How to create an e-mail account

Updated: 05/06/2024 by Computer Hope
E-mail message

E-mail is a great way to send and receive information over the Internet. However, as there are many different e-mail and webmail clients, the steps used to start an account differ. To learn how to create a new e-mail account (and associated e-mail ID) in various programs, choose from the list below and follow the instructions.

Google Gmail logo

Google Gmail

  1. Go to the Gmail website and sign in if necessary.
  2. At the bottom of the sign in screen, click the Create an account link on the Gmail sign in screen. link.
  3. On the account creation screen, fill out all the fields (A), and click Next (B).

Account creation screen in Gmail.

  1. On the next screen, fill out your birth date and gender (A) and any other information you are comfortable with, then click Next (B).

Second screen for creating a Gmail account.

  1. Read Google's Privacy and Terms, then click the I agree button in Gmail. button.
  2. Click the Next button in Gmail. button until you've moved through the features menu.
  3. Click the Go to gmail button. button, allowing you to access your new account.
Microsoft Outlook logo

Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail)

  1. Go to the Outlook.com website and sign in if necessary.
  2. Click the Create free account button on Outlook.com. button.
  3. On the next screen, choose a username (A) and a domain (B), and click Next (C).

Create account prompt on Outlook.com.

  1. Choose a password and click the Next button on Outlook.com. button.
  2. Type your name and click the Next button on Outlook.com. button.
  3. Choose a country, enter your birthdate, and click the Next button on Outlook.com. button.
  4. Choose a country code, enter a phone number, and click the Send code button on Outlook.com. button.
  5. Enter the access code and click the Next button on Outlook.com. button.
  6. Navigate through the rest of the prompts and your account is opened.
Yahoo! mail logo

Yahoo! Mail

To access Yahoo! mail, you first must create a Yahoo! account.

  1. Navigate to the Yahoo! account sign up page.
  2. Fill out the required fields (A) and click the Continue (B) button.

Page users enters their information to sign up for a Yahoo! account.

  1. Click the Text me an Account Key button on Yahoo! button.
  2. Enter the five-digit key and click the Verify button on Yahoo! button.
  3. Click the Continue button on Yahoo! button.
  4. Click the Icon that opens Yahoo! mail. icon.
Aol logo

Aol Mail

To access Aol Mail, you must first create an Aol account.

  1. Navigate to the Aol account sign up page.
  2. Click the Create an account button.

Create an Account button on Aol.

  1. Fill out the required fields (A) and click the Continue (B) button.

Page users enters their information to sign up for a Aol Mail account.

  1. Click the Text me an Account Key button on Aol Mail. button.
  2. Enter the key and click the Verify button on Aol Mail button.
  3. Click the Continue button on Aol Mail. button.
Microsoft Outlook logo

Microsoft Outlook

Note

These instructions only work with Outlook 2007, 2010, and 2013.

  1. Open Outlook.
  2. In the Add Account Setup window, make sure the circle next to E-mail Account is selected.
  3. Fill out the form and click the Next button on Outlook mail. button.
  4. Once the setup process is done, check the box next to Change account settings and click the Next button on Outlook mail. button.
  5. Click More settings.
  6. Click the Advanced tab.
  7. Next to Root folder path: type Inbox.
  8. Click OK, and then Finish.
Thunderbird logo

Mozilla Thunderbird

  1. Open Thunderbird.
  2. Click Tools, and select Account settings from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click the circle next to Email account, and click Next.
  4. Enter your name and an e-mail address that you want to use.
  5. Select POP (Post office Protocol) or IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) for your server.
  6. Enter your e-mail address for the incoming and outgoing user names, and click Next.
  7. Choose an Account Name.
  8. Verify your account information, and click Finish.
  9. Choose an Outgoing server.