Email & messages
Send your first email
Email lets you reach people far away. It costs no money. It arrives in seconds. For your first try, you will send the email to yourself. That way, nothing can go wrong. You can do this, one calm step at a time.
~5 min Always free
Let us send one simple email together. We will send it to you. That makes it safe to practice. Take your time. Breathe.
Find your device below, then follow those steps. The buttons may look a little different on yours, that is okay.
On a phone (Gmail app)
- Find the Gmail app on your phone.
- Look for a white box with a red 'M'. The 'M' is shaped like an envelope.
- Tap the icon to open the app.
- If it asks you to sign in, sign in now.
- If you are already in, you will see your inbox.
- Find the Compose button. It is a pencil shape.
- Look near the bottom-right corner.
- Tap it. A blank message will open.
- Find the box that says To.
- Type your own email address. Sending to yourself is a safe first try.
- Tap the Subject box.
- Type a few words, such as 'My first email'.
- Tap the big empty area below.
- Type a short message here.
- Find the Send button near the top. It looks like a small paper plane.
- Tap Send. Your email is on its way.
- Check your inbox in a moment. You will see it arrive. Well done.
On a computer (gmail.com)
- Open your web browser.
- Click the address bar at the top.
- Type gmail.com in the bar.
- Press Enter.
- If it asks you to sign in, sign in now.
- If you are already in, you will see your inbox.
- Find the Compose button. It is near the top-left.
- It has a pencil next to the word Compose.
- Click Compose. A small new message window will open.
- Click the box that says To.
- Type your own email address. Sending to yourself is a safe first try.
- Click the Subject line.
- Type a few words, such as 'My first email'.
- Click the big empty area below.
- Type a short message here.
- Find the blue Send button at the bottom of the window.
- Click Send. Your email is on its way.
- Check your inbox in a moment. You will see it arrive. Well done.
Buddy’s tip
An email address always has an @ sign in it. Type yours slowly. Check it twice. Any free email works the same way. Other apps look a little different. The steps are the same: find Compose, fill in To, write, then Send.
Find Compose, type the address, write, then Send.