How to Create a Google Account Using a New or Existing Email

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A step-by-step guide to creating a Google account
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Do you want a new Google account? A Google account is the key to accessing all of Google’s products and services, most of which are free. Once you create a Google account, you can access tools like Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Docs, as well sync Chrome browsing data across all of your devices. Signing up for an account is a quick and simple process, and you can create more than one! This wikiHow article walks you through signing up for a Google account on your computer, Android, iPhone, or iPad.

Quick Steps

  1. Go to https://accounts.google.com/signin .
  2. Click Create account and choose an account type.
  3. Enter your name, birthdate, and gender.
  4. Enter your desired username.
  5. Create a strong password.
  6. Add a recovery email (if desired).
  7. Agree to Google's terms of service and privacy policy.
Section 1 of 3:

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  1. Go to https://accounts.google.com/signin . You can do this on any browser, even the browser on your smartphone or tablet!
    • If you're already signed into a Google account and you want to make a new one, click your profile picture in the top-right corner and click Add another account .
  2. It's next to the Next button. [1]
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  3. You can create an account for your work or business, a child, or for your personal use. The required fields change a little depending on what you're creating an account for, but they mostly follow the same steps.
    • For my personal use: Use if you want to make an account for you to use personally.
    • For my child: This type of account can have restrictions on it based on age or ratings. This is a great option if you want to manage your own child's Google account.
    • For work or my business: Use this if you want to use Google as a business. You'll have the ability to connect your real-life business so people can find it online.
  4. Your first name is required, but your last name is optional.
  5. Google uses your birthday to ensure you're old enough for certain age-restricted content or services. [2] Your gender is used to personalize your Google experience with proper pronouns. [3]
    • Google allows you to choose between Male , Female , Rather not say , or Custom for your gender.
    • If you opt not to specify a gender, Google will use gender-neutral terms (i.e., they/them pronouns).
  6. By default, your username will become your new Gmail address (it will be [yourusername]@gmail.com).
    • To learn how to use an existing email to make a Google account, see the steps below .
    • Instead of giving you a text box to fill out, sometimes Google will provide you with a few username suggestions right off the bat. To choose your own, click Create your own Gmail address .
    • If your username is taken or not available, you will be given several related options, or you can try a different one.
  7. If you want to see the password as you type it, click the Show password checkbox. Make sure to create a strong password that you can remember .
  8. If you forget your Google account password, you can use your recovery email to easily reset it. If you don't want to add a recovery email, click Skip .
  9. Take the time to read all of the terms of service and privacy policy so that you are aware of what Google can and can’t do with your personal information.
    • Click More options to change your account settings for web and app activity saving, ad personalization, and YouTube history saving.
    • After clicking I agree , the account creation process is complete.
    • If you want to make multiple accounts, make sure you're logged out and repeat the process.
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Section 2 of 3:

Use an Existing Email

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  1. Go to https://accounts.google.com/signin . You can do this on any browser, even the browser on your smartphone or tablet!
    • If you're already signed into a Google account and you want to make a new one, click your profile picture in the top-right corner and click Add another account .
  2. It's next to the Next button. [4]
  3. You can create an account for your work or business, a child, or for your personal use. The required fields change a little depending on what you're creating an account for, but they mostly follow the same steps.
    • For my personal use: Use if you want to make an account for you to use personally.
    • For my child: This type of account can have restrictions on it based on age or ratings. This is a great option if you want to manage your own child's Google account.
    • For work or my business: Use this if you want to use Google as a business. You'll have the ability to connect your real-life business so people can find it online.
  4. Your first name is required, but your last name is optional.
  5. Google uses your birthday to ensure you're old enough for certain age-restricted content or services. [5] Your gender is used to personalize your Google experience with proper pronouns. [6]
    • Google allows you to choose between Male , Female , Rather not say , or Custom for your gender.
    • If you opt not to specify a gender, Google will use gender-neutral terms (i.e., they/them pronouns).
  6. This option is next to the Next button.
  7. You cannot use a Gmail email address for this step; it must be a non-Gmail address.
  8. Google will send a verification code to the email you entered. Get the verification code and enter it on this screen.
  9. If you want to see the password as you type it, click the Show password checkbox. Make sure to create a strong password that you can remember .
  10. Take the time to read all of the terms of service and privacy policy so that you are aware of what Google can and can’t do with your personal information.
    • Click More options to change your account settings for web and app activity saving, ad personalization, and YouTube history saving.
    • After clicking I agree , the account creation process is complete.
    • If you want to make multiple accounts, make sure you're logged out and repeat the process.
    11. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. Yes, you can make a Google account without a phone number. In the past, Google asked for your phone number for verification purposes. However, a phone number is no longer required to set up a Google account.
  2. Yes, a 12 year old can have a Google account as long as their parent creates the account and manages it through Family Link. [7]
  3. Yes, Google accounts are free. The exception is if you pay for more storage with a [ Google One subscription ].
  4. Kind of. Technically speaking, if you have a Gmail account, you also have a Google account. However, Gmail is just one of the many services you can access with your Google account. If you create an account with any Google service, you can use that same account to sign into and use any Google service (such as Google Drive, YouTube, etc.). [8]
  5. To create another Google account, you can sign out of your current Google account and go to https://accounts.google.com/signin to create a new one. You can also click on your profile picture when using any Google service (in the upper right corner) and click Add another account to create a new account. You can then easily switch between Google accounts when using Google services.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can you protect your Google account?
    Mitch Harris
    IT Expert
    Mitch Harris is an IT Expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mitch runs his own IT Consulting company called Mitch the Geek, helping individuals and businesses with home office technology, data security, remote support, and cybersecurity compliance. Mitch earned a BS in Psychology, English, and Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University.
    Mitch Harris
    IT Expert
    Expert Answer
    Two-factor authentication is one of the best things that you can do—just enable it under your account security settings. If anyone tries to hack into your Google account, you'll receive a text or email asking you to verify the suspicious login activity.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 10 Helpful 12
  • Question
    If I don't have any kind of account or email address already, what should I do to create a Google account?
    Community Answer
    Most people just start from scratch and create an account by following the same steps outlined above.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 38 Helpful 55
  • Question
    What kind of name can I put on a Gmail account?
    Community Answer
    You can use any name you'd like! Keep in mind that if you are using your account for work or school, that it should be appropriate. For example, janedoe@email.com could be considered far more appropriate for a work or school email than pinkponies4eva@email.com.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27441?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=0
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1733224?hl=en
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27442?sjid=6440717700520423816-NC#gender&zippy=%2Cgender
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27441?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=0
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1733224?hl=en
      6. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27442?sjid=6440717700520423816-NC#gender&zippy=%2Cgender
      7. ↑ https://support.google.com/families/answer/7103338?hl=en
      8. ↑ https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/1722060?hl=en
      9. ↑ https://support.google.com/mail/answer/56256?hl=en

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Alfred Brooks

        May 5, 2016

        "I am always getting an invalid password message. I always have to create a new account. This shows me how. Thanks."
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