Creating a new email account takes about five minutes
You can set up a new email address through Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or several other providers — all of them free. The process is nearly identical across all of them: you visit their website, click a button to create an account, fill in your name and a username you want to use, choose a password, and verify that you own the email address by clicking a link they send you. After that, your email is ready to use.
The main decision is which provider to use. Gmail is the most common choice because it integrates with Google services like Google Drive and Google Photos. Outlook works well if you already use Microsoft products like Word or OneDrive. Yahoo is still available and works the same way. For most people, any of these three will work fine — pick whichever name you prefer or whichever you already have an account with elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all let you create a free email address in about five minutes through their websites.
- You will need to choose a username (the part before the @ symbol) that is not already taken by someone else.
- You must create a strong password and keep it somewhere safe, because anyone with your password can read your email and reset other accounts tied to it.
- After you sign up, the provider will send you a confirmation email — you must click the link in that email to finish setting up your account.
How to create a Gmail account
Go to accounts.google.com and click the blue "Create account" button in the upper right. Google will ask whether you want a personal account or a business account — choose "Personal" unless you are setting this up for a company. Then fill in your first and last name.
Next, you will choose your Gmail address. Type the username you want (the part before @gmail.com) into the box. Google will tell you immediately if that username is already taken. If it is, try adding a number or a period in the middle — for example, john.smith or john.smith.1987. Once you find one that is available, click "Next."
Create a password that is at least 8 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! or #. Write it down in a safe place — a notebook at home, a password manager, or a locked document on your computer. Do not use your birthday, your pet's name, or anything someone could guess. Click "Next" when you are done.
Google will ask for your phone number and a recovery email address (another email account you own). These are optional but strongly recommended — they let you get back into your account if you forget your password. Enter them if you have them, then click "Next." Verify your phone number by entering the code Google texts you, and you are finished. Your Gmail account is now active.
How to create an Outlook account
Go to outlook.live.com and click "Create free account" at the bottom of the page. Outlook will ask for your email address — this is where you choose your username. Type what you want your email to be (for example, jane.doe@outlook.com). If that username is taken, Outlook will suggest alternatives. Pick one and click "Next."
Create a password using uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol. Write it down somewhere safe. Click "Next," and Outlook will ask for your first and last name, your country, and your birth date. Fill these in and click "Next."
Outlook will show you a security check — usually a puzzle or a series of images to click. Complete it and click "Next." Your Outlook account is now ready to use. You can start sending and receiving email immediately without any additional verification step.
How to create a Yahoo account
Go to mail.yahoo.com and click "Sign up" in the upper right corner. Yahoo will ask for your first and last name, then your email address. Choose the username you want (the part before @yahoo.com). If it is taken, Yahoo will suggest alternatives. Select one and click "Next."
Create a password with uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol, and write it down in a safe place. Click "Next." Yahoo will ask for your phone number and will text you a code to verify it. Enter that code and click "Next."
Yahoo will ask for your birth date and gender, then show you a security check. Complete the check and click "Finish." Your Yahoo account is now active and ready to use.
What to do after your email is set up
Once your account is created, write down your full email address and password somewhere you can find them later. Many people keep this information in a notebook, a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, or a locked document on their computer. Do not email it to yourself or post it online.
Next, add a recovery phone number and a backup email address if you have not already. This step takes two minutes and can save you hours of trouble if you ever forget your password. In Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security" on the left, and scroll down to "How you sign in to Google." In Outlook, go to account.microsoft.com and click "Security" on the left. In Yahoo, go to account.yahoo.com and click "Account security" on the left.
Finally, think about what you will use this email for. If it is your main personal email, you may want to add it to your phone so you can check messages on the go. If it is for a specific purpose — like signing up for a newsletter or a service you do not fully trust — you can leave it on your computer only. Either way, your email is now ready to receive messages.
Choosing a username that is easy to remember
Your username is the part of your email address before the @ symbol. It should be something you can type quickly and that other people can spell when you give it to them out loud. Avoid usernames with numbers that sound like letters (like using 0 instead of O or 1 instead of I) because people will get them wrong.
Good usernames are usually your first and last name, your first name and a birth year, or your first name and last initial. Bad usernames are random strings of numbers, inside jokes, or anything with special characters other than periods and underscores. Remember that your email address is often visible to other people — your boss, your bank, your doctor — so choose something professional that you will not be embarrassed to share.
If your name is common, you may not be able to get firstname.lastname@gmail.com. That is normal. Adding your birth year (jane.doe.1985) or a middle initial (jane.m.doe) usually works. You can also try a different provider — your name might be available on Yahoo even if it is taken on Gmail.
Keeping your email account secure
Your email address is the key to your entire digital life. Anyone who gets into your email can reset your passwords for your bank, your social media, your shopping accounts, and everything else. Protect it by using a strong password that you do not use anywhere else, and by never sharing that password with anyone except yourself.
Turn on two-factor authentication if your provider offers it. This means that when you sign in from a new device, the provider will text you a code that you have to enter before you can access your account. In Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security," and turn on "2-Step Verification." In Outlook, go to account.microsoft.com, click "Security," and turn on "Advanced security options." In Yahoo, go to account.yahoo.com, click "Account security," and turn on "Two-step verification."
Check your account recovery information every few months to make sure your phone number and backup email are still correct. If someone gets your password, your recovery information is what lets you take your account back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email address after I create it?
You cannot change the username itself — once you create jane.doe@gmail.com, that is your address forever. However, you can create a new email address and forward all your mail from the old one to the new one, then gradually switch over to the new address. Most providers let you set up forwarding in your account settings.
What if I forget my password?
Click "Forgot password?" on the sign-in page. The provider will ask you to verify your identity using your recovery phone number or backup email address. They will send you a code or a link, and you can use it to create a new password. This is why adding a recovery phone number and backup email is important.
Do I need to use my real name as my username?
No. Your username can be anything that is not already taken. However, if you use this email for work, banking, or official purposes, using your real name makes it easier for people to find you and trust that the email is actually from you.
Can I have more than one email address?
Yes. You can create as many email addresses as you want across different providers or with the same provider. Many people have one email for work, one for personal use, and one for shopping and newsletters. Each one is completely separate.
Is it safe to use the same password for multiple email accounts?
No. If someone figures out your password for one account, they can try it on all your other accounts. Create a unique password for each email address, and use a password manager to keep track of them all.