label, archive, delete, star, or forward your mail, even keep it out of Spam -- all based on a combination of keywords, sender, recipients, and more. To create a filter:
1. Click Create a filter (next to the Search the Web button at the top of any Gmail page). 2. Enter your filter criteria in the appropriate field(s). 3. Click Test Search to see which messages currently in Gmail match your filter terms. You can update your criteria and run another test search, or click Next Step. 4. Select one or more actions from the list. These actions will be applied to messages matching your filter criteria in the order in which the actions are listed -- for example, you could choose to Forward matching messages to a specific email address, then Delete the messages. 5. If you'd like to apply this filter to messages already in Gmail, select the Also apply filter to x conversations below checkbox. 6. Click Create Filter.
To create a filter from within a message:
1. Click the drop-down menu next to Reply. 2. Select Filter messages like this. 3. Enter your filter criteria in the appropriate field(s).
To edit or delete existing filters:
Click Settings (at the top-right of any Gmail page). Click Filters. Find the filter you'd like to change and click its edit link, or click delete to remove the filter. If you're editing the filter, enter the updated criteria for the filter in the appropriate fields, and click Next Step. 5. Update any actions and click Update Filter. 1. 2. 3. 4.
You can create an unlimited number of filters, but only 20 filters can forward to other addresses. You can maximize your filtered forwarding by combining filters that send to the same address.
Learn the basics of using filters to better organize your mail. View a brief demo (requires Adobe Flash Player).
Your Settings Tabs : Filters : Learn More
Applying the same filter to many senders
You can use one filter to manage messages from a number of different email addresses. Here's how:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Create a filter at the top of any Gmail page. 3. Enter each email address in the From: field, separated by OR. Make sure to add parentheses around everything listed in the From: field.
4. Enter all other message criteria in the appropriate fields, and click Next Step.
5. Check the box next to the action you'd like the messages to take. 6. Click Create Filter.
You can create an unlimited number of filters, but only 20 filters can forward to other addresses. Combining filters like this is a great way to maximize your filtered forwarding.
Learn the basics of using filters to better organize your mail. View a brief demo (requires Macromedia Flash).
Creating a filter for the message you're reading
You can easily create a filter for messages similar to one you're currently reading. To create a filter from within a message, just follow these steps:
1. Click the drop-down menu next to Reply. 2. Select Filter messages like this. 3. Enter your filter criteria in the appropriate field(s).
You can create an unlimited number of filters, but only 20 filters can forward to other addresses. You can maximize your filtered forwarding by combining filters that send to the same address.
Your Settings Tabs : Labels : Learn More
Starred messages
Assign stars to special conversations or messages, or use them as a visual reminder that you need to follow-up on a message or conversation later.
Changing label colors
To change the color of a label:
1. In your Labels list, click the square to the right of a label.
Note: If you don't have any labels yet, first create a label to see the options above.
2. Select a color from the palette that appears. Changes will be instantly reflected in Gmail.
You can remove a color by selecting Remove color at the bottom of the color palette.
Applying an action to everything in a label
You can apply the same action to all messages in a label or section of Gmail (Inbox, Sent Mail, Spam, Trash, etc.), in just a few steps. Use this feature to archive all mail in your Inbox, apply labels to every message meeting certain criteria, delete all messages in Spam or Trash, or apply a filter to all relevant messages in your mail. Here's how to take an action on all messages in a label or section of your mail:
1. Open the view (Inbox, Sent Mail, etc.) containing the messages on which you'd like to take an action. 2. Click Select: All along the top. 3. Click the link that says Select all [number] conversations in [current view]. 4. Select the action you'd like to take from the More Actions... drop-down menu. Here's how to apply a filter to all relevant messages in your mail: 1. Create a new filter. 2. Before clicking Create Filter, check the box next to Also apply filter to [number] conversations below. Here's how to delete all messages in Spam or Trash at once: 1. Click Spam or Trash. 2. Click Empty Trash now or Delete all spam messages now to delete all messages.
Your Settings Tabs : Accounts : Get Mail From Other Accounts
Mail Fetcher Overview Setup Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Welcome to our information center for Mail Fetcher. Gmail's Mail Fetcher can download messages from up to five other email accounts, centralizing all your email in Gmail. The tabs above have information on setting up Mail Fetcher, as well as troubleshooting tips for the common problems users face. Setup Setting up Mail Fetcher is easy and free, but the email accounts you'd like to fetch from must support POP access and, in the case of Gmail addresses, have POP access enabled. Some free email services don't offer POP access to their users, so please contact the customer service department of your other webmail provider to determine if POP access is available in your non-Google email account. Once you've set up Mail Fetcher, Google will check your other accounts on a regular basis, and new mail will appear automatically in Gmail. Gmail checks individual accounts for new messages at different rates, depending on previous mail fetch attempts. At this time you can't customize the frequency of automatic mail fetches. Common Errors If you're experiencing an error while using Mail Fetcher, you can browse our page of common errors to find a solution. Troubleshooting If you're still having problems, follow our step-by-step instructions to try to resolve your issue. Other Issues If our Common Errors and Troubleshooting tabs haven't addressed your issue, check our Other Issues tab.
Mail Fetcher Overview Setup Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
To set up Mail Fetcher:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Accounts tab. In the Get mail from other accounts section, click Add another mail account. Enter the full email address of the account you'd like to access, then click Next Step. Gmail will populate sample settings, but we recommend checking with your other provider to learn the correct server name and port. Enter your Password. 5. Decide whether to:
Leave a copy of retrieved messages on the server Always use a secure connection (SSL) when retrieving mail Label incoming messages Archive incoming messages
6. Click Add Account. 7. Once your account has been added successfully, you'll have the option of setting it as a custom From address. This allows you to compose messages in Gmail, but have them appear to be sent from your other email account. Click Yes to set up a custom From address.
Leaving a copy of the retrieved message on the server
If you'd like to keep a copy of each message Gmail retrieves in your other mail accounts, select the Leave a copy of retrieved messages on the server checkbox. This way, you can access mail in your other accounts, and in Gmail. Please note that some email services may still delete your messages when Gmail fetches them. If this option is checked, Gmail will instruct the other domain to leave the messages in place, though the final behavior is up to the other domain. If you'd rather delete copies of messages that Gmail retrieves, leave this option unchecked. Gmail will delete the messages from the other account as those messages are retrieved, meaning you'll only be able to read them in Gmail.
Mail Fetcher Overview Setup Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Please select your error message below for further instructions: Server denied POP3 access for the given username and password
There was a problem connecting to [your other webmail provider] [Your other webmail provider] does not support leaving messages on the server Received an empty line Username contains unsafe characters The other server sent messages in the wrong order. Please contact your other provider There are too many messages on the other server. Please delete some mail from your other account, or move it out of the inbox.
Mail Fetcher Overview Setup Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
This page is designed to walk you through all of our troubleshooting information in an orderly fashion. At each step, we'll provide instructions or further questions to help narrow down the issue you're facing. Following the instructions exactly will help ensure the best results. Please choose the option that best describes your situation:
I'm having trouble setting up Mail Fetcher for the first time I was able to set up Mail Fetcher, but now I'm receiving an error There are no error messages, but I'm having a problem getting my mail (messages are missing, messages aren't labeled, etc.) I'm having trouble turning off Mail Fetcher I'm the administrator of another webmail server, and users on my domain are having trouble with Mail Fetcher
What messages do you want to fetch?
Non-Gmail messages Google Apps messages Messages from another Gmail address
Please select the error you've encountered:
'Connection timed out.' 'Connection reset by peer.' 'READ_ERROR' 'The other server sent messages in the wrong order. Please contact your other provider.' 'Received an empty line.' 'There are too many messages on the other server. Please delete some mail from your other account, or move it out of the inbox.' Other
Please select the behavior that best describes your problem:
Some messages never reach Gmail I receive some messages multiple times Some messages aren't labeled properly Gmail doesn't check my other account often enough Messages are garbled or show the incorrect time or sender
Is your POP server fully compliant?
No, my server is running a noncompliant or nonstandard version of POP Yes, my POP server is fully compliant with RFC 1939
Does your other webmail provider support POP access for your account?
Yes, my other webmail provider supports POP access for my account No, my other webmail provider doesn't provide POP access No, but my other webmail provider supports IMAP or Exchange access
Please choose the statement that best matches your need:
I want to import old mail from my Google Apps address, in addition to fetching new messages. (There may be delays for new messages.) I only care about getting mail that arrives from now on. (New messages will be transferred instantly.)
Please choose the statement that best matches your need:
I want to import old mail from my other Gmail address, in addition to fetching new messages. (There may be delays for new messages.) I only care about getting mail that arrives from now on. (New messages will be transferred instantly.)
Does your network use a firewall?
Yes, I use a firewall, rate limiter, or load balancer No, I don't use any firewalls, rate limiters, or load balancers; or the same problem occurs even after disabling or circumventing all these devices
Select your situation after reviewing the logs:
The POP logs show irregularities, and I haven't investigated yet The POP logs don't show irregularities; or the POP logs are irregular, but I've checked for connectivity issues and can't resolve the problem
Always use a secure connection (SSL) when retrieving mail
If the email account being retrieved from supports Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption, you can select this option to have all information sent through a secured connection. If you select this option, and your email provider doesn't support it, Gmail will let you know that
your configuration failed. Clicking Show error details will likely reveal a Protocol error in this case. You'll need to uncheck this selection before continuing.
Mail Fetcher Overview Setup Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
How do I disable Mail Fetcher? You can disable Mail Fetcher by following these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any page, and open the Accounts tab. Find the Get mail from other accounts section. Click delete next to the account you wish to disable.
Mail Fetcher will stop retrieving new messages, but any mail that you previously received will remain in Gmail until you delete it.
Also, please note that previously fetched messages, especially if there were a large number, may still arrive even after you've disabled Mail Fetcher. If you continue to receive mail from your other account a few hours after disabling Mail Fetcher, your other account may be configured to automatically forward your mail. Please log into your other email account and check your automatic forwarding settings. If you're not sure how to turn off automatic forwarding, ask your other webmail provider for further assistance.
My fetched mail isn't delivered Delivery of fetched messages may occur up to an hour after a successful fetch attempt. The View history window on your Accounts tab will display the last five attempts to fetch mail from your other email accounts, but it won't show the time when those messages reached Gmail. If you see a recent fetch attempt but can't yet see the messages that were retrieved, please check again in a few minutes. If the account from which Gmail is fetching mail doesn't receive mail at frequent intervals, Gmail will check for new messages less often. You can always force Gmail to check for new messages by following the steps below:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Accounts tab. 3. In the Get mail from other accounts: section, click Check mail now.
If you're still having trouble fetching mail, please select your situation below:
I receive an error message. I don't receive an error message, but Mail Fetcher isn't getting all of my mail. I can't locate my unread messages.
Disabling fetching
You can disable Mail Fetcher by following these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any page, and open the Accounts tab. Find the Get mail from other accounts section. Click delete next to the account you wish to disable.
Mail Fetcher will stop retrieving new messages, but any mail that you previously received will remain in Gmail until you delete it.
Also, please note that previously fetched messages, especially if there were a large number, may still arrive even after you've disabled Mail Fetcher. If you continue to receive mail from your other account a few hours after disabling Mail Fetcher, your other account may be configured to automatically forward your mail. Please log into your other email account and check your automatic forwarding settings. If you're not sure how to turn off automatic forwarding, ask your other webmail provider for further assistance.
My fetched mail isn't delivered
Delivery of fetched messages may occur up to an hour after a successful fetch attempt. The View history window on your Accounts tab will display the last five attempts to fetch mail from your other email accounts, but it won't show the time when those messages reached Gmail. If you see a recent fetch attempt but can't yet see the messages that were retrieved, please check again in a few minutes. If the account from which Gmail is fetching mail doesn't receive mail at frequent intervals, Gmail will check for new messages less often. You can always force Gmail to check for new messages by following the steps below:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Accounts tab. 3. In the Get mail from other accounts: section, click Check mail now.
If you're still having trouble fetching mail, please select your situation below: I receive an error message. I don't receive an error message, but Mail Fetcher isn't getting all of my mail. I can't locate my unread messages.
Your Settings Tabs : Accounts : Send Mail As
Adding a custom 'From' address The custom 'From:' feature works only if you already own the alternate address as part of a separate account. To send mail with a different Gmail username, you must first sign up for that address.
Gmail's custom 'From:' feature lets you use Gmail to send messages with another of your email addresses listed as the sender in place of your Gmail address. This feature makes it easier to manage multiple accounts from the Gmail interface. To add a custom 'From:' address:
1. Make sure you can sign in with the address you'd like to add. You'll need to access the other account before Gmail will let you send from it. Please note: If you'd like to send from another Gmail username, be sure to sign up for the account first. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings along the top of any page, and open the Accounts tab. Under Send mail as, click Add another email address. In the Name field, enter your full name. In the Email address field, enter the email address you'd like to send from. (Optional) When someone replies to a message you sent using a custom 'From:' address, the reply will be delivered to the 'From:' address rather than your Gmail address. If you'd like replies to be delivered to Gmail or a third account, you'll need to enter a 'reply-to' address. To do this, click Specify a different reply-to address and enter the email address you'd like. 8. Click Next Step >> and then click Send Verification. Gmail will send a verification message to your other email address to confirm that you own it. 9. Open your other account and either click the link in the message Gmail sent or enter the confirmation code in the Accounts section of your Gmail settings.
To use a verified custom 'From:' address when composing a new message, pick an address from the drop-down menu in the 'From:' field. If you're replying or forwarding, click change next to the 'From:' field first. You can also choose to automatically use the address to which a message
was sent. To edit the name or reply-to address for an existing entry, click edit next to the address on your Accounts tab. To delete an address, just click delete. Note: when you're sending with a different 'From:' address, your Gmail address will still be included in your email header's sender field, to help prevent your mail from being marked as spam. Most email clients don't display the sender field, though some versions of Microsoft Outlook may display "From yourusername@gmail.com on behalf of customaddress@mydomain.com."
Changing the 'From:' address when replying or forwarding
To change your custom 'From:' address when replying or forwarding, follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Log in to Gmail at http://mail.google.com. Open the message. Click Reply, Reply to all, or Forward. Click change next to your address in the From field to select the address you'd like to use to send the message. 5. Compose and send!
----Tip: Once you've added more email addresses to Gmail, set your other accounts to auto-forward your messages to Gmail. That way, you can easily manage your other email accounts from Gmail.
Finding replies when using custom 'From:' addresses
Each time someone replies to a message you send using a custom 'From:' address, the reply will be delivered to the 'From:' address rather than your Gmail address. If you'd like replies to be delivered to another account, you'll need to enter a 'reply-to' address in this field.
Setting custom 'From:' addresses in my mail client
First, set up the custom address in Gmail on the web. Learn how. Then just follow the client-specific instructions below:
iPhone
1. Tap Settings > Mail > [your Gmail address] > Address. 2. Edit the 'Address' field with your desired email address, and you're done.
Outlook 2003
1. 2. 3. 4. In the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts. Select View or change existing e-mail accounts, and click Next. Select your Gmail address and click Change. Edit the 'E-mail address' field with your desired email address, and you're done.
Apple Mail (for OS 10.4) Thunderbird 2.0
Reply with the 'From:' address to which a message was sent
If you've added other email addresses to Gmail, you can make sure replies you send automatically display the same address to which a message is addressed:
1. Sign in to Gmail. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Accounts tab. 3. In the Send mail as: section, select the radio button next to Reply from the same address the message was sent to. Once you've completed these steps, the email address to which your mail is addressed will appear in the From: field when you send replies. You can still select another address to send individual messages, too.
Note: If a message is addressed to more than one email address you've added to Gmail, your default address will appear in the From: field when you click Reply. If the message was sent to multiple addresses you've added to Gmail but your default address is not included, Gmail will display in the From: field the first verified address it finds in the message header.
I haven't received an email with my verification link.
If you entered a secondary email address when you signed up for your Gmail address, your verification code was sent to that email address. If you didn't receive the email, it was probably caught by a spam or bulk mail filter in your secondary email system. Try checking your Spam or Bulk Mail folders to see if the email ended up in there. If you didn't enter a secondary email address when you signed up for your Gmail address, a
verification email wasn't sent to you.
Your Settings Tabs : General : Vacation Responder
Setting an automatic vacation response
Going on vacation? No access to the Internet? No problem! Use Gmail's vacation responder to let people know you won't be able to get back to them right away. You can set up a vacation response in your Gmail settings that will automatically reply to anyone who emails you. While the vacation responder is enabled, Gmail will send a response to anyone who contacts you.* If that person contacts you again after four days and your vacation responder is still enabled, Gmail will send another vacation response to remind the person that you're away from your email. Here's how to let people know you can't respond right away:
Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings along the top of any Gmail page. From the General tab, select Vacation responder on in the Vacation responder: section. Enter the subject and body of your message in the Subject: and Message: fields. o If you've enabled a personalized signature in your settings, Gmail will automatically append it to the bottom of your vacation response. 5. Check the box next to Only send a response to people in my Contacts if you don't want everyone who emails you to know that you're away from your mail. 6. Click Save Changes. While the vacation responder is enabled, you'll see a banner across the top of any Gmail page, displaying the subject of your vacation response. To stop Gmail from automatically sending the response, click end now within the banner. Or, if you'd like to edit the response, click vacation settings.
1. 2. 3. 4.
Keep in mind that your vacation response will start over each time you edit it -- if someone receives your initial vacation response, and then emails you again after you've edited the subject or body of the message, he or she will receive the edited response, too.
* Messages classified as spam and messages addressed to a mailing list you subscribe to will not receive a vacation response.
Your Settings Tabs : General : Contacts' Pictures
Assigning a Google picture to a contact
You can assign any picture to use for a contact, regardless of whether they've chosen one. This picture selection only appears in your Gmail interface; your contact won't see it unless you suggest it for them.
Sign in to Gmail at mail.google.com. Click Contacts. Click on your contact's name in either of the Frequently Mailed or All Contacts lists. Click edit contact information. From the Picture section, select the My pick radio button and click upload picture. In the pop-up window that appears, click Browse. Navigate to your desired file, making sure that it's a JPG, BMP, GIF, or PNG file, and click Open. Click Upload picture. Depending on its dimensions, you may be asked to crop your picture to fit into our size restraints. Use your mouse to drag the selection box, and click and drag on any corner of the selection box to shrink or enlarge it. 10. Click Crop picture. Don't worry -- any changes you've made won't affect your original file. They'll only appear in Gmail. 11. Click Save to assign this picture to your contact. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Suggesting a Google picture for a contact
Would you like to see a picture of your friend whenever you roll over their name in Gmail? Do you have the perfect picture for them? You can suggest a picture for any one of your contacts:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Add your own photo to your contact. Click Contacts. Click on your contact's name in either of the Frequently Mailed or All Contacts lists. Click edit contact information. From the Picture section, select the My pick radio button and click upload picture. In the pop-up window that appears, click Browse. Navigate to your desired file, making sure that it's a JPG, BMP, GIF, or PNG file, and click Open. Click Upload picture. Depending on its dimensions, you may be asked to crop your picture to fit into our size restraints. Use your mouse to drag the selection box, and click and drag on any corner of the selection box to shrink or enlarge it. Click Crop picture . Don't worry - any changes you've made won't affect your original file. These changes will only appear in Gmail. Click Yes, suggest picture this picture. Enter any message that you'd like to send to your contact with this picture. Click Send. We'll send an email to your contact, allowing them to choose whether or not to use this picture. If they do, other users will be able to see it when they roll over your contact's name on their Gmail pages.
10. 11. 12. 13.
Your Settings Tabs : General : My Picture
Selecting your Google picture
What face would you like to present to the world? You can choose almost any photo as your Google picture, to show up whenever another user rolls over your name in their inbox, Contacts, or Quick Contacts list.
Click Settings on any Gmail page. From the My picture section, click Select a picture. The Upload a picture window appears. Click Browse and select the file you'd like to use. Make sure that it's a JPG, GIF, or PNG file. Click Open in the File Upload dialog. With your mouse, click and drag any corner of the selection box to shrink or enlarge it. Click Apply Changes. Don't worry - any changes you've made to the photo won't affect your original file. These changes will only appear in Gmail. 7. You can select whether you'd like all Gmail users to see your picture, or only those who you've allowed to chat with you, using the radio buttons next to your uploaded photo on your Settings page. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
o o
Visible to all Gmail users means anyone who you email, or who emails you, can see your picture Visible only to people I can chat with includes users who have been given permission to see when you're online and to chat with you. You can see a full list of these users from the All Contacts tab of your Contacts page. They'll be listed with a colored ball next to their name.
Once you apply your picture, you'll be able to view and change it from your Settings page, and other users will see your selection when they roll over your name in conversations or in their contact lists. It will also show up as your picture in Google Talk. Likewise, picture selections made in Google Talk will be reflected in your Gmail interface, though there might be a slight delay for the change to take effect.
About Google pictures
Pictures allow you to put a face to a name! User-selected pictures show up when you roll over a name in your inbox, Contacts, or Quick Contacts list. You can choose your own photo for yourself and for your contacts, suggest a photo for a contact to use, or see what your friends have selected for themselves.
Pictures can be configured to show to all users who you email or who email you, or they can be limited to only those users who are able to see when you're online. You can see a full list of users who can see your online status from the All Contacts tab of your Contacts page - they'll be listed with a colored ball next to their name.
Your Settings Tabs : General : Language
Available interface languages
The Gmail interface is now available in many different language settings. Pick from the following: Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Kannada, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malay, Malayalam, Marathi, Norwegian, Oriya, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, UK English, US English, Ukrainian, or Vietnamese. To change the language view in Gmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. Select a language from the Gmail display language: drop-down menu in the Language: section. Click Save Changes.
The Gmail interface will appear in the language of your choice after you click Save Changes. Remember, your Gmail's display language doesn't affect the language in which your messages are sent and received. Some of the features available in the English setting may not be available when you select another language setting. We're working hard to make all of Gmail's features available in every language setting, so thanks for your patience.
Features are missing when I switch languages
If you select a language setting and notice that a feature has suddenly disappeared, don't worry. Some of the features available in the English setting may not be available when you select another language setting. We're working hard to make all of Gmail's features available in every language setting, so thanks for your patience.
Spellcheck - Currently available in the following interfaces: English, French, Hebrew, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Russian, Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Polish, Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. Import Contacts - You can always import contacts, no matter which interface language you've selected. But for now, Gmail only recognizes CSV files in the following languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, and Polish. Right-to-left support - The directionality buttons are only available in Hebrew and Arabic interfaces. Labs - The Labs tab is currently only available in English-US and English-UK interfaces.
Gmail is set to the wrong language
If your Gmail interface is in the wrong language, take these steps to fix the problem:
Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings next to your username at the top of any Gmail page. Click on the language dropdown menu, the top entry on the first tab. Select your language. At the bottom of the page, click the right-hand button to save your changes. If your language has been set to a right-to-left language like Hebrew or Arabic you'll need to click the left-hand button. 6. In the window that pops up, click the right-hand button to apply this language choice to all of your Google products. Clicking the other button will apply this change to Gmail only. In Hebrew or Arabic, you'll need to click the left-hand button to apply to all. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Your Settings Tabs : Labs : Getting Started
Give feedback about Labs
Just visit our Labs Help Group at http://groups.google.com/group/gmail-labs. This group is a great place to report bugs you've found with Labs features, share how you're using new features. or let us know whatever else is on your mind.
About Labs
Gmail Labs allows you to try out experimental new features in Gmail and send feedback to us so we can improve them. If you're going to brave the Labs world, it's important to keep the following things in mind about these features:
They may break at any time. Similarly, they may disappear temporarily or permanently. They may work so well that they graduate and become regular features.
So, with that in mind, If you encounter any problems while you have a Labs feature enabled, here are some things you can do:
Go to http://mail.google.com/mail/?labs=0 to temporarily disable Labs and get your account back to normal. If you'd like to help pinpoint the problem, you can disable each feature until the problem goes away; then, report what happened. Give us feedback in the Labs Google Group (http://groups.google.com/group/gmail-labs). You can use this group as a place to report bugs, tell us what you like and dislike about the feature, and share special ways in which you're using it.
We'll post updates about new Labs features to the Gmail blog, so stay tuned.
Your Settings Tabs : Labs : Troubleshooting
Disable Labs
If you're having difficulty with Gmail and are currently using the Labs feature, we recommend temporarily disabling Labs as a first step. You can do so by going to http://mail.google.com/mail/?labs=0. If you want to turn these experimental features off for good, though, follow these steps:
1. Go to Settings > Labs. 2. Select the Disable radio button by the features you've enabled. 3. Click Save Changes. If you're still having trouble after disabling Labs, we recommend you check out our Known Issues page, or let us know in the Labs Help Group.
Troubleshooting : Common Issues
How do I enable JavaScript?
Click the link for your browser below to get specific instructions on enabling JavaScript in your browser. If your browser isn't listed, please consult its help resources.
Internet Explorer 6 or 7
Click the Tools menu. Select Internet Options. Click the Security tab. Click the Custom Level button. Scroll down until you see the 'Scripting' section. Select the 'Enable' radio button for 'Active Scripting.' 6. Click the OK button. 7. Click the Yes button in the confirmation window. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Firefox 2 or 3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Click the Tools menu. Select Options. Click the Contents tab. Select the 'Enable JavaScript' checkbox. Click the OK button.
Safari 2 or 3
1. 2. 3. 4. Click the Safari menu. Select Preferences. Click the Security tab. Select the 'Enable JavaScript' checkbox.
Upgrading your browser or installing new security software or security patches may affect your JavaScript settings. Troubleshooter - TPS, Oops
Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Which 'Oops...' error codes are you receiving?
Some 'Oops...' errors can be fixed by adjusting settings on your computer, others need to be fixed on Gmail's side. Please select your error code below.
007 008
102 Other code
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem?
Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Troubleshooting : Common Issues : Logging In
Gmail says my browser's cache is full
A full web browser cache can interfere with Gmail's features and performance. It might make the service slow or prevent you from downloading and viewing attachments. Please read Clearing your cache for instructions on clearing your cache in any of the popular web
browsers. If your browser isn't included, please refer to your browser's help documentation. In some cases, it may be necessary to clear your browser's cache more than once and/or restart your computer to completely fix the problem. If you're an Internet Explorer user and are still having problems after restarting your computer, it may be necessary to restore the 'Temporary Internet files' folder on your computer. Instructions are located under the 'Workaround' section of http://support.microsoft.com/kb/301057/EN-US/
Troubleshooting : Common Issues : General
Clearing your cache
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. For instructions, please select your browser below: Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari Other browsers In some cases, it may be necessary to clear your cache more than once.
Supported browsers
You can access Gmail at http://mail.google.com/ wherever you have an Internet connection via a PC, Linux, or Macintosh (Mac) computer. To take advantage of the newest Gmail features, you'll need to use one of the following fully supported browsers:
Google Chrome (download: Windows) Firefox 2.0+ (download: Windows Mac Linux) Internet Explorer 7.0 (download: Windows)
Safari 3.0 (download: Mac)
You can also get access Gmail -- but you won't have some of the latest features -- with any of the following browsers:
IE 5.5+ (download: Windows) Netscape 7.1+ (download: Windows Mac Linux) Mozilla 1.4+ (download: Windows Mac Linux) Firefox 0.8+ (download: Windows Mac Linux) Safari 1.3+ (download: Mac)
If you use a browser other than those listed above, you'll be automatically directed to the basic HTML view of Gmail. Basic HTML view works with the following browsers, as well as many others:
IE 4.0+ Netscape 4.07+ Opera 6.03+
Regardless of your browser type, you must have cookies enabled to use Gmail. If your browser supports it, please also enable JavaScript.
Third party applications and Gmail
Using third party software applications that interact with Gmail directly violates the Terms of Use that all users must agree to before creating a Gmail address. Google does not endorse any third party applications meant to interact with Gmail, and we will not provide support for them. For more information, you can also check out Gmail's Program Policies.
Internet security software
Unless properly configured, third party software (Internet security, pop-blocking, or anti-virus programs) can interfere with Gmail's features and functions. For instructions, please select any software you have installed: BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security
Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro Other security software
Third-party extensions stopped working
We're working to improve the Gmail experience. If your third-party Gmail extensions have suddenly stopped working, please check them for updates. In the meantime, you can also access the classic version of Gmail. We're sorry for any inconvenience as we work to roll out these Gmail improvements.
Get faster Gmail with a faster browser
We noticed that your current browser, Internet Explorer 6, is out of date. In order to improve your Gmail experience and make Gmail run an average of twice as fast, we suggest that you upgrade your browser to a faster Gmail supported browser that works on Windows.
Download Internet Explorer 7
Download Firefox 3
Download Google Chrome
Get faster Gmail with a faster browser
Browsers are getting faster and better at running web applications like Gmail that use browser technology to its limits. In order to get the best Gmail experience possible, we suggest that you upgrade your browser to one of the fastest Gmail supported browsers that work on Windows.
Download Firefox 3
Download Google Chrome
Note: A faster version of Internet Explorer, IE8, is in development and available in a beta release.
Get faster Gmail with a faster browser
We noticed that your current browser, Internet Explorer 6, is out of date. In order to improve your Gmail experience, we suggest that you upgrade your browser to a faster Gmail supported browser that works on Windows.
Download Firefox 3
Troubleshooting : Common Issues : Chat and Contacts
I don't have chat
There are three common reasons why chat disappears:
1. Using a browser that doesn't support chat. Make sure that you're using a fully supported browser to log in to Gmail. 2. Make sure you're using the standard version of Gmail. Scroll to the bottom of any Gmail page and click standard to select this version. Chat is not available in the basic HTML view. 3. Make sure you're using a language interface that supports chat. Chat is currently available in these display languages: Danish, German, English (UK), English (US), Spanish, Finnish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Bulgarian, Catalan, Czech, Greek, Estonian, Hindi, Croatian, Hungarian, Indonesian, Icelandic, Lithuanian, Latvian, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Serbian (Cyrillic), Thai, Tagalog, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. 4. Make sure your Chat list isn't collapsed. The black triangle at the top of your Chat list should be pointing down. If it's pointing to the right, your Chat list is collapsed and you'll have to click the triangle to expand it.
Chat is frozen
5. It's possible that Gmail and/or chat features may "freeze," or get stuck, if you leave your browser open and idle for extended periods of time. You might also experience problems connecting -- if this happens, refresh your browser and log back in to Gmail.
6. Troubleshooting : Common Issues : POP, IMAP and Mobile
My account was locked after I enabled POP
7. Lockouts are often caused when abnormal or excessive usage with POP access is
detected in a very short period of time. This is often caused by users frequently downloading their entire accounts to a mail client or using third-party software that automatically logs in to their account and is not supported by Google. 8. Please note that these lockouts are temporary, and you will be able to access your account again within 24 hours.
Some mail was not downloaded
9. After you first enable POP in your Gmail settings, your messages become available in batches as our servers communicate with your mail client. It may take some time for all of your mail to download if you have lots of messages. 10. Just to be safe, check that you selected Enable POP for all mail in the 'Forwarding and POP/IMAP' section of your Gmail settings. You should also keep in mind that messages in 'Spam' and 'Trash' aren't automatically downloaded. If you'd like to access these messages with POP, please move them to either your 'Inbox,' or to 'All Mail.' And finally, Gmail doesn't download copies of messages sent from within your client, or messages already available in your client. 11. If you're still having trouble downloading mail, please try the following troubleshooting steps:
1. If you're not using recent mode, ensure that the option to Leave messages on server in your POP client settings is not checked. 2. Try enabling recent mode in your POP client by replacing username@gmail.com in the Username field of your POP client settings with recent:username@gmail.com, and enable Leave messages on server in your POP client settings.
Recent mode fetches the last 30 days of mail, regardless of any other factors. If you don't check Leave messages on server, your messages will be moved to 'Trash' after download.
3. Try deleting the entry for your Gmail address in your POP client and then re-adding it with all the correct settings. Please note that you may lose your local copy of any previously downloaded Gmail messages.
My 'Sent Mail' is downloaded to my POP inbox
When you enable POP, all messages are downloaded to your client, except for Spam, Trash, and Chats. If you don't want messages that you send from the web interface downloaded to your mail client's inbox, we suggest creating a filter within your client. You may want to contact your mail client's customer service department for instructions on how to categorize downloaded messages. If you receive in your inbox a copy of messages sent from your BlackBerry device, you
may wish to create a filter in your BlackBerry Internet service account. For instructions on how to create a filter, visit the BlackBerry Technical Solution Center.
Troubleshooting : Error Messages
It pays to upgrade your browser
We've added some great new features to Gmail. To check them out, please upgrade your browser to either Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or Internet Explorer 7 (with Google Toolbar).
Why was my message rejected?
Here at Gmail, we work very hard to fight spam. This includes not only spam coming into Gmail but spam being sent out from Gmail as well. Believe it or not, spammers sign up for Gmail addresses in large numbers just to send out spam! To help do our part to keep this junk off of the internet, we bounce mail that we are confident is spam. Unfortunately, we aren't perfect and will occasionally bounce legitimate mail. We apologize for the inconvenience. There are a number of ways you can inadvertently confuse our automated spam filter, by sending suspicious-looking or spammy text, for example. By far the most common problem is sending mail cc/bcc'd to large numbers of recipients ("bulk mail") to send out newsletters, invitations, etc. Since spam is sent to many recipients, our spam filter is slightly more likely to confuse bulk mail with spam. Depending on your needs, there are a number of different ways to reliably send bulk mail that avoid the pitfalls of doing it manually with Gmail. You may be interested in trying Google Groups for newsletters/mailing lists or Calendar for sending invitations to events. Also, many other Google sites like orkut, Picasa and Youtube offer the ability to automatically notify your friends when you update your profile or upload new pictures or videos, so you don't need to email them all yourself. Contact us.
'You have saved a message in a trashed conversation...'
To resolve this issue, try these tips:
o
You may be replying to a message that's part of a previously deleted conversation. Note
that when you click the Delete button, it moves an entire conversation (not just a single message) to the trash. If this is the case, you can move the conversation out of Trash. Alternatively, it's possible to delete just one message.
o
Please make sure you haven't created any filters with the action Delete it that might affect the messages in question. If you have many filters or have complicated filters in place, you may need to edit the Delete it action to guarantee that they aren't at fault.
o
If you've enabled forwarding in your account, ensure that you haven't selected delete Gmail's copy in your forwarding options.
o
If you're using a POP client to access Gmail, ensure that you haven't selected delete Gmail's copy in step 2 of your POP download options.
o
If you're accessing your Gmail from multiple POP clients (with recent mode), verify that you've selected Leave a copy of messages on server in your client configuration settings.
Get faster Gmail with a faster browser
We noticed that your current browser, Internet Explorer 6, is out of date. In order to improve your Gmail experience, we suggest that you upgrade your browser to a faster Gmail supported browser that works on Windows.
Download Internet Explorer 7
'Oops (#102)'
You're encountering a known issue with Gmail. Our engineers are currently investigating and working diligently to find a solution. In the meantime, please try signing in to Gmail through our secured interface, available via https://mail.google.com or by clicking here. If you continue to experience difficulties, please access your mail from the older version of Gmail by clicking Older Version at the top of any Gmail page, going to http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=1, or clicking here. For other 'Oops...' errors, click here.
Troubleshooting : Error Messages : Logging In
'Your browser's cookie functionality...'
If you're receiving an error message that says, Your browser's cookie functionality is turned off. Please turn it on:
9. Open Internet Explorer, and click Tools along the top of your browser window. 10. Select Internet Options... and click the Content tab at the top of the dialogue box. If the Content Advisor is enabled, please disable it. 11. Click OK.
Next, please clear your browser's cache. To clear your cache in IE: If you still can't sign in, try logging in securely by changing the URL to https://mail.google.com.
'In order to log in to Gmail, your browser must be set...'
If you're receiving an error message that says, 'In order to log in to Gmail, your browser must be set to allow JavaScript to set cookies,' we suggest the following:
12. Open Internet Explorer, and click Tools along the top of your browser window. 13. Select Internet Options... and click the Security tab at the top of the dialog box. 14. Click Trusted sites, and then click Sites...
15. Enter the following sites in the Add this Web site to the zone field: https://www.google.com https://mail.google.com http://b.mail.google.com 16. Click OK to save your changes. Next, please clear your browser's cache. To clear your cache in IE:
Close all open browser windows, restart Internet Explorer, and sign in to Gmail. If you're unable to sign in, we suggest removing all of your trusted sites in IE, then logging in again. If you still can't sign in, try logging in securely by changing the URL to https://mail.google.com.
'Some Gmail features failed to load'
Symptoms: An error message reading 'Some Gmail features failed to load. If this problem persists, try reloading the page, using the older version, or using basic HTML mode. Learn more.' Cause: A flaky or unstable network connection may be temporarily preventing all of Gmail's features from loading completely. In most cases, most of Gmail will work correctly, and you'll be able to use it as usual. Solution: While the problem persists, try the solutions suggested in the error message.
Troubleshooting : Error Messages : Sending and Receiving
'You have sent a message in a trashed conversation...'
To resolve this issue, try these tips:
o
You may be replying to a message that's part of a previously deleted conversation. Note that when you click the Delete button, it moves an entire conversation (not just a single message) to the trash. If this is the case, you can move the conversation out of Trash.
Alternatively, it's possible to delete just one message.
o
Please make sure you haven't created any filters with the action Delete it that might affect the messages in question. If you have many filters or have complicated filters in place, you may need to edit the Delete it action to guarantee that they aren't at fault.
o
If you've enabled forwarding in your account, ensure that you haven't selected delete Gmail's copy in your forwarding options.
o
If you're using a POP client to access Gmail, ensure that you haven't selected delete Gmail's copy in step 2 of your POP download options.
o
If you're accessing your Gmail from multiple POP clients (with recent mode), verify that you've selected Leave a copy of messages on server in your client configuration settings.
'Oops...' errors
Using a mail client (like Outlook or Apple Mail)? Let us help you with POP or IMAP.
Symptoms: While signing in or using Gmail, you receive this error:
Oops... (error code ###)
Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail. Which 'Oops...' error code are you receiving?
007 008 009 102 103 500 602 6413 Other code
Does the issue still occur? No, it's fixed! Yes, it's still happening What browser are you using? Firefox Internet Explorer Please select any security applications you have installed for further instructions.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro
None of the above
Please select any security applications you have installed for further instructions.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari
None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari
None of the above
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/mail fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed!
No, I'm still having problems
Please select any security applications you have installed for further instructions.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Some addresses in the "Reply-To" field were not recognized
Symptoms: After clicking Send, you receive a pop-up with the following error message: Some addresses in the "Reply-to" field were not recognized. Please make sure all addresses are properly formed Cause: The Reply-to address you've set on your Accounts tab is not formatted properly. Solution:
29. 30. 31. 32. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Accounts tab. In the Send mail as: section, locate the email address you were using to send. Click edit info next to the email address.
33. Delete the address in the Reply-to address field. 34. Re-enter the address in this format: username@domainname.com (do not use spaces, quotation marks or other special characters) 35. Click Save changes.
'Document Contains No Data' errors
Gmail allows you to send files up to 20MB in size, but the files can't be executable. (Computer viruses are often spread with executable files, so Gmail doesn't accept them, even if they are zipped and don't have an '.exe' extension.) If you try to send a file larger than 20MB, or one has an executable file attached, Gmail will display an error message that says 'Document Contains No Data.' Keep in mind that Gmail doesn't always function properly while third party software is enabled. If you're unable to send a message that is smaller than 20MB and doesn't have any executable files attached, we suggest disabling any Internet security, firewall, or popup blocking software you have installed on your computer, and attempting to send the attachment again.
Troubleshooting : Error Messages : Chat and Contacts
'Your network administrator has disabled chat...'
If your Chat window shows the error, 'Your Network administrator has disabled chat in Gmail,' your network administrator or ISP has chosen to block chat in Gmail. If you've verified that your network has not blocked chat, this may be caused by a conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. This page is designed to walk you through all of our troubleshooting information in an orderly fashion. At each step, we'll provide instructions or further questions to help narrow down the issue you're facing. Following the instructions exactly will help ensure the best results.
'We're experiencing technical difficulties...'
If your chat window shows the error, 'We're experiencing technical difficulties that may prevent your chats from being sent,' you can try signing into Gmail via the secure site, available at https://mail.google.com/mail.
Gmail offers this interface for extra security. Since web browsers and security software are more likely to trust encrypted data, visiting Gmail through the secure site will often resolve issues caused by those applications. Did the secure site resolve the problem?
No, I tried the secure site, but my issue persists Yes, I tried the secure site, and my problem is resolved
What browser are you using?
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did clearing your browser's cache and cookies resolve the issue?
Yes, clearing cache and cookies has resolved my issue No, clearing cache and cookies didn't help
Did resetting your browser's settings resolve the issue?
Yes, resetting my browser's settings has resolved my issue No, resetting my browser's settings didn't help
Are you using Internet Explorer 7?
Yes, I'm using IE 7
No, I use a different version of IE
Do you have Google Web Accelerator, and if so, did disabling it resolve the problem?
I don't have Google Web Accelerator Yes, I disabled Google Web accelerator, and the problem is resolved I disabled Google Web Accelerator, but the problem continues
'Chat is disabled. You have been signed out...'
Symptoms: Your Chat window shows this error:
'Chat is disabled. You have been signed out of Gmail. You must sign back in to reenable chat.'
Solution: Clearing your browser's cache and cookies usually resolves this error. For instructions, please select your browser below: Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari Other browsers In some cases, it may be necessary to clear your cache more than once.
'Unable to reach Gmail...'
If you see the message''Unable to reach Gmail. Please check your internet connection' in your Chat list and you also notice that the Gmail logo in the top left corner and the star image next to 'Starred' are missing on the left, your browser may be blocking images from mail.google.com. To make sure images are displaying in Firefox:
63. Select the Tools menu at the top of your browser and click Options 64. In the Options dialogue box that appears, select Content 65. Next to 'Load images automatically' select the Exceptions... button. Enter 'mail.google.com' in the 'Address of web site:' field, and click Allow' Make sure images from mail.google.com are not set to 'Block'
In Internet Explorer 7:
66. 67. 68. 69. Click the Tools button Select Internet Options' Click the Advanced tab Scroll down to Multimedia and make sure 'Show pictures' is checked
In Safari 3.0:
70. 71. 72. 73. On Mac OSX, select the Edit menu Click Preferences' Click the Appearance button Select the checkbox next to 'Display images when the page opens'
Troubleshooting : POP : Client Info Centers
Outlook Express Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Welcome to our information center for Outlook Express. The tabs above have information on setting up Outlook Express to work with Gmail, as well as troubleshooting information for the common problems users face. Getting Started
If you're setting up Outlook Express to work with Gmail for the first time, you'll need to:
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Configure your Outlook Express client.
Verify Settings If you're unsure whether your POP client settings are correct, you can double-check them here. Common Errors If you're experiencing an error while using Outlook, you can browse our page of common errors to find a solution. Troubleshooting If you're still having problems, follow our step-by-step instructions to try to resolve your issue. Other POP Issues
Some POP problems are not specific to Outlook, so if you're able to send and receive successfully most of the time and our Common Errors and Troubleshooting tabs haven't addressed your issue, check our Other Issues tab for topics like accessing Gmail from multiple POP clients or being unable to download messages you sent to yourself.
Outlook 2003 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Welcome to our information center for Outlook 2003. The tabs above have information on setting up Outlook 2003 to work with Gmail, as well as troubleshooting information for the common problems users face. Getting Started If you're setting up Outlook 2003 to work with Gmail for the first time, you'll need to:
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Configure your Outlook 2003 client. 3. Download the latest updates from Microsoft.
Verify Settings
If you're unsure whether your POP client settings are correct, you can double-check them here. Common Errors If you're experiencing an error while using Outlook, you can browse our page of common errors to find a solution. The most common problem is an error while sending a test message. To fix this issue, download the latest updates from Microsoft. Troubleshooting If you're still having problems, follow our step-by-step instructions to try to resolve your issue. Other POP Issues
Some POP problems are not specific to Outlook, so if you're able to send and receive successfully most of the time and our Common Errors and Troubleshooting tabs haven't addressed your issue, check our Other Issues tab for topics like accessing Gmail from multiple POP clients or being unable to download messages you sent to yourself.
Configuring other mail clients
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in most POP clients. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
We offer instructions for configuring some clients not in our supported client list. If you encounter difficulties, we suggest contacting your mail client's customer support department -we're unable to provide assistance for clients not in our supported POP client list. Non-supported clients: While we offer configuration instructions, we're currently unable to provide support for these clients.
Entourage 2004 Entourage X Eudora 5.1 (and higher) (Light Mode) Eudora 5.1 (and higher) (Sponsored & Paid Mode)
Eudora for Macs Foxmail 5.0 Mozilla 1.7 Netscape Mail 4.5, 4.6, or 4.7 Netscape Mail 6.2 Netscape Mail 7.x SnapperMail The Bat! v3.62 Professional Edition Thunderbird 0.x
Standard instructions:
1. Enable POP in Gmail. Don't forget to click Save Changes when you're done. 2. Configure your client to match the settings below:
Incoming Mail (POP3) Server requires SSL: pop.gmail.com Use SSL: Yes Port: 995 smtp.gmail.com (use authentication) Use Authentication: Yes Use STARTTLS: Yes (some clients call this SSL) Port: 465 or 587 your full email address (including @gmail.com or @your_domain.com) your email address (username@gmail.com or username@your_domain.com) your Gmail password
Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server requires TLS:
Account Name:
Email Address:
Password:
Unless you're using recent mode to download mail to multiple clients, make sure you've opted not to leave messages on the server. Your Gmail settings determine whether or not messages stay on the server, so this setting in your client won't affect how Gmail handles your mail. Please note that if your client does not support SMTP authentication, you won't be able to send mail through your client using your Gmail address. Also, if you're having trouble sending mail but you've confirmed that encyrption is active for SMTP in your mail client, try to configure your SMTP server on a different port: 465 or 587.
3. You're now ready to use POP with your Gmail address.
Outlook 2007 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Welcome to our information center for Outlook 2007. The tabs above have instructions on setting up Outlook 2007 to work with your Gmail address, as well as troubleshooting tips for the common problems users face. Getting Started If you're setting up Outlook 2007 to work with Gmail for the first time, you'll need to:
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Configure your Outlook 2007 client. 3. Download the latest updates from Microsoft.
Verify Settings If you're unsure whether your POP client settings are correct, you can double-check them here. Common Errors If you're experiencing an error while using Outlook, you can browse our page of common errors to find a solution. Troubleshooting If you're still having problems, follow our step-by-step instructions to try to resolve your issue. Other POP Issues
Some POP problems are not specific to Outlook, so if you're able to send and receive successfully most of the time and our Common Errors and Troubleshooting tabs haven't addressed your issue, check our Other Issues tab for topics like accessing your Gmail messages from multiple POP clients or problems downloading messages you sent to yourself.
Apple Mail 3.0
Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Welcome to our information center for Apple Mail 3.0. The tabs above have information on setting up Apple Mail 3.0 to work with Gmail, as well as troubleshooting information for the common problems users face. Getting Started If you're setting up Apple Mail 3.0 to work with Gmail for the first time, you'll need to:
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Configure your Apple Mail 3.0 client.
Verify Settings If you're unsure whether your POP client settings are correct, you can double-check them here. Common Errors If you're experiencing an error while using Apple Mail, you can browse our page of common errors to find a solution. Troubleshooting If you're still having problems, follow our step-by-step instructions to try to resolve your issue. Other POP Issues Some POP problems are not specific to Apple Mail 3.0, so if you're able to send and receive successfully most of the time and our Common Errors and Troubleshooting tabs haven't addressed your issue, check our Other Issues tab for topics like accessing Gmail from multiple POP clients or being unable to download messages you sent to yourself.
Thunderbird 2.0 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Welcome to our information center for Thunderbird 2.0. The tabs above have information on setting up Thunderbird 2.0 to work with your Gmail address, as well as troubleshooting information for the common problems users face.
Getting Started If you're setting up Thunderbird 2.0 to work with Gmail for the first time, you'll need to:
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Configure your Thunderbird 2.0 client.
Verify Settings If you're unsure whether your POP client settings are correct, you can double-check them here. Common Errors If you're experiencing an error while using Thunderbird, you can browse our page of common errors to find a solution. Troubleshooting If you're still having problems, follow our step-by-step instructions to try to resolve your issue. Other POP Issues Some POP problems are not specific to Thunderbird 2.0, so if you're able to send and receive successfully most of the time and our Common Errors and Troubleshooting tabs haven't addressed your issue, check our Other Issues tab for topics like accessing your Gmail messages from multiple POP clients or being unable to download messages you sent to yourself.
Windows Mail Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Welcome to our information center for Windows Mail. The tabs above have information on setting up Windows Mail to work with your Gmail address, as well as troubleshooting information for the common problems users face. Getting Started If you're setting up Windows Mail to work with Gmail for the first time, you'll need to:
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Configure your Windows Mail client.
Verify Settings If you're unsure whether your POP client settings are correct, you can double-check them here. Common Errors If you're experiencing an error while using Outlook, you can browse our page of common errors to find a solution. Troubleshooting If you're still having problems, follow our step-by-step instructions to try to resolve your issue. Other POP Issues Some POP problems are not specific to Windows Mail, so if you're able to send and receive successfully most of the time and our Common Errors and Troubleshooting tabs haven't addressed your issue, check our Other Issues tab for topics like accessing your Gmail messages from multiple POP clients, or being unable to download messages that you've sent to yourself.
Outlook 2002 Overview Getting Started Verify Settings Common Errors Troubleshooting Other Issues
Welcome to our information center for Outlook 2002. The tabs above have information on setting up Outlook 2002 to work with your Gmail address, as well as troubleshooting information for the common problems users face. Getting Started If you're setting up Outlook 2002 to work with Gmail for the first time, you'll need to:
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Configure your Outlook 2002 client. 3. Download the latest updates from Microsoft.
Verify Settings If you're unsure whether your POP client settings are correct, you can double-check them here.
Common Errors If you're experiencing an error while using Outlook, you can browse our page of common errors to find a solution. The most common problem is an error while sending a test message. To fix this issue, download the latest updates from Microsoft. Troubleshooting If you're still having problems, follow our step-by-step instructions to try to resolve your issue. Other POP Issues
Some POP problems are not specific to Outlook, so if you're able to send and receive successfully most of the time and our Common Errors and Troubleshooting tabs haven't addressed your issue, check our Other Issues tab for topics like accessing Gmail from multiple POP clients or being unable to download messages you sent to yourself.
BlackBerry Internet Service
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access on your BlackBerry. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Log in to your BlackBerry Internet Service account. 2. Click 'Profile' along the top of the 'Home Page.'
3. Click 'other email accounts' in the 'Email Accounts' section of your profile.
4. Click 'Add Account.' 5. Enter the information for your Gmail address. o Email Address: Enter your full Gmail email address (including '@gmail.com'). Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' o User Name: Enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com' or
o o
'@your_domain.com'). Password: Enter your email password. Re-enter password: Re-enter your email password.
6. Click 'Submit.'
If your BlackBerry account was successfully configured, you'll see the BlackBerry 'Email Accounts' page. You're finished! If you receive the message, 'We were unable to configure this mailbox. Please tell us how you access this email account,' verify that you clicked 'Save Changes' after enabling POP in Gmail. If you don't click 'Save Changes' when you enable POP in Gmail, BlackBerry Internet Service can't access your Gmail messages. Once you've enabled POP in Gmail, add the account in BlackBerry Internet Service again. If you receive in your inbox a copy of messages sent from your BlackBerry device, you may wish to create a filter in your BlackBerry Internet service account. For instructions on how to create a filter, visit the BlackBerry Technical Solution Center.
iPhone
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access on the iPhone. Google Apps users, please use the instructions for software update 1.1.3. Follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain
name.
If you're running software update 1.1.2, here's how to set up POP:
1. 2. 3. 4. Tap Mail from your iPhone's Home screen. Tap Gmail. Enter your name, your Gmail address, and password in the appropriate fields. Tap Save. Now you're done!
If you're running software update 1.1.3, please note that tapping the 'Gmail' button will automatically configure Gmail IMAP. Here's how to set up POP:
1. 2. 3. 4. Tap Mail from your iPhone's Home screen. Tap Other. Select POP from the tab menu. Enter your name, email address, and password in the appropriate fields. The Address field should be your full email address (username@gmail.com). Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' 5. Under Incoming Mail Server, fill in the Host Name field as 'pop.gmail.com.' Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step. 6. Under Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP), fill in the Host Name field as 'smtp.gmail.com.' 7. Tap Save. Now you're done!
If you notice that POP access isn't working properly, please ensure that all your settings are correct by following these instructions:
1. 2. 3. 4. From the Home menu, tap Settings. Select your Gmail address. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Advanced. Ensure that your settings are as follows: Incoming Uses SSL: ON Outgoing Uses SSL: ON Authentication: Password If you're accessing your Gmail from multiple POP clients, we recommend setting Use Recent Mode to ON.
For any other iPhone related issues, please visit http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/ If you're in the US or Canada and would like to volunteer for a usability study about use of Google products (like Gmail) on iPhone, just fill out the sign-up survey. Qualified participants can earn up to $100!
Thunderbird 0.x
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Thunderbird 0.x. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Open Thunderbird, and select 'Account Settings...' from the 'Tools' menu.
3. Select 'Email account,' and click 'Next.'
4. Enter your full name in the 'Your Name:' field. Enter your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) in the 'Email Address:' field, and click 'Next.' Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.'
5. Select 'POP' as the type of incoming server you are using. Enter 'pop.gmail.com' in the 'Incoming Server:' field, and click 'Next.' Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step.
6. Enter your email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the 'User Name:' field, and click 'Next.'
7. Enter a name for your email account in the 'Account Name:' field, and click 'Next.'
8. Verify your account information in the dialogue box, and click 'Finish.' 9. Select 'Server Settings' listed beneath your new account. 10. Check the box next to 'Use secure connection (SSL),' and ensure that '995' appears in the 'Port:' field.
11. Select 'Outgoing Server (SMTP)' listed beneath your new account. 12. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the 'Server Name:' field under 'Outgoing Server (SMTP) Settings,' and enter '587' in the 'Port:' field.
13. Check the box next to 'Use name and password,' and enter your email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com) in the 'User Name:' field. 14. Select 'TLS' under 'Use secure connection,' and click 'OK.' 15. Verify that the information listed under 'Congratulations!' is correct, and click 'Finish.'
* Did you click 'Save Changes' after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Gmail Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings page.
Entourage 2004
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Entourage 2004. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Open Entourage 2004. 3. Click 'Tools,' and select 'Accounts'
4. Click 'New.'
(If you receive the 'Account Setup Assistant,' click 'Configure account manually.')
5. Select 'POP' next to 'Account type:,' and click 'OK.'
6. Enter a name for your new account in the 'Account Name:' field. 7. Enter your full name in the 'Your Name:' field. 8. Enter your full email address (username@gmail.com) in the 'Email Address:' field. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' 9. Enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the 'Account ID' field. 10. Enter 'pop.gmail.com' in the 'Incoming Mail Server:' field. Google Apps users, enter the server name provided, don't add your domain name in this step. 11. Click 'Click here for advanced receiving options' in the 'Receiving mail' section.
12. Check the box next to 'This POP service requires a secure connection (SSL).'
13. Enter your email password in the 'Your Password:' field. 14. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the 'Outgoing Mail Server:' field. 15. Click 'Click here for advanced sending options' in the 'Sending mail' section.
16. Check the box next to 'SMTP service requires secure connection (SSL).' 17. Check the box next to 'Override default SMTP port:,' and enter '587' in the box. 18. Check the box next to 'SMTP server requires authentication,' and click 'OK.'
* Did you click 'Save Changes' after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Gmail Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings page.
Entourage X
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Entourage X. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name. Enable POP in Gmail. Open Entourage. Click 'Tools,' and select 'Account Settings...' Click 'New.' (If you receive the 'Account Setup Assistant,' click 'Configure account manually.') Select 'POP' next to 'Account type:,' and click 'OK.' Enter a name for your new account in the 'Account Name:' field. Enter your full name in the 'Your Name:' field. Enter your full email address (username@gmail.com) in the 'Email Address:' field. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' Enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the 'Account ID' field. Enter 'pop.gmail.com' in the 'Incoming Mail Server:' field. Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step. Click 'Click here for advanced receiving options' in the 'Receiving mail' section. Check the box next to 'This POP service requires a secure connection (SSL).' Enter your email password in the 'Your Password:' field. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the 'Outgoing Mail Server:' field.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
15. 16. 17. 18.
Click 'Click here for advanced sending options' in the 'Sending mail' section. Check the box next to 'SMTP service requires secure connection (SSL), ' and click 'OK.' Check the box next to 'Override default SMTP port:,' and enter '465' in the box. Check the box next to 'SMTP server requires authentication,' and click 'OK.'
* Did you click 'Save Changes' after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings tab. Eudora 5.1 (Sponsored & Paid Modes)
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Eudora 5.1 (Sponsored & Paid Modes). Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Open Eudora. 3. Click Tools > Personalities.
4. Right-click in the Personalities box and select New. 5. Follow the instructions in the New Account Wizard, using the following settings: o Personality Name: Enter an account name and click Next.
o
Account Settings: select Create a brand new email account and click Next.
o
Personal Information: Enter your name as you would like it to appear in the From field of your messages. Click Next.
o
Email Address: Enter your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) in the Email Address field, and click Next. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format username@your_domain.com.
o
Login Name: Enter your full email address (username@gmail.com or username@your_domain.com) in the Login Name field, and click Next.
o
Incoming Email Server: Enter pop.gmail.com in the Incoming field. Select the POP radio button and click Next. Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step.
o
Outgoing Email Server: enter smtp.gmail.com in the Outgoing field. Select Allow authentication and click Next.
6. Click Finish. 7. Right-click on the personality you just created and select Properties.
8. Click the Incoming Mail tab. 9. Set Secure Sockets when Sending to Required, Alternate Port.
10. Click OK.
----Troubleshooting tips:
Did you click Save Changes after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Gmail Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings page. Are you seeing a 'certificate error'? Read our help article dedicated to fixing this problem.
The Bat! v3.62 Professional Edition
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in The Bat! v3.62 Professional Edition. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name. Enable POP in Gmail. Open The Bat!. Select New from the Account tab. Enter the name of the folder in which your Gmail messages will be stored and click Next. Enter your name as you would like it to appear in the From: field of your messages.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. Enter your full Gmail address (including @gmail.com) in the appropriate field and click Next. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format username@your_domain.com.
7. Select the POP3 protocol. 8. Enter pop.gmail.com and smtp.gmail.com in the Server address fields. Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step. 9. Check the box next to My SMTP server requires authentication for sending mail. (Leaving this box unchecked may result in an error.) 10. Click Next.
11. Enter your full email address (including @gmail.com or @your_domain.com). 12. Enter your email password in the appropriate field. 13. Check the box next to Leave copy of messages on the server if you don't want Gmail to delete your mail after you download it to The Bat!. 14. Click Next.
15. Select the method you use to connect to the Internet. 16. Click Next. 17. Check the box next to Yes and click Done. The Account Settings page appears.
18. Verify your name and email address. You may also customize your Reply-to address on this page.
19. 20. 21. 22. 23.
From the Account Settings page, open the Send Mail tab. Select Secure to dedicated port (TLS). Enter 465 or 587 in the Port field. Open the Receive Mail tab. Enter 995 for the POP3 port number.
Congratulations! You're done configuring The Bat! to send and retrieve Gmail messages.
* Did you click 'Save Changes' after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Gmail 'Mail Settings' page.
Foxmail 5.0
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Foxmail 5.0. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Open Foxmail 5.0.
3. From the 'Account' menu, select 'Properties.' 4. Select 'Personal Information,' and enter your name as you would like it to appear in the 'From:' field of your outgoing messages. 5. Enter your full Gmail address (including '@gmail.com').Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' 6. Open the 'Server Information' page, and check the box next to 'My server requires authentication.' 7. In the 'Incoming mail server (POP3)' field, enter 'pop.gmail.com.' Google Apps users, enter the server name provided, don't add your domain name in this step. 8. In the 'Outgoing mail server (SMTP)' field, enter 'smtp.gmail.com.' 9. Enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the 'Login Information' section, and enter your Gmail password. 10. Click 'Advance.' 11. Check the box next to 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL).' 12. Enter '465' in the 'Outgoing Mail (SMTP):' field. 13. Check the box next to 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL).' The port number in the field next to 'Incoming mail (POP3)' will change to '995.' Click 'OK.' Congratulations! You're done configuring Foxmail to send and retrieve Gmail messages.
* Did you click 'Save Changes' after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings tab.
Mozilla 1.7
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Mozilla 1.7. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Open Mozilla Mail 1.7. 3. Select 'Mail and Newsgroup Account Settings...' from the 'Edit' menu, and click 'Add Account...'
4. Select 'Email account,' and click 'Next.'
5. Enter your full name in the ' Your Name:' field. 6. Enter your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) in the 'Email Address:' field , and click 'Next.' Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.'
7. Select 'POP' as the type of incoming server you are using. 8. Enter 'pop.gmail.com' in the 'Incoming Server:' field. Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step. 9. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the 'Outgoing Server:' field, and click 'Next.'
10. Enter your email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the 'Incoming User Name:' field and the 'Outgoing User Name:' field, and click 'Next.' 11. Enter a name for your email account in the 'Account Name:' field, and click 'Next.'
12. Verify your account information in the dialogue box. Clear the 'Download messages now' box, and click 'Finish.'
13. Select 'Server Settings' listed beneath your new account. 14. Check the box next to 'Use secure connection (SSL),' and ensure that '995' appears in the 'Port:' field.
15. Select 'Outgoing Server (SMTP)' listed beneath your new account. 16. Verify that 'smtp.gmail.com' appears in the 'Server Name:' field, and enter '587' in the 'Port:' field. 17. Check the box next to 'Use name and password,' and enter your email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the 'User Name:' field. 18. Select 'TLS' under 'Use secure connection:,' and click 'OK.'
* Did you click 'Save Changes' after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Gmail Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings page.
SnapperMail
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in SnapperMail. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
You'll need the Premier or Enterprise edition of SnapperMail to access your Gmail messages with POP. Here's how to configure SnapperMail:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Enable POP in Gmail. Open SnapperMail, and click 'Menu.' Select 'Options.' Open 'Edit Accounts,' and choose the server account. Enter 'pop.gmail.com' in the 'POP3 Server' field. Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step. Enter your Gmail username (including '@gmail.com') and password. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the 'SMTP Server' field. Enter your email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') and password. Click 'More' at the bottom of the screen. Set the 'Use SSL' drop-down menu to 'Always Secure (Wrapped port).' Check that 'Port 995' is displayed. Leave all other boxes unchecked. Select 'Always Secure (STARTTLS)' for SMTP settings from the 'Use SSL' drop-down menu. Enter '587' in the port field. Leave all other boxes unchecked.
Netscape 7
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Netscape 7. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Open Netscape Mail 7.x. 3. Click 'Edit,' and select 'Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings...'
4. Click 'Add Account...,' and click 'OK.'
5. Choose 'Email account,' and click 'Next.'
6. Enter your name in the 'Your Name:' field. 7. Enter your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) in the 'Email Address:' field, and click 'Next.' Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' 8. Select 'POP' and enter 'pop.gmail.com' in the 'Incoming Server:' field. Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step. 9. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the 'Outgoing Server:' field.
10. Click 'Next.' 11. Enter your email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the 'Incoming User Name:' field and the 'Outgoing User Name:' field, and click 'Next.' 12. Enter a name for your Netscape Mail account in the 'Account Name field,' and click 'Next.' 13. Click 'Next,' and then click 'Finish.' (Don't worry if you get an error message indicating that you cannot connect to pop.gmail.com. Just click 'OK,' and continue with the steps below.) 14. Open the 'Edit' menu, and select 'Mail and Newsgroups Account Settings.' 15. Check the box next to 'Use secure connection (SSL)' in the 'Server Settings' section (the port changes to 995).
16. Enter '587' in the 'Port:' field. 17. Change 'Use secure connection' to 'TLS' under 'Outgoing Server (SMTP),' and click 'OK.'
* Did you click 'Save Changes' after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Gmail Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings page.
Netscape 6.2
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Netscape 6.2. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Open Netscape Mail 6.2. 3. Click 'Edit,' and select 'Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings...'
4. Select 'New Account.' 5. Choose 'ISP or email provider,' and click 'Next.'
6. Enter your name in the 'Your Name:' field. 7. Enter your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) in the 'Email Address:' field, and click 'Next.' Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format
'username@your_domain.com.'
8. Select 'POP' and enter 'pop.gmail.com' in the 'Server Name:' field. Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step.
9. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the 'Server Name:' field under 'Outgoing Server (SMTP) Settings.' 10. Enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the 'User Name:' field. 11. Select 'Always' under 'Use secure connection (SSL):,' and click 'OK.'
12. Enter a name for your Netscape Mail account in the 'Account Name:' field, and click 'Next.' 13. Click 'Next,' and then click 'Finish.' (Don't worry if you get an error message indicating that you cannot connect to pop.gmail.com. Just click 'OK,' and continue with the steps below.) 14. Open the 'Edit' menu, and select 'Mail and Newsgroups Account Settings.' 15. Check the box next to 'Use secure connection (SSL)' in the 'Server Settings' section (the port changes to 995). 16. Change 'Use secure connection' to 'TLS' under 'Outgoing Server (SMTP),' and click 'OK.'
* Did you click 'Save Changes' after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Gmail Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings page.
Eudora 5.1 (Light Mode)
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Eudora 5.1 (Light Mode). Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Open Eudora. 3. Click Tools > Options.
4. Click Getting Started from the Category list. o Enter your full name in the Real name field. o Enter your full email address (username@gmail.com) in the Return address field. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format username@your_domain.com. o Enter pop.gmail.com in the Mail Server (Incoming) field. Google Apps users, enter the server name provided, don't add your domain name in this step. o Enter your full email address (username@gmail.com or username@your_domain.com) in the Login Name field. o Set the SMTP Server (Outgoing) to smtp.gmail.com and select Allow authentication.
5. Select Checking Mail from the Category list. o Your information should be prepopulated based on your Getting Started settings. o Set Secure Sockets when Receiving to Required, Alternate Port.
6. Select Incoming Mail from the Category list. o Ensure that the Leave mail on server and Skip messages over 40K in size options are not checked. o Select Passwords for Authentication Style.
7. Select Sending Mail from the Category list. o Check the box next to Allow authentication. o Set Secure Sockets when Sending to Required, Alternate Port and click OK.
8. Click OK and then verify your settings by clicking File > Check Mail.
----Troubleshooting tips:
Did you click Save Changes after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings tab. Are you seeing a 'certificate error'? Read our help article dedicated to fixing this problem.
Netscape 4.5, 4.6, or 4.7
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Netscape 4.5, 4.6, or 4.7.
Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Enable POP in Gmail. 2. Open Netscape Mail 4.5, 4.6, or 4.7 3. Click 'Edit,' and select 'Preferences.'
4. Open 'Mail & Newsgroups,' and click 'Mail Servers.'
5. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP) server:' field, and enter your Gmail username (including '@gmail.com' in the 'Outgoing mail server user name:' field. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com' as your user name, but enter the server name provided, including 'gmail.com.' 6. Select 'Always' under 'Use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or TLS for outgoing messages:.' 7. Click 'Add...' to add a new POP Server. 8. Enter 'pop.gmail.com' in the 'Server Name:' field. Google Apps users, enter the server name provided, don't add your domain name in this step. 9. Select 'POP 3 Server' as the 'Server Type.' 10. Enter your full email address(including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the 'User Name:' field.
*Make sure the box next to 'Leave messages on server' is not checked.
11. Click 'Identity' in left column.
12. Enter your name in the 'Your Name' field. 13. Enter your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) in the 'Email Address:' field. 14. Enter your email address in the 'Reply-to Address:' field.
* Did you click 'Save Changes' after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Gmail Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings page.
Eudora for Macs
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up POP access in Eudora for Macs. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
1. Enable POP in Gmail.
2. Open Eudora. 3. Click the Special menu, and select Settings. 4. Click the Getting Started icon in the Options window. o Enter your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) in the Username field. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' o Enter pop.gmail.com in the Mail Server: field. Google Apps users, enter the server names provided, don't add your domain name in this step. o Enter smtp.gmail.com in the SMTP Server: field. 5. Click Sending mail in the Options window, and check the box next to Allow authorization. 6. Scroll through the Options window, and click the SSL box to select the personality you just created. 7. Enter the following settings: o SSL for POP: Required (Alternate Port) o SSL for SMTP: Required (Alternate Port) 8. Select TLS 1.0 for SSL negotiation. 9. Click OK.
----Troubleshooting tips:
Did you click Save Changes after enabling POP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings tab. Are you seeing a 'certificate error'? Read our help article dedicated to fixing this problem.
Troubleshooting : POP : Troubleshooting
Update Outlook
Many Outlook problems can be solved by updating your client software to the latest version. Please verify that you have all the latest updates available for your version of Microsoft Office software. Here's how:
1. 2. 3. 4. Visit http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdate/default.aspx. Click Check for Updates. Restart your computer after you have verified that all updates are installed. Try sending and receiving mail via Outlook.
My client isn't accepting my username and password
We suggest making some adjustments in your mail client's settings so you aren't always
prompted to enter your username and password. Please check the following settings in your mail client:
Make sure that you entered @gmail.com after your username. For example: john.doe@gmail.com Re-enter your password to ensure that it's correct. Keep in mind that passwords are casesensitive. Make sure your mail client isn't set to check for new mail too often. If your mail client checks for new messages more than once every 10 minutes, your client might repeatedly request your username and password.
Now, please follow the steps below to resolve the problem: 1. Disable all mail clients you're using to read Gmail messages. (If you use one at work and one at home, please disable both.) 2. From the computer on which your logins are failing, visit http://www.google.com/accounts/DisplayUnlockCaptcha 3. Enter your Gmail username and password, and the letters in the distorted picture. 4. Once you have successfully logged in, restart your mail client and try to download your mail. If you're using a Google Apps email address, please instead follow the steps below: 1. Disable all mail clients you're using to read mail. (If you use one at work and one at home, please disable both.) 2. From the computer on which your logins are failing, visit https://www.google.com/a/[your domain].com/UnlockCaptcha. Be sure to fill in your domain name in the URL. 3. Enter your email username and password, and the letters in the distorted picture. 4. Once you have successfully logged in, restart your mail client and try to download your mail.
POP: I'm having problems downloading mail
A few common reasons can cause trouble downloading mail with Gmail's POP feature. If you can't download mail, please follow this troubleshooting checklist:
Are you able to log in to the Gmail web interface?
Visit http://mail.google.com to sign in to Gmail. If you see a 'captcha' (a security image with distorted letters), you'll need to log in before you can enable POP access. If you're locked out, please wait one hour and log in to Gmail again.
Have you enabled POP in your Gmail settings?
Open the 'Forwarding and POP/IMAP' tab on your 'Settings' page, and configure POP. After enabling POP in Gmail, make sure you click 'Save Changes' so Gmail can
communicate with your mail client.
Did you enable SSL for the POP server?
Make sure SSL is active for POP in your mail client. For more information, please review the configuration instructions for your specific client.
Did you enter the correct username and password?
Verify that your username is spelled correctly, and that you've entered '@gmail.com.' Also, we suggest you re-enter your password just to be sure it's correct.
Did you try sending a message to yourself?
When you send a message to your Gmail address from your POP client, you won't receive a copy. However, messages you send to your Gmail address from your Gmail address will arrive in your inbox if you are the only recipient.
Are you only able to receive some of your mail?
After you first enable POP in your Gmail settings, your messages become available in batches as our servers communicate with your mail client. It may take some time for all of your mail to download if you have lots of messages. Also, please ensure that your POP client is configured to fully download messages. Make sure that you selected 'Remove from server,' not 'leave on server.' For more information, please visit the configuration instructions. If you continue to experience problems, please delete some of the messages you've already downloaded from the Gmail POP server.
POP: I'm having problems sending mail
There are a few common reasons why Gmail users may have trouble sending mail with Gmail's POP feature. If you can't send mail, here's a troubleshooting checklist:
Are you able to sign in to the Gmail web interface?
Visit http://mail.google.com to sign in to Gmail. If you see a 'captcha' (a security image with distorted letters), you'll need to log in before you can enable POP access. If you're locked out of your account, please wait one hour and log in to Gmail again.
Have you enabled POP in your Gmail settings?
Open the 'Forwarding and POP/IMAP' tab on your 'Settings' page, and configure POP. After enabling POP in Gmail, make sure you click 'Save Changes' so Gmail can communicate with your mail client.
Did you enable SSL for the SMTP server?
Make sure SSL is active for SMTP in your mail client. For more information, please review the configuration instructions for your specific client.
Did you set 'allow authentication' for the SMTP server?
Check that 'allow authentication' is active for the SMTP server in your mail client. For more information, please review the configuration instructions for your specific client.
Does your Internet Service Provider block Port 25?
Many ISPs block Port 25 - if yours does, your mail client can't send messages to Gmail's SMTP server. If you can receive mail, but not send mail, change your SMTP port to 465 (for SSL) or 587 (for TLS).
Did you enter the correct username and password?
Verify that your username is spelled correctly, and that you've entered '@gmail.com.' Also, you should re-enter your password just to be sure it's correct.
Are you trying to send attachments?
As a security measure to prevent potential viruses, Gmail does not allow you to send or receive executable files that could contain damaging executable code. Also note that with Gmail, you can send and receive messages up to 10 megabytes (MB) in size.
Still can't send mail?
If you tried configuring your SMTP server on port 465 (with SSL) and port 587 (with TLS), but are still having trouble sending mail, try configuring your SMTP to use port 25 (with SSL).
Troubleshooting : IMAP : Configuring
Outlook 2007
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in Outlook 2007. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
To set up your Outlook 2007 client to work with Gmail:
Open Outlook. For new setups, select Do not upgrade. Click Yes. Enter your display name, email address (including '@gmail.com'), and password. Google Apps users, enter your full email address, e.g. 'username@your_domain.com.' 5. Select the 'Manually configure server settings or additional server types' checkbox. 1. 2. 3. 4.
6. Select Internet E-mail. 7. Settings: name, full email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') o In the Account Type dropdown menu, select IMAP; enter the incoming and outgoing server names shown below. o In the 'User Name' field, give your full Gmail address, including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com.'
o
After creating these settings, clicking Next takes you to the end of the setup.
8. In the Tools menu, select Options then Mail Setup. Under 'Email Accounts,' click E-mail Accounts. 9. Select an account, and click Change above the list of accounts. Click More Settings, then the Advanced tab. o Incoming server must be 993, and must use SSL encryption. o Outgoing server can use 587, TLS encryption.
10. Click the Outgoing Server tab. Make sure that 'My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication' is selected. The radio button 'Use same settings as my incoming mail server' should also be selected.
11. Click OK > Next > Finish > Close > OK. 12. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
Outlook 2003
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in Outlook 2003. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
To set up your Outlook 2003 client to work with Gmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Enable IMAP in Gmail. Don't forget to click Save Changes when you're done. Open Outlook. Click the Tools menu, and select E-mail Accounts... Click Add a new e-mail account, then click Next. Choose IMAP as your server type by clicking the radio button, and click Next. Fill in all necessary fields to include the following information:
User Information Your Name: Enter your name as you would like it to appear in the From: field of outgoing messages. Email Address: Enter your full email address (username@gmail.com). Google Apps users, enter your address in the format username@your_domain.com
Server Information Incoming mail server (IMAP): imap.gmail.com Outgoing mail server (SMTP): smtp.gmail.com Login Information User Name: Enter your full email address (including @gmail.com or @your_domain.com) Password: Enter your Gmail password.
7. Click More Settings... and then click the Outgoing Server tab. 8. Check the box next to 'My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication' and select Use same settings as my incoming mail server.
9. Click the Advanced tab, and check the box next to 'This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL)' under Incoming Server (IMAP).
10. Check the box next to 'This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL)' under Outgoing Server (SMTP), and enter 465 in the Outgoing server (SMTP) box. 11. Click OK. 12. Click Test Account Settings... After receiving the message 'Congratulations! All tests completed successfully', click Close. 13. Click Next, and then click Finish. 14. Download the latest updates for Outlook from Microsoft. This will help prevent the most common Outlook errors that Gmail users see. 15. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
Congratulations! You're done configuring your client to send and retrieve Gmail messages.
Thunderbird 2.0
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in Thunderbird 2.0. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
Note: if you're using an older version of Thunderbird, we highly recommend upgrading to version 2.0. To set up your Thunderbird client to work with Gmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Enable IMAP in Gmail. Make sure you click Save Changes when you're done. Open Thunderbird, and select Tools > Account Settings. Click Add Account. Select the Email account radio button and click Next. The Identity screen appears. Enter your full name in the Your Name field. Enter your Gmail address (username@gmail.com) in the Email Address field, and click Next. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format username@your_domain.com 6. Select IMAP as the type of incoming server you are using. Enter imap.gmail.com in the Incoming Server field. 7. Set the Outgoing Server to smtp.gmail.com and click Next.
8. Enter your full email address (including @gmail.com @your_domain.com) in the Incoming User Name and Outgoing User Name fields, and click Next.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
Enter a name for your email account in the Account Name field, and click Next. Verify your account information in the dialog box, and click Finish. Select Server Settings from the folder list below your new account. Update the Port value to 993. In the Security Settings section, select SSL from the Use secure connection options. Select the 'Check for messages at startup' checkbox and the 'Check for new messages every 10 minutes' checkbox. 15. Click Outgoing Server (SMTP) in the folder list.
16. Select the smtp.gmail.com (Default) entry from the list and click Edit. The SMTP Server page appears. 17. Enter smtp.gmail.com as the Server Name and set the Port to 587. 18. Select User name and password and enter your full email address (including @gmail.com or @your_domain.com) in the User Name field. 19. Select TLS from the Use secure connection radio buttons and click OK. 20. Click OK to save your changes and exit the Account Settings dialog.
21. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
Outlook Express
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in Outlook Express. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
To set up your Outlook Express client to work with Gmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Enable IMAP in Gmail. Don't forget to click Save Changes when you're done. Open Outlook Express. Click the Tools menu, and select Accounts... Click Add, and then click Mail... Enter your name in the 'Display name' field, and click Next. Enter your full email address (username@gmail.com) in the 'Email address' field, and click Next. If you are a Google Apps user, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' For 'My incoming mail server is a ______ server', please select IMAP in the drop-down menu. Enter 'imap.gmail.com' in the 'Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP or HTTP) server' field. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP) server' field. Click Next. Enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the 'Account name' field. Enter your password in the 'Password' field, and click Next.
7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14.
Click Finish. Highlight imap.gmail.com under Account, and click Properties. Click the Advanced tab. Under Outgoing Mail (SMTP), check the box next to 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL).' 15. Enter '465' in the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP)' field. 16. Under Incoming mail (IMAP), check the box next to 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL)'. The port will change to '993'.
17. Click the Servers tab, and check the box next to 'My server requires authentication.'
18. Click OK. 19. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
Congratulations! You're done configuring your client to send and retrieve Gmail messages.
Configuring other mail clients
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in most email clients. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
You can use the following information to configure IMAP with many mail clients. If you encounter difficulties, we suggest contacting your mail client's customer support department for further instructions -- we're unable to provide assistance with configuring mail clients not listed here.
Incoming Mail (IMAP) Server - requires SSL:
imap.gmail.com Use SSL: Yes Port: 993 smtp.gmail.com (use authentication) Use Authentication: Yes Use STARTTLS: Yes (some clients call this SSL) Port: 465 or 587 your full email address (including @gmail.com) Google Apps users, please enter username@your_domain.com your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) Google Apps users, please enter username@your_domain.com your Gmail password
Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server - requires TLS:
Account Name:
Email Address:
Password:
Please note that if your client does not support SMTP authentication, you won't be able to send mail through your client using your Gmail address. Also, if you're having trouble sending mail but you've confirmed that encyrption is active for SMTP in your mail client, try to configure your SMTP server on a different port: 465 or 587.
iPhone
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access on the iPhone. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
To configure IMAP for your iPhone, just watch our video or follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Enable IMAP in your Gmail settings. Tap Settings. Tap Mail. Tap Add Account. Tap Other. (Note: If you're running software update 1.1.3 or later, tapping the 'Gmail' icon will automatically configure IMAP. However, archiving and deleting messages will work differently. If you want your Gmail IMAP actions to operate as designed, please continue on to the next step.
6. Make sure that: o The IMAP tab is highlighted o Host Name is imap.gmail.com o User Name is your full Gmail address, including '@gmail.com.' Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com'
o
For Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP), Host Name is smtp.gmail.com
7. Tap Save. 8. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
And you're done. You can verify your Advanced settings by tapping Settings > [your Gmail IMAP Account] > Advanced. Incoming Settings Use SSL: ON Authentication: password Server Port: 993 Outgoing Settings Use SSL: ON Authentication: Password Server Port: 587
Now that your account is set up, learn how actions in your client sync with Gmail.
Apple Mail 3.0 (Leopard)
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in Apple Mail 3.0. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
Please note that if you're adding your Gmail address to Apple Mail 3.0 for the first time, your mail will be automatically configured for POP access. In order to configure IMAP, please follow these steps:
1. Click Mail > Preferences.... 2. On the Accounts tab, click the + button to add a new account. 3. Fill in the new window with the following information: o Full Name: [your name] o Email Address: your full email address [username@gmail.com, or username@your_domain.com for Google Apps users] o Password: your Gmail password o Important: please deselect the box next to 'Automatically set up account' 4. Click Create. 5. Fill in the following Incoming Mail Server information: o Account Type: Select IMAP o Incoming Mail Server: Change this to imap.gmail.com o User Name: your full email address [username@gmail.com, or username@your_domain.com for Google Apps users] o Password: your Gmail password 6. Click Continue. 7. Enter the following Outgoing Mail Server information: o Outgoing Mail Server: smtp.gmail.com o Use Authentication: selected o User Name: your full Gmail address [username@gmail.com, or username@your_domain.com for Google Apps users] o Password: your Gmail password 8. Click Continue. 9. Review your Account Summary, and click Create. 10. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
You're done!
Apple Mail 2.0
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in Apple Mail 2.0. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
To set up your Apple Mail client to work with Gmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Enable IMAP in Gmail. Open Apple Mail. Click 'Mail,' and select 'Preferences...' Open the 'Accounts' tab, and click the plus sign (+) along the bottom to add a new account. Select 'IMAP' in the 'Account Type' drop-down menu. Enter your name and Gmail address in the appropriate fields, then click 'Continue.' Google Apps users: Enter your full email address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.'
7. Enter 'imap.gmail.com' next to 'Incoming Mail Server'; enter your full Gmail address next to 'User Name'; enter your Gmail password; then click 'Continue.' Google Apps users: Enter the server name provided, don't add your domain name in this step.
8. For Outgoing Mail Server, enter 'smtp.gmail.com'; select 'Use Authentication'; enter your full Gmail address next to 'User Name'; and enter your password. Then click 'Continue.' Google Apps users: Enter the server name provided, but enter your full email address at your domain as the User Name.
9. If setup is successful, you'll see the screen below. Then just click 'Done.'
10. Click the 'Server Settings...' button.
11. 12. 13. 14.
Verify that 'Outgoing Mail Server' is smtp.gmail.com:username@gmail.com. Verify that 'Server port' is 587. Verify that 'Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)' is checked. Enter your full Gmail or Google Apps email address next to 'User Name,' enter your password, and click 'OK.'
15. Click 'Advanced' and check the box next to 'Use SSL.' (The port changes to '993.')
16. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
* Did you click 'Save Changes' after enabling IMAP in Gmail? To ensure that Gmail can communicate with your mail client, be sure to click Save Changes on the Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings page.
Windows Mail
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in Windows Mail. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
To set up your Windows Mail client to work with Gmail, just follow these steps:
1. Open Windows Mail. The wizard pops up if it's your first time using it; otherwise, simply click Tools > Accounts > Add. 2. Enter your name, then click Next.
3. Enter your complete Gmail address, and click Next. Google Apps users, enter your address in the format username@your_domain.com.
4. Choose IMAP input given servers, and check 'Outgoing server requires authentication'; click Next.
5. Enter your full email address and password, and click Next.
6. Click through (the checkbox is optional), then click Finish. 7. Select Tools > Accounts > IMAP account, then select Properties > Advanced. o Enter given port numbers, check both secure connection boxes, and click Apply. o Click Close.
8. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
Windows Mobile 6
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in Windows Mobile 6. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
To configure IMAP for your Windows Mobile 6 device, just follow these steps:
1. Enable IMAP in your Gmail settings. 2. Open the Start menu and select Programs > Messaging > New E-mail Account.
3. Enter your Gmail address (including '@gmail.com') in the E-mail Address field*. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com'*. * Windows Mobile 6.1 users: Enter an unintelligible email address (such as 'g@g') at this step. This will bypass the automatic configuration for POP access. 4. Uncheck the box that asks to get settings automatically from the Internet and select Next. 5. Select Internet e-mail as your email provider in the drop-down menu. 6. Enter your name as you want it to appear in sent emails. 7. Enter a descriptive name for the email account and select Next. 8. Enter 'imap.gmail.com' in the Incoming Mail Server field. 9. Select IMAP4 as the Account type from the drop-down menu and select Next. 10. Enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') and password. 11. Select Next. 12. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the Outgoing (SMTP) Mail Server field. 13. Make sure that the Outgoing server requires authentication box is checked. 14. Select the Advanced Server Settings link. 15. Make sure that the Require SSL box is checked for both incoming and outgoing emails. 16. Select The Internet as the network connection from the drop-down menu. 17. Select Done and then Next. 18. Select how often you want your phone to send/receive emails from the drop-down menu. 19. For more download options, select the Review all download settings link. 20. Select Finish. 21. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
BlackBerry
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access on your BlackBerry. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
To configure IMAP access for your BlackBerry, just follow these steps:
1. Enable IMAP in your Gmail settings. 2. From your BlackBerry home screen, select the BlackBerry Set-up icon, then choose Personal Email Set-up. (On older devices, just look for the Personal Email Set-up icon.) 3. Select Personal Email Set-up. 4. Accept Terms and Conditions. 5. On the 'Email Account Set-up' page, enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') but leave the 'Password:' field blank. Select Next. 6. You'll see a screen that says 'We were unable to configure [username@gmail.com].' Select I will provide the settings to add this email account, then Next. 7. Select Internet Service Provider Email (POP/IMAP), then Next. 8. Select I will provide the settings to add this email account, then Next. 9. You'll see 'The BlackBerry Internet Service could not configure [username@gmail.com] email
account.' Select Provide The Settings to continue. 10. In the 'User name:' field, enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com'). Google Apps users, please enter your full email address at your domain. Then enter your password in the 'Password:' field. 11. In the 'Email server:' field, enter 'imap.gmail.com,' then select Next. Google Apps users should enter the server name provided; don't add your domain name in this step. 12. If IMAP access was successfully configured, select OK. 13. Below your newly added Gmail address, select Edit. 14. Select Advanced Settings at the bottom. 15. Make sure the port is set to '993' and 'Use SSL' is set to 'Yes.' 16. Select Save.
There should now be a new mailbox icon on your BlackBerry home screen labeled with your Gmail address. Once you see this icon, follow these steps to ensure proper configuration:
1. 2. 3. 4. Open the mailbox icon. Open the menu by pressing the jog wheel or BlackBerry menu button, then select Options. Select Email Reconciliation. Confirm the following settings: o Delete On: Mailbox & Handheld o Wireless Reconcile: On o On Conflicts: Mailbox Wins 5. Select Save. 6. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
Symbian S60
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access on your Symbian S60 device. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
To configure IMAP for your Symbian S60 device, just follow these steps:
1. Enable IMAP in your Gmail settings. 2. Select 'Messaging' > 'Options' > 'Settings' > 'E-mail' > 'Mailboxes.' 3. If you have never set up email on your phone before, select 'Yes' to define a new mailbox. If you already have other mailboxes, select 'Options' and then 'New mailbox.' 4. Select 'Start' to begin the setup wizard. 5. Select 'IMAP4' and then 'Next.' 6. Enter your full email address (including '@gmail.com') as the email address and select 'Next.' Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' 7. Enter 'imap.gmail.com' as the incoming mail server and select 'Next.' 8. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' as the outgoing mail server and select 'Next.'
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Select the appropriate access point and then 'Next.' Enter a descriptive name for the email account mailbox name. Once your mailbox is set up, select it from the email mailbox settings screen. Select 'Connection settings' > 'Incoming e-mail.' Enter your address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') and password. Select 'SSL/TLS' for your security (ports) and define your port as '993.' Select 'Back.' Select 'Outgoing e-mail.' Enter your email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') and password. Select 'StartTLS' for your security (ports) and define your port as '587.' Select 'Back' and change any other settings according to your preferences. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
Windows Mobile 5
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in Windows Mobile 5. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
To configure IMAP for your Windows Mobile 5 device, just follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Enable IMAP in your Gmail settings. Open the Start menu and select Messaging > New Account.... Select Other (POP3/IMAP) for your e-mail provider and select Next. Enter your name as you want it to appear in sent messages. Enter your Gmail address (including '@gmail.com') in the E-mail Address field. Google Apps users, enter your full address in the format 'username@your_domain.com.' Uncheck 'Attempt to obtain e-mail settings from the Internet', and select Next. Enter your email address (including '@gmail.com' or '@your_domain.com') in the User name field. Enter your email password in the Password field. Leave the Domain field blank, and select Next. Select IMAP4 for the Server Type. Enter a descriptive name for account in the Account name field. In the Network field select how you want the device to connect to the Internet to access Gmail IMAP, and select Next. Enter 'imap.gmail.com' in the Incoming Server field, and check Require SSL connection. Enter 'smtp.gmail.com' in the Outgoing Server field, and check Outgoing server requires authentication. Select Outgoing Server Settings. Make sure 'Use different user name for outgoing server' is NOT checked. Make sure 'Require SSL Connection' IS checked. Select Done.
19. Select Next. 20. You can change how much mail is downloaded to the phone. Adjust these preferences if desired, then select Next. 21. Select how often you want the device to automatically check for new messages, and select Next. 22. Select Finish. 23. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
SnapperMail
The Quick Answer
Follow the instructions below to set up IMAP access in SnapperMail. Google Apps users, please follow the default instructions unless otherwise noted, replacing 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
You'll need the Enterprise edition of SnapperMail to access your email messages with IMAP. Here's how to configure SnapperMail:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Enable IMAP in your Gmail settings. Tap Menu. Select Accounts. Select New Account.... Select IMAP4.... Type a name/description for the account. Type the following: o Your name o Your full email address Select Server. Select the following and type connection details: o IMAP4 Server is imap.gmail.com for both Gmail and Google Apps o Username is your full email address, including @gmail.com or @your_domain.com o Password is your email password o SMTP Server is smtp.gmail.com o Username is your full email address, including @gmail.com or @your_domain.com o Password is your email password Select More... Select Always secure (wrapped port) under IMAP4 Settings. Select Always secure (wrapped port) under SMTP Settings. Deselect all checkboxes. Select OK, then OK again, then Done. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client's settings as needed.
8. 9.
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
:
Settings won't save
Symptoms: After altering your settings and clicking Save Changes, the changes are not saved. No error is shown. Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No
Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Can't sign out
Symptoms: After clicking Sign out, nothing happens. No error is shown. Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
I was using chat in Firefox, and my browser crashed.
AdBlock sometimes interferes with Gmail's chat features, causing Firefox to crash. Our engineers are working hard to fix the problem, but in the meantime, disable AdBlock for testing purposes, and clear your browser's cache. Then, log back in to Gmail. If disabling AdBlock resolves the problem, but you'd still like to use it in conjunction with Gmail, you may want to contact AdBlock's support team for help customizing your settings so you can still access your Gmail account after re-enabling the extension. Also, some of our users have reported that AdBlock Plus works in conjunction with chat in Gmail, so you may want to download that as an alternative.
Technical Difficulties in Chat
If your chat window indicates that you're having 'Technical Difficulties,' you can try using our secure site available at https://mail.google.com/mail. Gmail offers this encrypted site for extra security. Because browsers and security applications are more likely to trust encrypted data, visiting Gmail through its encrypted login will often resolve issues caused by that software. Did the secure site resolve the problem?
No, I tried the secure site, but my issue continues Yes, I tried the secure site, and my problem is resolved
What browser are you using?
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Are you using Internet Explorer 7.0?
Yes, I'm using IE 7.0 No, I use a different version of IE
Did disabling Google Web Accelerator resolve the problem?
I don't have Google Web Accelerator, or I disabled it and the problem continues Yes, the problem is resolved
Can't see 'Add to calendar' link in Gmail
When you're reading an email with calendar-related keywords, an "Add to calendar" link should appear in the right column. Google Calendar is pretty good at recognizing keywords that trigger the link, but it's not perfect. For example, with short messages, there may not be enough calendar-related keywords to trigger the link. We're working to improve keyword recognition for the "Add to calendar" feature, and we appreciate your patience. Another thing to keep in mind is that Calendar features are currently only available to users whose Gmail language settings are set to "US English." To learn how to change your language settings, please visit In which languages is Gmail available?
Disable notifications for all events on a calendar
If you wish to disable all of the event notifications for a specific calendar, please follow these instructions:
1. In the calendar list on the left side of the page, click the down-arrow next to the appropriate calendar and select Notifications. (Alternatively, click the Settings link at the bottom of the calendar list, then click the Notifications link to the right of the appropriate calendar.) 2. Click the remove link next to each reminder set in the Event reminder section. 3. Then, deselect any selected boxes in the Choose how you would like to be notified section. 4. Click Save.
Please note that when you make changes to the reminder settings for events on your calendar, the changes will only apply to you. Invited guests or those who have access to the events will receive reminders according to their own Google Calendar reminder settings.
The Notifier is showing the wrong number of messages
To fix this problem, please uninstall the Notifier, and download the latest version. If you use Windows, please follow these steps to uninstall:
1. 2. 3. 4. Open the Windows Control Panel. Open Add or Remove Programs. Highlight Google Gmail Notifier in the list of programs currently installed on your computer. Click Remove.
To download the latest version of the Notifier, please follow these steps:
1. Visit http://mail.google.com/mail/help/notifier/. 2. Click Download Gmail Notifier in the upper right corner of the page, and follow the prompts.
If you use a Mac: To uninstall the Notifier with Mac OS X, please drag the application's icon to the Trash. To download the latest version of the Notifier, please follow these steps:
1. Visit http://mail.google.com/mail/help/notifier/notifier_mac.html. 2. Click Download Google Notifier for Mac in the upper right corner of the page, and follow the prompts.
Chat is disabled
Symptoms: Your Chat window shows this error:
Your Network administrator has disabled chat in Gmail.
Cause: Your network administrator or ISP has chosen to block chat in Gmail. If you've verified that your network has not blocked chat, this may be caused by a conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server.
Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes
No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Contacts Issues Summary
To find your Contacts List issue, please browse through the topics listed to the left. Clicking on a specific topic will display information for that issue or open a list of more specific sub-topics. We've tried to list every technical problem users encounter, so please look carefully for the issue that's affecting you.
New Bug - Sending For the latest information on known bugs, suggested workarounds, and recent fixes, please visit our Known Issues page.
We've tried to list all the technical problems Gmail users face, but we understand that new issues may occur. All our Composing & Sending issues are listed below, along with some popular topics that you won't find in this section. Top 10: (show all)
'Oops...' error with code '007' or '008' when sending Nothing happens when I click send 'Oops...' error with a code that's not '007' or '008' when sending An outgoing message wasn't delivered An outgoing message bounced back to me I can't use Rich Text formatting I reached the sending limit An attachment was too large I can't forward attachments A message I sent had garbled encoding
Other Issues:
My password doesn't work I forgot my username My inbox won't load Temporary Error (502) POP sending problems
If your issue isn't listed above or in the links to the left, you can report it using the link below. Please note: Every report made through this link will be read so we can continue to identify and resolve new issues. However, if troubleshooting information for your issue is available among the options listed to the left, you will not receive a response; and if your issue isn't listed in our Help Center, you'll only receive a response if we require more information about the problem. Thank you for your understanding.
Settings Issues Summary
To find your Settings issue, please browse through the topics listed to the left. Clicking on a specific topic will display information for that issue or open a list of more specific sub-topics. We've tried to list every technical problem users encounter, so please look carefully for the issue that's affecting you.
Notifier Issues Summary
To find your Gmail Notifier issue, please browse through the topics listed to the left. Clicking on a specific topic will display information for that issue or open a list of more specific subtopics. We've tried to list every technical problem users encounter, so please look carefully for the issue that's affecting you.
Troubleshooter: Outgoing Attachment Problem
If attachments you've sent are garbled or missing when they reach their destination, we can use the headers of the message to diagnose the issue. Clicking the link below will take you to a form where you can send the headers to the Gmail Team for further investigation. Please follow the instructions on the form to make sure you're sending us all the header information we need.
Click here to report your issue.
New Bug - Notifier For the latest information on known bugs, suggested workarounds, and recent fixes, please visit our Known Issues page.
We've tried to list all the technical problems Gmail users face, but we understand that new issues may occur. All our Gmail Notifier issues are listed below, along with some popular topics that you won't find in this section. Notifier Issues:
Error 12007 Error 12029 Error 12037 Bad Data 1 Bad Data 3 I can't install the Notifier I want the Notifier to check a different address
Other Issues:
My password doesn't work I forgot my username My inbox won't load Temporary Error (502) 'Oops...' error with code '007' or '008'
If your issue isn't listed above or in the links to the left, you can report it using the link below. Please note: Every report made through this link will be read so we can continue to identify and resolve new issues. However, if troubleshooting information for your issue is available among the options listed to the left, you will not receive a response; and if your issue isn't listed in our Help Center, you'll only receive a response if we require more information about the problem. Thank you for your understanding.
Registration Issues Summary
To find your Registration & Invitations issue, please browse through the topics listed to the left. Clicking on a specific topic will display information for that issue or open a list of more specific sub-topics. We've tried to list every technical problem users encounter, so please look carefully for the issue that's affecting you.
Is IMAP enabled?
To enable IMAP in Gmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sign in to Gmail. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Select Enable IMAP. Configure your IMAP client and click Save Changes.
Note: At this time, it's not possible to enable IMAP while using the basic HTML interface. Please use the standard view to see this option.
New Bug - Receiving For the latest information on known bugs, suggested workarounds, and recent fixes, please visit our Known Issues page.
We've tried to list all the technical problems Gmail users face, but we understand that new issues may occur.
All our Receiving & Reading issues are listed below, along with some popular topics that you won't find in this section. Top 10: (show all)
Nothing happens when I click on links or messages A message wasn't delivered to me My inbox won't load I'm forced to the basic HTML view A message is missing from Gmail 'Oops...' error with code '007' or '008' when clicking links or messages Message encoding was garbled An incoming message bounced back to the sender An incoming message was delayed 'Oops...' error with a code that's not '007' or '008' when clicking links or messages
Other Issues:
My password doesn't work I forgot my username My inbox won't load Temporary Error (502) POP download problems Reporting abuse to Google
If your issue isn't listed above or in the links to the left, you can report it using the link below. Please note: Every report made through this link will be read so we can continue to identify and resolve new issues. However, if troubleshooting information for your issue is available among the options listed to the left, you will not receive a response; and if your issue isn't listed in our Help Center, you'll only receive a response if we require more information about the problem. Thank you for your understanding.
New Bug - Contacts For the latest information on known bugs, suggested workarounds, and recent fixes, please visit our Known Issues page.
We've tried to list all the technical problems Gmail users face, but we understand that new issues may occur. All our Contacts issues are listed below, along with some popular topics that you won't find in this section. Top 10: (show all)
My 'Import' or 'Export' link won't open Auto-complete doesn't work for my contacts My friends don't appear in my Quick Contacts I get an error when importing my CSV file How can I forward a message to multiple recipients? Gmail says I'm having technical difficulties with Chat Chat won't load I don't have Chat Gmail says my network administrator has disabled Chat
Other Issues:
My password doesn't work I forgot my username My inbox won't load Temporary Error (502) 'Oops...' error with code '007' or '008'
If your issue isn't listed above or in the links to the left, you can report it using the link below. Please note: Every report made through this link will be read so we can continue to identify and resolve new issues. However, if troubleshooting information for your issue is available among the options listed to the left, you will not receive a response; and if your issue isn't listed in our Help Center, you'll only receive a response if we require more information about the problem. Thank you for your understanding.
Unresponsive contacts import or export
Symptoms: When trying to import or export contacts, nothing happens. No error is shown. Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox
Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Feature Request
While Gmail doesn't currently support this functionality, we are testing many new features to improve Gmail. To suggest a feature, please contact us.
Troubleshooter: Other Oops Errors If you're seeing an 'Oops' message and the error code is not '007' or '008', it means that Gmail is temporarily unavailable. These errors generally resolve themselves within a few minutes, so please wait a bit before trying to use Gmail again. Please note that while Gmail is inaccessible, your messages and personal information are safe. If you continue to see this error over an extended period of time, please let us know so we can look into the issue.
For the latest information on other errors, please visit our Known Issues page.
Click here to report your issue.
Returned to login screen
Symptoms: After clicking Sign in, you are returned to the login screen. No error is shown. Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere
with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Is POP enabled?
To make sure POP is enabled:
1. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page. 2. Click the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. 3. After enabling POP access, click Save Changes so that Gmail can communicate with your mail client.
New Bug - Chat For the latest information on known bugs, suggested workarounds, and recent fixes, please visit our Known Issues page.
We've tried to list all the technical problems Gmail users face, but we understand that new issues may occur. All our Chat issues are listed below, along with some popular topics that you won't find in this section. Top 10: (show all)
Chat won't load I don't have Chat in Gmail Gmail says my network administrator has disabled Chat My friends don't appear in my Quick Contacts Chat is frozen Gmail says I'm having technical difficulties with Chat I want to disable Chat in Gmail I want to disable chat on my network Chat messages I send aren't delivered Chat crashes my browser
Other Issues:
My password doesn't work I forgot my username My inbox won't load Temporary Error (502) 'Oops...' error with code '007' or '008' Reporting abuse to Google
If your issue isn't listed above or in the links to the left, you can report it using the link below. Please note: Every report made through this link will be read so we can continue to identify and resolve new issues. However, if troubleshooting information for your issue is available among the options listed to the left, you will not receive a response; and if your issue isn't listed in our
Help Center, you'll only receive a response if we require more information about the problem. Thank you for your understanding.
Login Issues Summary
To find your Signing In & Loading issue, please browse through the topics listed to the left. Clicking on a specific topic will display information for that issue or open a list of more specific sub-topics. We've tried to list every technical problem users encounter, so please look carefully for the issue that's affecting you.
Attachment won't download
Symptoms: After clicking Download, nothing happens or the file won't download completely. Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus
ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes
No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Unresponsive Messages and Links
Symptoms: While using Gmail, some or all links in the interface (to Settings, to Contacts, to individual messages, etc.) don't work. No error appears. Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus
ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes
No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Troubleshooter: Incoming Message Delayed If you've received new mail, but noticed a delay between the sending and delivery times, we can use the headers of the message to diagnose the delay. Clicking the link below will take you to a form where you can send the headers to the Gmail Team for further investigation. Please follow the instructions on the form to make sure you're sending us all the header information we need.
Click here to report your issue.
Receiving Issues Summary
To find your Receiving & Reading Messages issue, please browse through the topics listed to the left. Clicking on a specific topic will display information for that issue or open a list of more specific sub-topics. We've tried to list every technical problem users encounter, so please look carefully for the issue that's affecting you.
Troubleshooter: Incoming Encoding Garbled - Language
Gmail encodes your mail based on your language settings -- if you can't properly receive messages in languages other than English, we suggest adjusting your browser's encoding settings.
To adjust encoding settings in Internet Explorer, please follow these steps:
1. Click the 'View' menu at the top of your browser, and select 'Encoding.' 2. Select 'Unicode (UTF-8)' from the list of options.
If you continue to have trouble reading mail in languages other than English, the problem is most likely a result of mail clients which convert encodings during the transmission of messages. We are aware this issue, and our engineers are working diligently to find a solution.
In the meantime, you can view messages properly by opening the original sent message. To view the original message, please follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sign in to Gmail. Open the conversation containing the message you would like to view. Click the down arrow next to Reply, at the top-right of the message pane. Click 'Show original.'
If you're still experiencing issues after following these instructions, please provide us with the full headers of the message in question and we'll investigate further.
Click here to report your issue.
Chat won't load Please note that Gmail only supports chat in Internet Explorer 6+, Mozilla Firefox 1.0+, and Safari 3.0+.
Symptoms: In your inbox, your Chat window appears but does not finish loading. Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: We suggest following the instructions below in the order provided. Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee
Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes
No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No
Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit the Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
New Bug - POP For the latest information on known bugs, suggested workarounds, and recent fixes, please visit our Known Issues page.
We've tried to list all the technical problems Gmail users face, but we understand that new issues may occur. All our POP Access issues are listed below, along with some popular topics that you won't find in this section. Top 10: (show all)
Configuring POP POP download problems POP sending problems How do I know if POP is enabled? Outlook can't send test messages I'm prompted for my username and password Mail Fetcher setup problems I can't save changes to my Gmail settings I'm using multiple POP clients
Mail Fetcher gives me an error
Other Issues:
My password doesn't work I forgot my username My inbox won't load Temporary Error (502) 'Oops...' error with code '007' or '008'
If your issue isn't listed above or in the links to the left, you can report it using the link below. Please note: Every report made through this link will be read so we can continue to identify and resolve new issues. However, if troubleshooting information for your issue is available among the options listed to the left, you will not receive a response; and if your issue isn't listed in our Help Center, you'll only receive a response if we require more information about the problem. Thank you for your understanding.
POP Issues Summary
To find your POP Access issue, please browse through the topics listed to the left. Clicking on a specific topic will display information for that issue or open a list of more specific sub-topics. We've tried to list every technical problem users encounter, so please look carefully for the issue that's affecting you.
IMAP Issues Summary
To find your IMAP Access issue, please browse through the topics listed to the left. Clicking on a specific topic will display information for that issue or open a list of more specific sub-topics. We've tried to list every technical problem users encounter, so please look carefully for the issue that's affecting you.
Troubleshooter: Incoming Encoding Garbled
Each time you view messages sent to your Gmail address, our system determines what encoding was used by the sender in order to display the mail. If Gmail isn't able to accurately detect the encoding of a message, it may not be displayed properly. Our engineers are working hard to find a solution to this problem. In the meantime, you can view your messages by opening an original copy. Here's how:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Sign in to Gmail. Open the conversation containing the message you would like to view. Click the down arrow next to Reply, at the top-right of the message pane. Click Message text garbled?
Here's how to adjust encoding settings in Internet Explorer: 1. From the View menu, select Encoding. 2. Choose an encoding from the list of options. (Additional languages are available by selecting More.) Here's how to adjust encoding settings in Firefox: 1. From the View menu, select Character Encoding. 2. Choose an encoding from the list of options. (Additional languages are available under More Encodings.) Here's how to adjust encoding settings in Safari: 1. Click View along the top of your browser, select Text Encoding. 2. Choose an encoding from the list of options.
If you're still experiencing issues after following these instructions, please provide us with the full headers of the message in question and we'll investigate further.
Click here to report your issue.
Sending Issues Summary
To find your Composing & Sending issue, please browse through the topics listed to the left. Clicking on a specific topic will display information for that issue or open a list of more specific sub-topics. We've tried to list every technical problem users encounter, so please look carefully for the issue that's affecting you.
Chat Issues Summary
To find your Chat issue, please browse through the topics listed to the left. Clicking on a specific topic will display information for that issue or open a list of more specific sub-topics. We've tried to list every technical problem users encounter, so please look carefully for the issue that's affecting you.
Why are features missing in Google Apps?
Some features are released for Gmail before they're released to Google Apps. Over time, we hope to make all features universally available, but we can't reveal when that will happen.
New Bug - Login For the latest information on known bugs, suggested workarounds, and recent fixes, please visit our Known Issues page.
We've tried to list all the technical problems Gmail users face, but we understand that new issues may occur. All our Signing In & Loading issues are listed below, along with some popular topics that you won't find in this section. Top 10: (show all)
Stuck on 'Loading...' My password doesn't work 'Oops...' error with code '007' or '008' Stuck in Basic HTML view Temporary Error (502) 'Oops...' error with a code that's not '007' or '008' Stuck on a blank white page I forgot my username My username and password don't match My browser redirects endlessly on sign in
Other Issues:
POP configuration problems POP client prompts for username and password Nothing happens when I click on messages or links I can't save changes to my settings An incoming message didn't arrive
If your issue isn't listed above or in the links to the left, you can report it using the link below. Please note: Every report made through this link will be read so we can continue to identify and resolve new issues. However, if troubleshooting information for your issue is available among the options listed to the left, you will not receive a response; and if your issue isn't listed in our
Help Center, you'll only receive a response if we require more information about the problem. Thank you for your understanding.
New Bug - Registration For the latest information on known bugs, suggested workarounds, and recent fixes, please visit our Known Issues page.
We've tried to list all the technical problems Gmail users face, but we understand that new issues may occur. All our Registration & Invitations issues are listed below, along with some popular topics that you won't find in this section. Registration Issues:
I forgot my username My link to send invitations won't open I don't have invitations in Gmail I want to change my username A username I want is not available I want to delete my address Someone has the same username I do My invite link was already used
Other Issues:
My password doesn't work My inbox won't load Temporary Error (502) 'Oops...' error with code '007' or '008' 'Oops...' error with a code that's not '007' or '008'
If your issue isn't listed above or in the links to the left, you can report it using the link below. Please note: Every report made through this link will be read so we can continue to identify and resolve new issues. However, if troubleshooting information for your issue is available among the options listed to the left, you will not receive a response; and if your issue isn't listed in our Help Center, you'll only receive a response if we require more information about the problem. Thank you for your understanding.
Outgoing messages are garbled
Each time you send messages from your Gmail address, our system determines what encoding to use to properly store your text. Factors that determine the encoding choice include your Gmail interface language, the character encoding settings in your browser, and the text you've typed in the message body. If recipients are unable to properly view messages you've sent, we suggest they change their browser encoding settings or attempt to view the message headers. If you know the recipient domain supports UTF-8 encoding, enabling UTF-8 encoding in your Gmail settings will solve most encoding issues. If you're still having problems with the encoding of messages you've sent, we can use the headers of the message to diagnose the issue. Clicking the link below will take you to a form where you can send the headers to the Gmail Team for further investigation. Please follow the instructions on the form to make sure you're sending us all the header information we need. Contact us.
Troubleshooter: Incoming Messages Bounced
If a sender's messages to your address are being returned as undeliverable, the bounce message that they receive contains more information about the issue. Please ask the sender for the details of the bounce message and select the appropriate option below.
'Our system detected an illegal attachment on your message.' 'Over quota' or 'Inbox full' 'Your message exceeded Gmail's size limits.' 'Our servers have detected a mail loop.' 'This Gmail user does not exist.' 'The Gmail user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate that prevents additional messages from being delivered.' 'We weren't able to find the recipient domain.' 'Parse Error: Illegal To: address (invalid domain name) None of the errors above
Which option describes your email address?
My address ends with '@gmail.com' My address is hosted by Google Apps and ends with '@mydomain.'
Are you the administrator for your domain?
Yes, I'm the administrator No, I'm not the administrator
Troubleshooter: Incoming Attachment Problem
If you're having problems opening or viewing certain attachments, we can use the headers of the message to diagnose the issue. Clicking the link below will take you to a form where you can send the headers to the Gmail Team for further investigation. Please follow the instructions on the form to make sure you're sending us all the header information we need.
Click here to report your issue.
New Bug - Settings For the latest information on known bugs, suggested workarounds, and recent fixes, please visit our Known Issues page.
We've tried to list all the technical problems Gmail users face, but we understand that new issues may occur. All our Settings issues are listed below, along with some popular topics that you won't find in this section. Settings Issues:
I can't save changes to my settings I'm missing features on some browsers Mail Fetcher setup problems
Mail Fetcher gives me an error I want to change my username I'm missing features and using a non-English Gmail interface Mail Fetcher isn't importing messages I'm missing features and I'm a Google Apps user Messages are filtered to Spam Messages are skipping my inbox Messages are filtered to Trash
Other Issues:
My password doesn't work I forgot my username My inbox won't load Temporary Error (502) I want to delete my account
If your issue isn't listed above or in the links to the left, you can report it using the link below. Please note: Every report made through this link will be read so we can continue to identify and resolve new issues. However, if troubleshooting information for your issue is available among the options listed to the left, you will not receive a response; and if your issue isn't listed in our Help Center, you'll only receive a response if we require more information about the problem. Thank you for your understanding.
Troubleshooter: Incoming Message Not Received
There are a number of reasons why messages may not arrive in your inbox. Messages can also skip your inbox and end up in your All Mail, Spam, or Trash labels, as the result of automatic spam filtering or filters that you've set up on your messages. Please check your Spam and Trash labels, and try performing a search of all mail in Gmail for the message in question. You can search for conversations by entering the sender's name, the subject of the email, or a phrase from the content of the email, if you know it. Click Show search options, located next to the search box on any Gmail page, and make sure that Mail & Spam & Trash is selected in the Search field. Please note that Gmail search results don't include matches to partial strings or matches that are 'similar' to your query, including plurals and misspellings. If you search for vacation, Gmail returns emails containing instances of vacation, but does not return emails including vacations or vaccations.
I found the message(s) in my Spam, Trash, or All Mail label.
I was unable to find the message(s) in my mail.
The sender has informed me that the message is being returned as undeliverable. The sender has confirmed that the message was not returned as undeliverable.
The message was returned due to an 'Illegal attachment' The message was returned with the error 'Over quota' or 'Inbox full' The bounce message stated 'Message size exceeded' The bounce message indicated a different error
The messages I'm not receiving are all from a specific sender or domain. I'm not receiving messages from various senders and domains.
Troubleshooter: Oops Errors
Symptoms: While signing in or using Gmail, you receive this error:
Oops... (error code ###)
Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail. Which 'Oops...' error code are you receiving? 007 008 009 102 500
602 613 Other code What browser are you using? Firefox Internet Explorer Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue?
Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No
Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug
None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit the Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit the Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Did these steps fix the problem?
Yes No
My inbox won't load
Symptoms: After clicking Sign in, a blank white page is shown. You may see "Loading..." or "This seems to be taking longer than usual." Cause: A conflict with software on your computer, browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server. Solution: Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please
select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue? Yes No Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem? Yes No
How do I forward inline images or HTML attachments?
If you'd like to forward HTML-formatted messages or messages with images, select Gmail's rich formatting options when composing.
:
My computer slows down when I log in
If you're using Internet Explorer 7.0 (IE7) and your computer slows or your CPU usage spikes during or immediately after signing in to Gmail, the cause is likely to be McAfee Site Advisor. While we work to resolve the issue, please use these steps to resolve the problem:
1. Open IE7. 2. Click the arrow on the SiteAdvisor toolbar icon.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
In the SiteAdvisor menu, click Do not warn list.... In the SiteAdvisor dialog box add google.com. Click close. Close IE7. Open IE and log into Gmail.
Gmail FAQ Gmail Help
About Gmail Gmail Home
Below are answers to our most frequently asked questions. You can find more extensive help content in the following languages: 中文 (繁體) Português (Brasil) 中文（简体） Deutsch English (US) 日本語 한국어 Русский Svenska Italiano
Frequently Asked Questions
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. I need help signing in to Gmail. How do I change my account information, password, or security question? What are conversations? Why are my messages grouped? How do I use labels? What does it mean to archive mail? How do I get rid of spam? Does Gmail support IMAP or POP access? Gmail seems slow. What are 'Contacts'? How do I use 'Chat'?
1. I need help signing in to Gmail. There are some common reasons users have trouble signing in -- from password problems to temporary server errors, or even conflicts with software running on your computer. Having trouble? - If you think you may have forgotten your username: Make sure that you're entering the same username you provided during the Gmail account set-up
process, and include any dots (.) you defined as part of your username. Spaces, hyphens, and underscores aren't valid characters in Gmail usernames, and all usernames are at least six characters long. If you can't remember your username, visit the Google Accounts Help Center. - If you think you may have forgotten your password: Gmail passwords are case-sensitive, so make sure are typing uppercase letters or lowercase letters correctly. If Gmail still says your password is incorrect, visit the Google Accounts Help Center. - If your account has been disabled, is locked down, or is under maintenance: You temporarily won't be able to access your account. You'll be able to regain access as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours. If you've signed in, but keep getting a 'Temporary Error (502)' message: It means that your Gmail account is temporarily unavailable. These errors generally resolve themselves within a few minutes, so please wait a bit before trying to sign in again. Please note that while your account is inaccessible, your messages and account information are safe. - If you've signed in, but keep getting any other error messages: Try clearing your browser's cache and cookies. For instructions on clearing your cache and cookies, please use the 'Help' menu in your browser.
2. How do I change my account information, password, or security question? Gmail makes it easy for you to securely update your own account information. Once you've signed in to your account, just click 'Settings' at the top of any Gmail page, and open 'Accounts.' From here, you can change your password, your secret question, the contact name associated with your account, and other key details by clicking 'Google Account settings.' Updating the name on your account generally takes effect immediately. However, some changes may be delayed while our servers make periodic updates. For security reasons, you can't change your username, and we aren't able to change it for you. If you'd like to try something different, Gmail offers several ways to vary your email address yet still have messages delivered to the same account. For example, you can add an extension to your existing email address with a '+' to receive messages sent to your.username+any.alias@gmail.com. For example, messages sent to jane.doe+notes@gmail.com are delivered to jane.doe@gmail.com. Another way to vary your email address is to add one or more dots to the address. Gmail doesn't recognize dots as characters within usernames, so messages sent to yourusername@gmail.com and y.o.u.r.u.s.e.r.n.a.m.e@gmail.com and your.user.name@gmail.com are all delivered to your account, and only yours.
3. What are conversations? Why are my messages grouped? Gmail groups all replies with their original message, creating a conversation. Let's say you're planning to have dinner with three of your closest friends. You send all three a message asking for restaurant suggestions. With Gmail, each of your friends' responses will be grouped with your original message, creating a single conversation in your inbox. This puts the entire conversation in context and makes your inbox easier to manage. When you open one message in a conversation, all of your related messages will be stacked neatly on top of each other, like a deck of cards. We call this Conversation View. In Conversation View, each new message is stacked on top of the ones that arrived before it, so that the newest message is always the one you see first. It's not possible to break apart conversations or manually thread messages together to create new ones. However, it's possible to delete individual messages from a conversation. Just scroll to view the message you want to delete, and at the top-right of the message pane, click the down arrow next to 'Reply' and click 'Delete this message.'
4. How do I use labels? If you're familiar with folders for organizing your mail, then labels offer a similar way to categorize messages, except that you can apply more than one label to a single message or conversation. Instead of having to pick one folder to hold a message, you can apply a number of labels that relate to the mail. Then, access the message or conversation by searching for a label name, or by clicking the label name along the left side of any Gmail page. You can easily create, edit, and delete existing labels in your Gmail account. Here's how: - To create a label: 1. Select the message(s) you'd like to label by checking the box(es) next to the sender's name. 2. Select 'New label' from the 'More Actions...' drop-down menu. 3. Enter the name of the new label in the text box, and click OK. The selected messages will automatically be categorized under the new label. - To edit a label: 1. Click 'Edit labels' at the bottom of the 'Labels' box. 2. Click 'rename' next to the label you want to edit. 3. Enter the new label name, and click OK. All the messages categorized under your old label name will now be categorized
under your new label. - To delete a label: 1. Click 'Edit labels' at the bottom of the 'Labels' box. 2. Click 'remove label' next to the label you want to delete. 3. Confirm that you'd like to remove the label by clicking OK.
5. What does it mean to archive mail? To take advantage of Google Search, and to reduce clutter in your inbox, you can archive your conversations and messages. Archiving removes messages from the inbox. Archived messages and conversations will still be viewable: - In 'All Mail' - Under any labels you may have applied - When you search your account To archive messages: 1. Select the message(s) you'd like to archive by checking the box(es) next to the sender's name. 2. Click Archive.
6. How do I get rid of spam? Behind the scenes, our spam filters are already shielding each account from an increasing amount of spam targeted at Gmail. You can actually improve Gmail's defenses by actively reporting any spam that makes it past our filters. If you happen upon unwanted mail, just click the 'Report Spam' button at the top of the message. Spam also comes in the form of fraudulent or suspicious-looking messages that may ask for personal information. You may have heard about 'phishing' or 'spoofing,' and we're also working to protect Gmail from these unwanted messages. If you're ever concerned about a message that asks for personal information or looks suspicious, here are some things you should do: - Make sure the URL domain on the given page is correct, and if you click on any images or links, verify first that you are directed to proper pages within the site. For example, the Gmail URL is http://mail.google.com/ or, for even more security, https://mail.google.com/. Although some links may appear to contain 'gmail.com' or 'google.com,' you may be redirected to another site after entering such addresses into your browser. - Always look for the closed-lock icon in the status bar at the bottom of your browser window whenever you enter any private information, including your
password. -Check the message headers. The 'From:' field is easily manipulated to show a false sender name. If you're still uncertain, contact the organization from which the message appears to be sent. Don't use the reply address in the message, since it can be forged. Instead, visit the official website of the company in question, and find a different contact address. -Remember that Gmail doesn't send unsolicited mass messages asking for passwords or personal information. If you receive a message asking you to verify your account, be cautious. -If you enter your account or personal information as the result of a spoof or phishing message, take action quickly. If you entered credit card or bank account numbers, contact your financial institution. If you think you may be the victim of identity theft, contact your local law enforcement.
7. Does Gmail support IMAP or POP access? Every Gmail account offers both IMAP access and POP access for free. It's our goal to make your mail accessible wherever and whenever you want it, and we support these two protocols so you can conveniently access your mail outside the Gmail web interface, including on mobile devices. Both IMAP and POP offer different benefits. For example, POP access can be good for users who aren't always constantly connected to the Internet, since downloading mail can be completed during a usually brief window of time. On the other hand, IMAP access takes advantage of a more constant Internet connection to provide users with a richer experience outside the Gmail web interface, with synching and the ability to organize and label your messages. If you're trying to decide between using IMAP and using POP with your Gmail account, we recommend IMAP. To get started with IMAP or POP access for Gmail, make sure you've enabled access in your account. Just click 'Settings' and then click 'Forwarding and POP/IMAP' and make your selections. Be sure to click the 'Save Changes' button when you're done. Also note that Gmail doesn't officially support all mail clients. For IMAP access we specifically support: - Outlook Express (Windows) - Outlook 2003 (Windows) - Outlook 2007 (Windows) - Mail (Mac OS X) - Mail (Mac OS X Leopard) - Windows Mail
- Thunderbird 2.0 - iPhone For POP access, we specifically support: - Outlook Express (Windows) - Outlook 2002 (Windows) - Outlook 2003 (Windows) - Outlook 2007 (Windows) - Windows Mail - Mail (Mac OS X Leopard) - Thunderbird 2.0 - BlackBerry® Internet Service - iPhone
8. Gmail seems slow. If Gmail's speed is not what you're used to, a full web browser cache may be at fault. Take a moment to exit Gmail and clear your browser's cache and cookies. For instructions on clearing your cache and cookies, please use the 'Help' menu in your browser. It's also possible that Internet security, firewall, and anti-virus applications installed on your computer is preventing Gmail from working correctly. You can try disabling any of the programs mentioned above for testing purposes to see if that resolves the issue. If not, you may have to contact your software's customer support for instructions on configuring the software to work properly with Gmail. Finally, for the best Gmail experience, we suggest using the following fully supported browsers: - Google Chrome - Firefox (versions 2.0 and newer) - Internet Explorer (versions 7.0 and newer) - Safari (versions 3.0 and newer) Regardless of your browser type, you must have cookies enabled to use Gmail. If your browser supports it, please also enable JavaScript. For instructions on enabling JavaScript or cookies, please use the 'Help' menu in your browser.
9. What are 'Contacts'? Similar to an online address book, Contacts is a feature built into Gmail that gives you easy access to the people you want to reach. All your email contacts are stored here -- just click 'Contacts' along the left side of any Gmail page to access and edit your contacts' information.
In Contacts, you can create, edit or delete contacts or contact groups, perform searches for different contacts, start composing messages to a contact group or to multiple contacts at once, and even import or export contacts. Email addresses are automatically added to your Contacts list each time you use the 'Reply,' 'Reply to all,' or 'Forward' functions to send messages to addresses not previously stored in your Contacts list. Also, each time you unmark a message as Spam, your Contacts are automatically updated so that future messages from that sender are received in your inbox.
10. How do I use 'Chat'? You can send and receive instant messages directly within your Gmail account by using the 'Chat' box on the left side of any Gmail page. Our chat system uses the Google Talk network, so you can also chat with the millions of people who use the Google Talk program, regardless of whether they use Gmail as their email service. You can also chat with non-Google contacts as long as their IM service supports open server-to-server federation. You can chat with anyone who has a colored ball icon next to his or her name. When someone's online, a green, yellow, or red colored ball will appear. Here's how to chat with someone who's available: - From Chat: 1. 2. 3. 4. Find the name of the person you'd like to chat with. Click the person's name to open a chat window. Enter your message in the text field, and click Enter. Wait for your contact to respond.
You can also search for a contact by entering his or her name in the box at the top of 'Chat.' Just enter the name of the person you'd like to chat with, and then enter your message in the chat window. - From Contacts: 1. Click 'Contacts' along the left side of any Gmail page. 2. Select the name of the person you'd like to chat with, and click the 'Chat' link to open a chat window. 3. Enter your message in the text field, and click 'Enter.' 4. Wait for your contact to respond. When you've finished chatting, click the 'X' in the top right corner to close the window. If you want to chat with someone who's not in your chat list, just invite that person to chat with you. You can invite someone to chat any of the three following ways: - Mouse over any person's name in Chat, and click 'Invite to chat' in the profile
card that pops up. - Click 'Add Contact' at bottom of Chat -- then, enter your friend's email address in the box, and click 'add.' - Use auto-complete by entering your friends' name in the box at the top of Chat. Once the name of the person you'd like to invite appears, select 'Invite to chat.' If you invite someone who doesn't use Gmail or Google Talk, he or she will be asked to sign up for the services. Once the person signs up, you'll be able to chat with each other. - Having trouble using Chat? If you see a message that says you're blocked from using chat, then your network administrator has disabled Gmail's chat features for all users on the network. You won't be able to use chat in Gmail any time you're connected to the network on which you received the error message. If you'd like more information, we suggest contacting your network administrator. If you see a message that says chat is having 'technical difficulties', you're likely experiencing a problem with your browser cache. Take a moment to exit Gmail and clear your browser's cache and cookies. For instructions on clearing your cache and cookies, please use the 'Help' menu in your browser.
©2008 Google - Gmail Home - Privacy Policy
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Bulk Email Senders
The best way to ensure your mail is delivered to Gmail users is to comply with our Bulk Email Senders Guidelines. If you're still unable to resolve the issue after reading the guidelines, this page is designed to walk you through all of our troubleshooting information in an orderly fashion. At each step, we'll provide instructions or further questions to help narrow down the issue you're facing. Following the instructions exactly will help ensure the best results.
From where do you send messages that are blocked or filtered to Spam?
I send from Gmail or a Google Apps-hosted domain I send from my own domain
I represent a third-party sender (an ISP, e.g.)
Was your mail system compromised?
Yes, my servers were compromised, and I've resolved the problem No, my servers aren't compromised
Were your records incomplete?
Yes, my records were incomplete, and I've corrected them No, my records are complete
Were your (un)subscription practices incomplete?
Yes, there was a problem with my subscription/unsubscription practices, and I've fixed it No, I follow all guidelines for (un)subscription
Was your problem caused by an affiliate?
Yes, an affiliate caused the problem, and I've taken action to resolve it No, I don't have any affiliates, or they follow good email practices
Yes, there are references to AssuranceSys in the headers No, my headers do not contain any references to AssuranceSys
:
Firebug can make Gmail slow
For the best Gmail performance, we suggest disabling Firebug for www.google.com. Windows or Linux Users
To disable Firebug:
1. Click the green or red icon in the bottom right corner of the browser window to open Firebug. 2. Click the bug icon in the top left corner of Firebug and select 'Disable Firebug for mail.google.com.' If you'd like to keep Firebug running, you may improve Gmail performance by following these steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Click the green or red icon in the bottom right corner of the browser window to open Firebug. Click the Console tab. Select Options. Uncheck Show XMLHttpRequests. Click the Net tab. Select Options. Check Disable Network Monitoring.
Mac Users To disable Firebug:
1. Click the green or red icon in the bottom right corner of the browser window to open Firebug. 2. Click the bug icon in the top left corner of Firebug and select 'Disable Firebug for mail.google.com.' If disabling Firebug for Gmail doesn't improve performance results, you may have to entirely disable Firebug.
'Better Gmail' browser extension
The Better Gmail browser extension may interfere with Gmail. If you are experiencing problems, please upgrade to Better Gmail 2
Gmail Message Headers
For Gmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. Log in to Gmail. Open the message you'd like to view headers for. Click the down arrow next to Reply, at the top-right of the message pane. Select Show original.
The full headers will appear in a new window.
Yahoo! Mail Message Headers
For Yahoo! Mail:
1. Log in to your Yahoo! Mail account. 2. Open the message you'd like to view headers for. 3. Click Full Headers at the top of your message.
The full headers will appear above the message text.
Hotmail Message Headers
For Hotmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Log in to your Hotmail account. Click Options next to the tabs. Select Mail from the left-side menu. Click Mail Display Settings. Under Message Headers, select Advanced. Click OK.
The full headers for all of your messages will now be available. Return to your inbox, and open the message you'd like to view headers for.
Outlook Message Headers
For Outlook 2007:
1. 2. 3. 4. Open Outlook. Open a message. On the Message tab, in the Options group, click the Dialog Box Launcher icon image. In the Message Options dialog box, the headers appear in the Internet headers box.
For older versions of Outlook:
1. Open Outlook. 2. Open the message you'd like to view headers for. 3. Click the View menu, and select Options....
The full headers will appear in a new window.
Netscape 3 & 4 Message Headers
For Netscape 3:
1. Open Netscape 3. 2. Click the Options menu, and select Show Headers. 3. Select All.
For Netscape 4:
1. Open Netscape 4. 2. Click the View menu, and select Headers. 3. Select All.
The full headers will appear in the window below your inbox.
Microsoft Internet Mail Message Headers
For Microsoft Internet Mail:
1. 2. 3. 4. Log in to your Microsoft Internet Mail account. Open the message you'd like to view headers for. Click the File menu, and select Properties. Select the Details tab to display the full headers.
The full headers will appear above the message text.
AOL Message Headers
For AOL:
1. Log in to your AOL account. 2. Open the message you'd like to view headers for. 3. Click Details under the To field.
The full headers will appear above the message text.
Opera Message Headers
For Opera:
1. Open Opera. 2. Click the message you'd like to view headers for so it displays in the window below your inbox. 3. Click Display all headers, across from the To field.
The full headers will appear in the window below.
Netscape Webmail Message Headers
For Netscape Webmail:
1. Log in to your Netscape Webmail account. 2. Open the message you'd like to view headers for. 3. Click the yellow triangle in the gray header section (on the right side, under Next >).
The full headers will appear above the message text.
Mozilla Message Headers
For Mozilla:
1. Open Mozilla. 2. Open the message you'd like to view headers for. 3. Click the View menu, and select Message Source.
The full headers will appear in a new window.
Excite Message Headers
For Excite:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Log in to your Excite account. Open the message you'd like to view headers for. Click Mail Preferences in the top right corner, under your email address. On the the Mail Preferences page, click Account Preferences in the Personal section. Check the box next to Display headers, and then click Save.
The full headers for all of your messages will now be available. Return to your inbox, and open the message you'd like to view headers for.
Eudora Message Headers
For Eudora:
1. Open Eudora. 2. Open the message you'd like to view headers for. 3. Click the Blah Blah Blah button next to the Subject field.
The full headers will appear in the window below.
BellSouth Internet Security
Please disable your BellSouth Popup Blocker by following these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Click Start from your system tray and select Run... Type cmd and click Okay. Type cd c:Program Files//BellSouth/BellSouth Internet Security and press Enter. Type regsvr32.exe/u pkr.dll and press Enter.
IncrediMail Message Headers
For IncrediMail:
1. 2. 3. 4. Open IncrediMail. From your inbox, locate the message you'd like to view headers for. Right-click the message, and select Properties. Open the Details tab in the dialogue box.
The full headers will appear in the dialogue box.
Cache Mozilla
In Mozilla:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Log out of Gmail. Close all other open browser windows. Click the Edit menu at the top of your browser, and select Preferences. Click the + next to Advanced. Select Cache under Advanced. Click Clear Cache.
6. Click OK.
eTrust EZ Firewall
Please follow these steps to adjust your EZ Firewall security settings:
1. 2. 3. 4. Open EZ Firewall. Click Privacy, then Site List. Add gmail.com and google.com to your list. Right-click the red x under Cookie Control: 3rd Party, and select Allow for both sites.
Telus
To use Gmail with Telus, please follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Click the Start button in your operating system's taskbar. Select Settings, and click Control Panel. Open Internet Options, and click the Advanced tab. Uncheck the box next to Enable third party browser extensions under the Browsing header.
Cache Safari
In Safari:
1. 2. 3. 4. Log out of Gmail. Close all other open browser windows. Open the Safari menu on your browser's toolbar. Select Empty Cache. Click Empty in the dialogue box.
Proxomitron
To use Gmail with Proxomitron, you may need to change some web settings. Please disable the following options in Proxomitron:
Kill pop-up windows Restore pop-ups after a page loads Suppress all JavaScript errors Stop browser window resizing
Troubleshooter - TPS, Chat
Follow the instructions below in the order provided. If they don't resolve your issue, you'll have a chance to report the problem to Gmail.
Configure your security software
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly. Please select any applications you have installed.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Did these steps fix your issue?
Yes No
Configure or disable browser extensions or toolbars
Browser extensions and toolbars are intended to enhance browser functionality, but they can interfere with Gmail. Please select any extensions you have installed.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem?
Yes
No
Clear your browser cache and cookies
The information your browser stores is sometimes incomplete or corrupt. Deleting your browser's cache and cookies will often fix Gmail issues. Please select your browser from the list below.
Firefox Internet Explorer Mozilla Netscape Safari None of the above
Did these steps fix the problem?
Yes No
Visit The Secure Site Did these steps fix the problem?
Yes No
Cache Netscape
In Netscape:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Log out of Gmail. Close all other open browser windows. Click the Edit menu at the top of your browser, and select Preferences. Click the + next to Advanced. Select Cache under Advanced. Click Clear Cache. Click OK.
McAfee
To use Gmail with McAfee products, please follow these steps:
1. Open your McAfee security, privacy, or firewall software. 2. Find your preferences for cookies, and set www.google.com and mail.google.com as allowed.
Freedom Privacy and Security
To use Gmail with Freedom, please follow these steps:
1. 2. 3. 4. Click the Start button in your operating system's taskbar. Select Settings, and click Control Panel. Open Internet Options, and click the Advanced tab. Remove the check next to Enable third party browser extensions under the Browsing header.
Cache IE
In Internet Explorer 6.x:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Log out of Gmail. Close all other open browser windows. Click the Tools menu at the top of your browser, and select Internet Options. Click the General tab at the top of the dialogue box. Click Delete Files under Temporary Internet files. Select Delete all offline content by checking the box. Click OK.
In Internet Explorer 7:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Log out of Gmail and close all other open browser windows. Click Tools > Internet Options. Select the General tab. Click Delete under Browsing History. Under Temporary Internet Files, click Delete Files. Click Delete Cookies. Click OK.
Secure Site - Include Only
Gmail offers an encrypted site for extra security. Because browsers and security applications are more likely to trust encrypted data, visiting Gmail through its encrypted login will often resolve issues caused by that software. Please try logging in to Gmail via https://mail.google.com.
Kerio
To use Kerio Internet Security Software with Gmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. Add mail.google.com to Kerio's site exceptions list. Exit and restart Kerio. Clear your browser's cache. Restart your browser and log in to Gmail.
Cache - Unsupported Chat Browser
Chat in Gmail is not currently supported for your browser. We suggest downloading Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari if you'd like to chat in Gmail.
Other security software
If you have other third party security software installed and are experiencing problems using Gmail, we suggest disabling the software for testing purposes, clearing your browser's cache, and attempting to use Gmail again. If disabling the software resolves the issue, but you'd still like to use it in conjunction with Gmail, we suggest contacting the software support team for that product. They should be able to recommend settings that allow Gmail to work unimpeded.
Cache Firefox
In Firefox for PCs:
1. 2. 3. 4. Log out of Gmail and close all other open browser windows. Click the Tools menu at the top of your browser and select Clear Private Data... Select the Cookies and Cache checkboxes. Click Clear Private Data Now.
In Firefox for Macs:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Log out of Gmail and close all other open browser windows. Click the Firefox menu at the top of your browser and select Preferences... Select the Privacy tab. Click Clear Now... at the bottom of the dialogue box. Check the boxes next to Cache and Cookies in the new dialogue box. Click Clear Private Data Now.
Troubleshooter - TPS, Standard
Internet security, firewall and anti-virus applications can prevent Gmail from working correctly.
Please select any security applications you have installed for further instructions.
BellSouth Internet Security eTrust EZ Firewall Freedom Privacy and Security Kerio McAfee Norton Proxomitron Telus ZoneAlarm Pro None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug
None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
Please select any extensions you have installed for further instructions.
Better Gmail Firebug None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari
None of the above
What browser do you use?
Firefox Internet Explorer Safari None of the above
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/ fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/ fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
Did signing in at https://mail.google.com/ fix the issue?
Yes, it's fixed! No, I'm still having problems
ZoneAlarm Pro
To use ZoneAlarm Pro with Gmail:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Open ZoneAlarm Pro, and click Privacy. Click Site List, and then click Add. Enter mail.google.com. Click the X under Persistent Cookie Control for mail.google.com. Set the cookie control to Allowed. Clear your browser's cache, and log in to Gmail.
Cache - Unsupported Browser
We're sorry, but other browsers are not fully supported by Gmail, and may not work properly with all Gmail features and functions. We suggest using Internet Explorer 6+, Mozilla Firefox 1.0+, or Safari 3.0+ for the best Gmail experience.
Norton
To use Gmail with Norton products, you may have to create a specific rule allowing popups on the Gmail website. Here's how to create a rule with 2003 Norton products:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Open your Norton software. Click Options and select Web Content. Select Add Site, and enter gmail.google.com. Click the User Settings tab, and uncheck Use Ad Blocking settings. Select Permit.
If you're using 2004 Norton products: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Open your Norton software. Highlight Ad Blocking and select Configure. Click Advanced. Click Web Contents, and select Add Site. Enter gmail.google.com. Click the User Settings tab, and uncheck Use Ad Blocking settings. Select Permit.
And for 2005 or 2006 Norton products: 1. Open Internet Explorer. 2. Log in to Gmail at http://mail.google.com. 3. Click the NIS (2005 products) or Norton Internet Security (2006 products) icon on your browser's toolbar. 4. Uncheck the box next to Block pop-ups from this website. 5. Restart Internet Explorer. If you'd like to disable the Norton 2006 pop-up blocker, just follow these steps: 1. Open the Norton 2006 program installed on your computer. 2. From the Options drop-down menu, select Norton Antispam.
3. Click General under Ad Blocking. 4. Uncheck the box next to Turn on Pop-up Window Blocking. 5. Click OK.
Extension - FunWebProducts
The My Web Search Toolbar and FunWebProducts may interfere with Gmail. If you are experiencing problems, please follow these instructions to uninstall the software:
1. 2. 3. 4. Click Start on your Windows taskbar. Select Settings, then select Control Panel. Double-click Add or Remove Programs. Select My Web Search Bar or FunWebProducts and click Remove.
IMAP Telnet Test
To better diagnose the problem, you'll need to run a telnet test, which will check that your computer can contact our IMAP servers. If you're running Windows Vista, you'll first need to enable the Telnet feature:
1. Click the Start button, then Control Panel, and Programs. 2. Click Turn Windows Features On or Off. 3. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. 4. In the Windows Features box, check the box labeled Telnet Client, and click OK. (It may take a few minutes for the installation to complete.)
To run the telnet test on a Windows computer:
1. Open the Start menu, and select Run. 2. Enter command in the Open: field, and click OK. 3. Enter 'telnet imap.gmail.com 993,' and hit Enter. (Does the information in the prompt window clear? If not, please note the message that appears.) 4. Close the prompt window.
To run the Telnet test on a Mac:
1. Click the Macintosh Hard Drive icon, and open the Applications folder. 2. Open Utilities, and select Terminal. 3. Type 'telnet imap.gmail.com 993' in the prompt window and press Enter. (Does the information in the prompt window clear? If not, please note the message that appears.) 4. Close the prompt window.
If you receive an error message after performing step 3, your network administrator or security software has blocked access to our servers. We recommend contacting your local network administrator or Internet Service Provider (ISP) for more information.
Cache - Chrome
In Chrome:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Click the Tools menu . Select Clear browsing data. Select Empty the cache and Delete cookies. Click Clear browsing data.
:
'From' address doesn't match account
Please check the following settings in your mail client:
Make sure that you entered @gmail.com after your username. For example: john.doe@gmail.com Re-enter your password to ensure that it's correct. Keep in mind that passwords are case-sensitive. Make sure your mail client isn't set to check for new mail too often. If your mail client checks for new messages more than once every 10 minutes, your client might repeatedly request your username and password.
Now please follow the steps below to resolve the problem:
If you're receiving 'Username and password not accepted' errors or are constantly prompted to enter your username and password on your POP or IMAP client, try clearing the CAPTCHA. If you're a Google Apps user, visit https://www.google.com/a/yourdomain.com/UnlockCaptcha. Be sure to replace 'yourdomain.com' with your actual domain name.
Incorrect SMTP server name
The outgoing mail server should be set to smtp.gmail.com or smtp.googlemail.com, depending on your email address.
Unable to recognize username or password
Gmail is unable to recognize your username or password. Please try logging in at http://mail.google.com to confirm your username and password. If you're still having trouble with your POP access, your account may have been temporarily locked. To unlock:
1. Disable any POP clients that are accessing your Gmail messages. If you're accessing your mail from home and from work, for example, disable both clients. 2. From the computer on which your POP logins are failing, visit http://www.google.com/accounts/DisplayUnlockCaptcha. 3. Enter your Gmail username and password and the letters in the distorted picture in the appropriate fields. 4. Restart your POP client.
If, after following these steps, you're still having trouble with your POP account, please contact us for assistance.
SMTP server must use SSL or TLS
The SMTP server must be set to use SSL (Outlook) or TLS (Thunderbird). Outlook 2003 and Outlook Express: During setup, click More Settings and select the Advanced tab. For both the Incoming server and Outgoing server, select the checkboxes labeled This server requires and encrypted connection. Thunderbird 1.5:
1. From the Account Settings page, select Outgoing Server (SMTP). 2. Select the entry listed as smtp.gmail.com and click Edit. 3. Select Use name and password and enter your Gmail username (including @gmail.com) in the User Name field. 4. Select TLS from the Use secure connection radio buttons and click OK. 5. Click OK to save your changes and exit the Account Settings dialog.
Unknown issue
We're unable to recognize the specific issue. Please contact us for assistance.
Incorrect 'leave on server' setting
Please unselect the Leave a copy of messages on the server option in your POP client setup. All messages remain in Gmail by default - you can updated Gmail's behavior from the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab of your Gmail Settings page.
POP access not enabled
POP access hasn't been enabled in your Gmail settings. To enable POP:
1. Sign in to Gmail at http://mail.google.com. 2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page, and open the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. 3. Select Enable POP for all mail or Enable POP only for mail that arrives from now on. 4. Choose the action you'd like your Gmail messages to take after they're accessed with POP. 5. Click Save Changes.
Incorrect SMTP server port
Your outgoing (SMTP) server should be set to use port 465. During setup, click More Settings and select the Advanced tab. In the Outgoing server (SMTP) field, enter 465.
POP server username is incorrect or incomplete
Please use your full email address (including @gmail.com) as the Username when configuring your POP client. POP access doesn't support plus addressing (eg. username+example@gmail.com).
Outlook Express Message Headers
For Outlook Express:
1. Open Outlook Express.
2. From your inbox, locate the message you'd like to view headers for. 3. Right-click the message, and select Properties. 4. Open the Details tab in the dialogue box.
The full headers will appear in the dialogue box.
Unable to send report
We're unable to connect in order to send your report. If you currently have a support ticket open regarding your POP issues, please respond to the most current email and attach the report file from your desktop (gmailpoplog.html). Otherwise, please contact us. We'll send an autoresponse when you submit the contact form -- please respond to that email and attach the report file from your desktop (gmailpoplog.html).
Gmail POP Troubleshooter unavailable
The Gmail Troubleshooting tool is unable to complete its diagnostic testing at this time. Please try again later.
SMTP server requires authentication
The SMTP server requires authentication. Outlook 2003 and Outlook Express: During setup, click More Settings and select the Outgoing Server tab. Select My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication and choose Use same settings as my incoming mail server. Thunderbird 1.5:
1. From the Account Settings page, select Outgoing Server (SMTP). 2. Select the entry listed as smtp.gmail.com and click Edit. 3. Select Use name and password and enter your Gmail username (including @gmail.com) in the User Name field. 4. Select TLS from the Use secure connection radio buttons and click OK. 5. Click OK to save your changes and exit the Account Settings dialog.
POP server must use SSL
If you're using Outlook 2003 or Outlook Express, you'll need to select This server requires a secure connection (SSL) during setup. Thunderbird requires the SSL checkbox to be selected from the Security Settings section of the Server Settings page.
POP_SERVER_TURN_OFF_SPA
You'll need to unselect the Logon using Secure Password Authentication (SPA) checkbox from the Internet E-mail settings (POP3) page of Outlook 2003/Express setup.
SMTP username is incorrect
When entering your Username during setup, please enter your full address, including @gmail.com. POP access doesn't support plus addressing (eg. username+example@gmail.com).
What is this report?
This report was sent to the Gmail team at your request after running the Gmail POP Troubleshooter tool. It contains a summary of tests performed and their pass or failure status.
POP server name incorrect
The server name has been entered incorrectly. Please enter either pop.gmail.com or pop.googlemail.com, depending on your email address.
POP server port is incorrect
The server port number needs to be set to 995.
Outlook 2003 and Outlook Express:
1. 2. 3. 4. Go to Tools > Email Accounts > View or change existing e-mail accounts. Select your Gmail address and click Change. Click More Settings. Under the Advanced tab of the setup, enter 995 in the Incoming mail (POP3) field.
Thunderbird 1.5: From the Server Settings page of your Account Settings, enter 995 in the Port field.
What is the Gmail POP Troubleshooter testing?
The POP Troubleshooting tool is currently testing your POP setup to make sure that you're able to send mail. We'll check a number of things in the few seconds that the test takes to run, including POP and SMTP server settings and your ability to connect to our service. If we find any errors in your setup, we'll display a message and link to more information. Usually, it's something easy to fix, and you'll soon be up and running with POP access to your Gmail messages!
Incorrect SMTP server port
Your SMTP port should be set to 587 when using Thunderbird.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. From the Account Settings page, select Outgoing Server (SMTP). Select the entry listed as smtp.gmail.com and click Edit. In the Port field, enter 587. Select TLS from the Use secure connection radio buttons and click OK. Click OK to save your changes and exit the Account Settings dialog.
Turn off Secure Password Authentication
Your SMTP server should not be set to use Secure Password Authentication (SPA).
1. During setup, click More Settings and select the Outgoing Server tab. 2. Select My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication. 3. Choose Use same settings as my incoming mail server.
Outlook Express isn't checking your Gmail address
Outlook Express needs to be set to include your Gmail address when checking for new mail:
In Outlook Express, select Tools > Accounts. Select your Gmail address from the Account list and click Properties. Click the General tab. Select the checkbox next to Include this account when receiving mail or synchronizing. 5. Click OK. 6. Click Close. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Don't break apart large messages
Outlook Express provides the option of breaking large messages into many smaller ones. You'll need to disable this option in order to use POP for your Gmail address:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In Outlook Express, select Tools > Accounts. Select your Gmail address from the Account list and click Properties. Click the Advanced tab. Disable the checkbox next to Break apart messages larger than... Click OK.
SENDING_TOO_MUCH_MAIL
You've exceeded Gmail's sending limits. Gmail has a number of sending limits in place to prevent abuse of our system, and to help fight spam. If you reach one of Gmail's limits, you'll be temporarily unable to send mail. Some common reasons users reach their sending limits include:
1. Sending a large number of undeliverable messages. We suggest verifying your contacts' email addresses. Make sure the email addresses you're sending mail to are valid. It's also important that everyone you are sending mail to is willing to receive it. Learn more about best practices for sending large amounts of mail through Gmail. 2. Sending a message to more than 500 recipients. You can send a single message to a maximum of 500 recipients. This includes all email addresses in the To:, Cc:, and Bcc: fields. If you communicate with the same large group of people on a regular basis, you might be interested in Google Groups.
Temporary error
This is a temporary error. Please wait 20 minutes before running the Gmail POP Troubleshooter again. If the issue persists, please contact us for assistance.
SMTP server should use incoming server settings
Your outgoing server (SMTP) should use the same settings as the incoming server. During setup, click More Settings and select the Outgoing Server tab. Choose Use same settings as my incoming mail server.
Unable to connect
The Gmail Troubleshooter was unable to connect to the network. You may be experiencing network issues, or your firewall may be blocking access. Please contact your network administrator or internet service provider for more information.
What is this report?
This report was created by the Gmail POP Troubleshooter tool. It contains a summary of tests performed and their pass or failure status. Because you opted not to send the report to the Gmail team, a copy has been saved to your computer for your reference. If, in future, you choose to send a report to Google, its contents will be similar to the contents of this file.
POP server timeout is too short
Please increase the POP server timeout to a value greater than one minute.
Couldn't resolve to server
We were unable to reach the Gmail server. This is usually caused by a local network problem. Please check that your internet connection is working properly, and contact your network administrator or internet service provider for more assistance if required.
SMTP server timeout too short
Please increase the SMTP server timeout to a value greater than one minute.
Gmail temporarily locked
You've been temporarily locked out of Gmail due to abnormal usage. This is usually because of actions that affect large amounts of mail in a short time: receiving, deleting, or POP downloads of many messages. Lockouts are often the result of downloading the entire contents of your mail to a mail client, or can be caused by unsupported third-party software accessing your account. We'll restore your access to Gmail within 24 hours. Contact us if you're having trouble.
Temporary Error
This is a temporary error. Please wait 20 minutes before running the Gmail POP Troubleshooter again. If the issue persists, please contact us for assistance.
Unable to connect
Unable to connect. This is usually caused by issues with your firewall or internet connection. Please contact your network administrator or internet service provider for more information. If you continue to encounter this error, please contact us.
: Logging In
Notifier cannot connect to mailbox with 'Always use https' setting enabled
'Operation aborted' error when opening Gmail on IE
'Oops 009' partially loads inbox in small rectangle
Inbox won't load. Directed to our 'basic HTML' view
Stuck on 'Loading...' using IE7 with My Web Search toolbar or FunWebProducts
'Loading...' error with Ask toolbar installed on IE7
Firefox constantly refreshes 'Loading...' page
Inbox won't load using Google Chrome
: Chat and Contacts
'You have been signed out of Gmail...'
Names and other text display as 'undefined'
Contact Manager isn't scrollable when more than 20 groups are present
'Contact creation failed'
Chat list doesn't appear in 'Older version' of Gmail using Firefox 3 or Google Chrome
: POP & IMAP
Non-Latin characters can corrupt message headers
Folder subscriptions don't work in Apple Mail 3
Non-Latin labels don't appear as folders in Outlook 2003 and Outlook Express
IMAP clients timeout or crash when downloading very large folders
: Composing and Reading Mail
'Older version,' 'Newer version,' and 'basic HTML' links appear broken in Firefox 3
Reply text spills over edge when composing message in Firefox 3
Contact groups retain old contacts when composing mail
Quick reply box sends blank replies in IE when using https
Oops 103 errors
Persistent 'Your browser's cache is full...' error in IE7
Oops 102 errors
Freezing or slowness with HTML Validator installed
Thumbnails for attached images don't display
Messages are improperly threaded
Attachment downloads lead to a blank screen when Tab Mix Plus is installed
: Recent Fixes
'Oops 611' error sending from Firefox 2.0
Oops 700 errors upon opening some messages
Composing a message causes IE7 to crash
'Oops 776' error when sending a message
Attachments won't open in mobile browser
:
My radio buttons don't appear selected
Although the radio button next to your selected option may not stay selected, Gmail displays the status next to 'POP Status:.' When you enable POP, your settings display 'POP Status: POP is enabled.'
If your POP settings are turned off, the status will indicate that POP is disabled.
A label I deleted still shows up
If you delete a label, it's also removed from any filters that reference that label. So, make sure you don't want to save any labels associated with your filters before you delete them.
:
An attachment I sent was garbled or missing
If attachments you've sent are garbled or missing when they reach their destination, the headers of the message will help diagnose the issue. You'll be asked to include header information when you report your issue.
:
Error while importing contacts
To fix this problem, you may need to reformat the columns and/or headers in your Excel spreadsheet, and then save it as a .csv file. If you still can't import your contacts after reformatting your spreadsheet, try creating a new .csv file. Click here to learn more about creating and editing .csv files. After creating your .csv file, import your contacts. Tips to remember when importing contacts:
You can import 3,000 contacts at a time. Non-ASCII or non-Latin characters may not be accepted. Any information formatted as a group or distribution list won't transfer into your Gmail Contacts list. Importing information that matches the email address of an existing entry will replace the information in your Contacts list with the most recently uploaded information.
Contacts won't load
If after clicking Contacts a blank white box appears, but no error is shown, there may be a conflict with software on your computer, a browser cache that needs to be cleared, or a temporary problem on the Gmail server.
Troubleshooting
Experiencing a problem with Gmail? Check our Known Issues Page to see if we’re working on it. If your issue isn't listed, you can likely fix it yourself using the troubleshooting tools below.
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