In this age of widespread computer technology, it is impossible to imagine a person using a computer or mobile phone who would not have a registered email address. Such services play far from the only role in their intended purpose when working with electronic correspondence, but can also be used to access other functions. Today, online services in this direction can be found quite a lot. One of the most popular and sought after is Gmail.com mail. Why do we need this service, how to create user registration, configure mail and additional modules, then we’ll try to figure it out, considering all the basic issues as detailed as possible. But first, let's briefly dwell on what Gmail is and what advantages this service has in comparison with similar services. Running a little ahead, it should be noted that its developer and owner is the world-famous IT giant Google, from which many computer users who prefer the Chrome browser for web surfing and owners of smartphones running Android operating systems can already draw certain conclusions .
What is gmail?
So what is this service. As already mentioned, it is not only a means of working with email.
The user account that is created when registering in Gmail.com mail has the closest and most automated link to other Google services, and can also be used to create a profile on mobile phones (without such an account, the Android device will not be fully usable). But the service itself, in terms of its capabilities, has a huge number of additional functions and modules, which ordinary users often not only forget, but do not know at all.
Gmail Benefits
But why exactly is this service occupying a leading position among many analogues? The fact is that initially the service itself has a lot of interesting functions, sometimes even hidden from the eyes of an ordinary user, among which the following can be noted:
- user-friendly and easily customizable interface based on many templates or user preferences;
- full synchronization with almost all known Google services;
- enhanced spam protection system;
- use of the most secure connection;
- the ability to bind to the main mailbox of additional accounts that are not related to the main mail service;
- the ability to authorize and log in to Gmail from multiple devices simultaneously with the synchronization of accounts and devices with each other;
- The initial size of the allocated mailbox volume is at least 15 GB with the possibility of increasing for a nominal fee and much more.
Initial registration and account creation
Now we proceed directly to creating a mailbox and registering a user account, assuming that this is using a personal computer, and not a mobile device with Android systems on board. It goes without saying that the first thing to do is visit the official website of the Gmail.com service by entering the appropriate address in any of the installed browsers in the system. On the start page, if you do not have an address registered at least once used on the local computer, it will automatically redirect to the resource where registration is made.
Here you need to click the account creation button, after which a small questionnaire will appear on the screen, which you need to fill out. By and large, everything is simple here, but troubles can lie in wait for you at the first steps. The most basic problem is that in order to log in to Google’s mail, Gmail will have to come up with some kind of original nickname, since the number of users of this service is tens of millions, so show your imagination. There are all the possibilities for this, because you can use numbers, letters and symbols for the nickname, and their total number can vary from 6 to 30. For the Gmail password, it is also desirable to enter something intricate, and not be limited to combinations like “qwerty12345” or dates of birth, since such passwords are cracked within a couple of seconds. True, the total number of characters in this case has no restrictions, but there must be at least eight. When creating a registration in Gmail.com, pay special attention to entering a mobile phone number. You can not enter it, however, if you intend to purchase an Android smartphone in the future and use the existing SIM card on it, you can specify the number (this is useful when registering already on the phone).
Alternate Address
Very often, users who perform the first registration have doubts about the need to use an additional address. But what if you forget your data and you don’t have a corresponding Android device? After all, then for Gmail-mail, access to e-mail (to the main registered mailbox) will become impossible. But the binding of an additional address will allow you to restore your data within a few minutes (for this a corresponding letter will be sent). Further it remains only to accept the terms of the agreement.
Note: if you are thinking about creating several accounts for work, do not make mistakes when setting up email access - Gmail.ru mail has absolutely nothing to do with Google services, and you can specify such an address only as an additional one. But you can have several active accounts. You can create additional registration with a preliminary exit from your account or directly with the addition of a new registration in your own settings.
Basic interface settings
So, how to create Gmail, figured out. Now briefly dwell on the settings of the web interface. To get started, you can use the settings menu by clicking on the button with the image of the gear and select the appropriate item.
Then a window will appear in which there are three types of predefined templates: default, standard and compact. They differ slightly, so you can use the one that is more convenient. We’ll dwell on additional settings a little later, but you can immediately give all users a little advice: do not rush to add your photo, which will be displayed as an avatar, but when using the settings, experiment with the section in which you can choose something when you click on the theme installation suitable for yourself. In general, among the settings there are a lot of parameters available for changing, so you can try changing them as well. Nothing complicated is expected here.
2-step verification
Speaking about what Gmail is, it is especially worth noting that this is not only a mail service, but also one of the most secure sets of additional features. And far from the last role in ensuring the protection of user data on all used devices is two-step authentication, the setting of which is directly in the user account settings (Google login link).
By default, such login settings for Gmail.com are deactivated, however, if necessary, you can enable them, but after that you will need to constantly enter the registration data and confirmation code sent to the phone number specified during registration.
Adding Devices
When authentication is activated, it becomes possible to add reliable devices for which the second stage (confirmation) can be disabled (phone, home computer, laptop or tablet).
In addition, you can immediately take advantage of the quick creation of one-time codes that are useful for entering services, for example, if you are abroad. Finally, you can immediately attach some additional applications that can use access to Google services through your account. When you select an application, an additional password will be generated, which you will need to use later (when you turn on two-step authentication for all related services and programs, access is automatically closed).
Gmail.com email inbox settings, email sorting options by category, markers and labels
As for the box settings, in addition to the simplest parameters, you can take advantage of additional features. All options are in the settings menu. To begin with, you can use the tools for automatic sorting of incoming correspondence, despite the fact that the service itself seems to determine what and where to put it.
For any folder (for example, for incoming messages), when you press the gear button, you can choose which categories will be displayed on the screen. Another two options for sorting letters is to set the so-called stars and labels for them, which will testify, say, to the importance of messages and placing them at the upper levels if reminders are activated. Using shortcuts, you can not only categorize emails, but create something like subfolders that will be displayed in a tree structure. Labels themselves can be deleted, but this will not affect the deletion of messages in any particular category.
Apply filters and import data
But, as already clear, each time moving letters to a given folder or category is not very convenient. Is it possible to make the post office itself place correspondence in certain places without your participation? Yes you can! For this, filter settings are applied.
In the simplest case, you can use the address setting, but if you wish, you can also include more complex distribution conditions in the settings list, for example, specifying some keywords or phrases that may be contained in a particular letter, with automatic movement of such messages in specified location.
Another “feature” of mail is the ability to import absolutely all data with the binding of other email addresses that are not directly related to the Gmail.com service.
By going to the accounts and import section in the settings, you can see a lot of interesting options. Here, for starters, you should use the import of data from other mailboxes (for example, Mail.Ru), and also set the receipt of correspondence from these mailboxes directly in the Gmail interface. Conveniently? Undoubtedly!
Note: if some mail service is not included in the list of supported ones, you will additionally have to manually configure the POP3 / IMAP protocols.
Answering machine
If necessary, if you plan to go on vacation, on a business trip, or simply will be absent for a long time without being able to check your mail, you can use the activation of an answering machine that will respond to all incoming letters using some sort of template letter that you can create yourself . Please note that replies to correspondence identified as spam will not be forwarded.
Built-in messenger
Another interesting feature is the use of the built-in Hangouts messenger, which many people are familiar with using standard Android systems applications.
With it, right in the mail, you can create group chats, exchange media content, conduct video conferences, send and receive SMS, conduct phone calls, etc.
Adding additional features
Finally, you can take advantage of adding some non-standard features. So, for example, it is sometimes advisable to activate conversations, add a notification display directly on the “Desktop”, which is especially convenient when working with correspondence from other services, reconfigure keyboard shortcuts, change the appearance of buttons, add a digital signature, activate offline mode, when letters will be sent only when you reconnect to the Internet, use the section of the laboratory where new tested features are presented that have not yet been implemented in the main set of mail service, etc. e. There are a lot of options.
Some account deletion issues
What is Gmail, briefly figured out. As already probably clear, it’s not possible to describe in full detail all the functions and capabilities of this service physically, and you will have to experiment with the settings for their deep understanding. As for the deletion of registration, there are two options: you can delete only mail, leaving the account active, or delete both of them. Of course, it’s preferable to choose the first option, because when you deactivate an account that could be tied to other devices like a smartphone or tablet, such devices will be deactivated automatically, and if you try to use them, you will get an access error. When the account is completely deleted, you will have to go through several stages of confirmation and specify an email address that is not connected in any way with Google services or backup addresses.
Note: when deleting exclusively a mailbox, you can use the archiving function and set the content to be sent to another address or place the archive in the cloud storage. In this case, not only letters will be saved, but also all addresses that might be in the address book. In addition, restoring a completely deleted account is often very difficult, and this can only be done within a couple of weeks from the date of complete deletion. So before you do these things, think a hundred times about making the most appropriate decision.