Guide to Create a Free Email AccountWhile there are many platforms through which to create a free email account, the most commonly used are Google and Yahoo. Part A of this guide explains how to set up an email account with Google (also known as Gmail), and Part B describes how to do so with Yahoo.

Please note: You will need a mobile (cell) phone for account verification for Yahoo mail. While having a mobile phone number is strongly recommended for Gmail, it is generally not a requirement.

Part A: How to Create an Email Account with Google1. Go to https://accounts.google.com/SignUp.

a. Enter your first name and last name (required).

b. Choose a username and enter it in the “username” space. A Google username can only consist of English letters, numbers, and periods.

c. Choose a password and enter it in the “Password” and “Confirm password” space.

d. Click “Next.” If you like, you can record your login information below for your reference when you log in in the future. Be sure to keep this information in a secure location!

Username: __________________________________________________________________

Password: ___________________________________________________________________

2. In this section, you’ll be asked for some personal information.

a. If you want to add a phone number to your account, enter the number in the “Phone number” field. This information is optional. In the “Why Google asks for certain info to create an account” page, Google states, “…if you forget your password, your recovery phone number helps you get back into your account.” For more information, click “Why we ask for this information” at the bottom of the current page.

b. If you want to add a second email to this account, enter the email address in the “Recovery email address” field. According to Google, adding a second address can “Help keep your account secure; help you get back in if you can’t sign in, like if you forget your password; [and] Get notifications from Google services.” Again, providing this information is optional.

c. Enter your birthday in the birthday field. This is a required field. According to “Google Account Help/Change your Google Account name & other info” (https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27442), “Google can use your birthday to make sure you’re old enough to use certain services and features. . .Know when to show a birthday theme on the Google Search page; determine your age group for personalized recommendations and ads.”

d. Make a selection from the Gender drop down menu. This is also a required field. You will have the option of choosing female, male, I’d rather not say, or other. According to Google Account Help/How Google uses your gender, Google “use[s] your gender to make Google services more personal.”

3. Read over the “Privacy and Terms” section (you will need to click on the blue arrow to scroll through the entire article). When you have read the article, click “I AGREE” to continue.

4. The next screen is a welcome screen from Google. Click “Next.”

5. The next page will ask how you want your inbox (the area of your email account that displays email messages) to appear: Default, Comfortable, or Compact. You can click through these options to see samples of the different views. Once you have chosen your preferred view, click “OK.”

6. After you have chosen a view, you will be taken into your inbox. There will be several steps at the bottom of the screen to continue setting up your account (these may include Choose a theme, Learn how to use Gmail, Import contacts and mail, Get Gmail for mobile, and Change profile image). All of these steps are optional.

You’ll note that you already have one email in your inbox from the Google Community Team with some information about Google. This is the area where any emails you receive from Healthcare.gov or other sources will appear.

To read a message, click on the name of the sender or the subject of the email. New, unread messages will appear in bold. Messages that have been opened will appear in a regular (non-bolded) type.

7. To sign out of your account

a. Make sure you have saved your username and password, which you will need for the next time you sign in.

b. Click on the circle that has the first letter of your name in the upper right corner of your screen

c. Click on “Sign Out” in the box that pops up.

8. To log back into your Gmail account

a. Go to Gmail.com.

b. Enter your email address, then click “Next.”

c. You will view a screen with your first name and email address (if this is not the correct name or email address, click back on your browser and re-enter the correct email address). Enter your password and and click “Sign in.”

Success! If you have further questions about creating a Gmail account, you can visit the Gmail help page at https://support.google.com/mail/?hl=en#topic=7065107.

Part B: How to Create an Email Account with Yahoo

1. Go to mail.yahoo.com. Click “Sign up”

2. Click “Sign up” at the top bottom of the screen.

3. Enter information to create your account

a. Enter your first name and last name (required).

b. Choose an email address and enter it in the “Email” space. A Yahoo email address can only consist of English letters, numbers, periods, and underscores.

c. Choose a password and enter it in the “Password” space.

d. Enter your mobile phone number and date of birth (both are required). If you like, you may select “male” or “female” from the “Gender” drop-down menu. This field is optional.

e. Click “Continue.” If you like, you can record your login information below for your reference when you log in in the future. Be sure to keep this information in a secure location!

Username: __________________________________________________________

Password: __________________________________________________________

4. Next, Yahoo will verify your account by texting a code to the phone number that you used to register your account. On this screen, verify that the mobile phone number you entered is correct. Once you click “Text me an Account Key,” you need to be prepared to type in (or write down) the code that Yahoo texts you, since it will only be valid for a short period of time. Note that if you have the option of receiving a phone call instead of a text.

5. Enter the five-digit account key texted to you, and click “Verify.”

6. The next screen is a “Congratulations” screen. Click “Continue.”

7. You may get a screen indicating that Yahoo is in the process of setting up your account. If this happens, wait a few seconds and click “Try again.”

(123) 456-7890 (123) 456-7890

8. Once you’re in your account, you have the option of setting the appearance of your account. You can click through the various options and select your preferences, or simply click the X in the upper right corner of the menu to use the default settings.

9. After you have chosen a view, you will be taken into your inbox. You’ll note that you already have several emails in your inbox from Yahoo Mail with some information about Yahoo and your account. This is the area where any emails you receive from Healthcare.gov or other sources will appear. To read a message, click on the name of the sender or the subject of the email. New, unread messages will appear in bold. Messages that have been opened will appear in a normal (non-bolded) type.

10. To sign out of your account

a. Make sure you have saved your username and password, which you will need for the next time you sign in.

b. Click on your first name in the upper right corner of your screen.

c. Click on “Sign Out” in the box that pops up.

11. To log back into your Yahoo account

a. Go to mail.Yahoo.com.

b. Enter your email address, then click “Next.”

c. You will view a screen with your email address (if this is not the correct email address, click back on your browser and re-enter the correct email address). Enter your password and and click “Sign in.”