How to Access Email on a Computer, Phone, or Tablet

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Simple step-by-step instructions for accessing your email account
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Email is one of the most common and efficient means of communication, but do you know how to access it? Logging into your email account is very easy, so don't worry! This wikiHow article teaches you how to access your email account from a computer and a mobile device.

  • If your email provider offers web-based email (like Gmail or Outlook.com), you can access your email in a web browser .
  • If you're using a phone or tablet, you can usually download your email provider's app from the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or Play Store (Android).
  • Every phone and tablet comes with an app to check email, but you'll usually need to sign in to your email account first.
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Using a Web Browser

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  1. If your email provider offers web-based email, you can access your email in a web browser like Microsoft Edge, Safari, Google Chrome , or Firefox . You'll just need the URL of the email provider you use, which can be provided to you by the company or organization that manages your email account. If you don't know the URL, contact your email provider, or find your provider in this list of common email services:
  2. Once you’ve opened the web address of your email provider, you will see a login page. Enter your email account’s credentials (username and password) in the text fields provided.
    • If you forgot your password, you can usually click the "Forgot Password?" link to reset it . If you remember your password, you can change it to something else within your email dashboard.
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  3. You should now be able to access your email inbox.
    • Most email providers require two-step verification to sign in to your email. If your provider requires this, they usually send a confirmation code to your mobile phone. If you are prompted to enter a code, check your cell phone or tablet—it may appear in your text messages, as a pop-up window, or in an authentication app. [1]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Using a Mobile App on a Phone or Tablet

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  1. Your phone or tablet has a built-in app that makes it easy to access email for your Google account (on Android) or iCloud account (on iOS). If you're using
    • If you're using an Android, your phone or tablet comes preinstalled with the Gmail app. Opening the Gmail app will open the Gmail inbox for your Google account, which you used to log in to your Android.
    • On an iPhone or iPad, you can use the Mail app to send and receive email from your iCloud account. If your email address ends with @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com, just tap this app on your Home screen to access your email.
    • If you want to access a different email account, you can download the app for your email provider, such as Yahoo Mail or AOL Mail, from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone/iPad).
  2. If it's the first time you're using this app to access email, you may be asked to log in and choose your preferences. Supply any information requested to set up your email app.
  3. If you just added a new email account to your phone, it may take a few moments for your emails to download to your phone or tablet.
    • After syncing, your inbox will show all the messages you have. From here on, you can access your email account’s inbox and send and receive messages using your gadget’s native mail app.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Using the Mail App on Windows 10

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  1. The Windows Mail app makes accessing almost any email account easy, including your Microsoft email account (@outlook.com, @live.com, @hotmail.com), Gmail, and your work, school, or ISP's email account. You'll find the Mail app in your Start menu. [2]
    • If you're using Windows 11, the Mail app is now the new Outlook app, a lightweight version of the original Microsoft Outlook application. [3] To learn how to use it, jump down to Using New Outlook on Windows 11 .
    • Not sure which version of Windows you have? Press the Windows key on your keyboard (or click the Windows menu), type mail , and then press ↵ Enter . If you see a message that says "Windows Mail and Calendar are no longer supported," you are using Windows 11. If not, you have Windows 10.
  2. If it's your first time setting up the Mail app, you'll see a pop-up asking you to set up email.
    • If you don’t see this, click Settings (the gear icon) on the left, click Manage Accounts, and then click Add account . [4]
  3. Depending on the email address you're adding, you'll be prompted to enter a password or additional server information.
  4. Depending on your email provider, this may be all you need to do to access your email. For other providers, you may be prompted to Select provider , or enter your IMAP server information. The IMAP server address should be provided to you by your email service provider.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Using New Outlook on Windows 11

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  1. If you're using Windows 11, you can set up and access your email in the new Outlook app. To open it, press the Windows key on your keyboard (or click the Windows menu), type outlook , and click Outlook in the search results. [5]
    • If you are prompted to log in, log in with your Microsoft account, which is the same email address and password you use to sign in to Windows.
    • You can use Outlook to access email from most email addresses, including ones that end with @outlook.com, @icloud.com, @gmail.com, and @yahoo.com.
  2. You will find this tab at the top of the new Outlook app. [6]
  3. This is the button with a gear icon at the upper-left corner of the window. When you click it, the Settings window will open.
  4. This is in the left panel. If you have already set up an email account in Outlook, you will now see it in the right panel.
  5. This opens a sign-in screen.
  6. For example, if your email address is example@gmail.com, type it into the field, then click the Continue button.
    • If you don't have an email address yet, you can create one now. To do so, click the link next to "No account?" to create a brand new email address that ends with @outlook.com.
  7. Depending on your email provider, you may be asked to provide additional details, such as your "POP" or "IMAP" server address, "SMTP" address, or other bits of information that may sound confusing. If this happens, just contact your email provider to request that information.
    • Once you've finished adding your email to Outlook, you can easily access your email at any time by opening the Outlook app.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Using the Mail App on a Mac

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  1. If you want to access email in your Mac's Mail app, it's easy. You can use the Mail app to access your iCloud email (@icloud.com, @mac.com, or @me.com), or add a different email address like Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft Exchange, AOL, or most work or school accounts.
  2. If you haven't already set up the Mail app, you'll be prompted to select a mail account provider now. If you see your provider on the list, select it. If not, select Other Mail Account . [7]
    • If you are not prompted to select an email provider, click the Mail menu, select Accounts , and then click Add account .
  3. For most email providers, you should be able to enter your email address and sign in to link your email account to your Mac instantly.
    • If you selected Other Mail Account and your email provider is not found, you may be prompted to enter the POP, IMAP, and SMTP server addresses for your provider. You will need to get these addresses from your email service provider.
    • You can use the Mail app on your Mac to access email from most email addresses, including ones that end with @outlook.com, @icloud.com, @gmail.com, and @yahoo.com.
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  • Question
    How do I open email on a new phone?
    adolf hungriano
    Community Answer
    First, you must have an email app installed on your phone. if you have one, open the app and sign in with your email address (make sure you have good internet connection). Wait until emails load on your phone, scroll on your phone and select the email.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204974
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/set-up-email-in-the-mail-app-7ff79e8b-439b-4b47-8ff9-3f9a33166c60
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/start-using-new-outlook-for-windows-4395454d-cb2f-4c16-bb24-fa4bb36650ae
      4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/set-up-email-in-the-mail-app-7ff79e8b-439b-4b47-8ff9-3f9a33166c60
      5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-an-email-account-to-outlook-for-windows-6e27792a-9267-4aa4-8bb6-c84ef146101b#picktab=new_outlook
      6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-an-email-account-to-outlook-for-windows-6e27792a-9267-4aa4-8bb6-c84ef146101b#picktab=new_outlook
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/add-email-accounts-mail35803/mac

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