Apple’s app for sending emails is Mail. Mail is included with macOS, so you’ll find the app on every Mac. You’ll also find the same app on your iPad and iPhone. It’s a great alternative to using a web browser to access your various emails, such as Gmail and iCloud Mail. One of the best things about using Mail is that you can set it up to receive all your emails from all your different email accounts in one place, so you only need to use one app and never miss an email again.
There are numerous reasons why people would want to set up multiple email addresses on their Mac. Having separate email addresses for your personal and professional use can assist in keeping your personal and professional life organized. You can also set up multiple email addresses for different purposes, such as shopping, social media, and billing.
In addition, keeping all your email accounts in one place makes checking and responding to messages from multiple addresses efficient without logging in and out of different accounts. Remember that having all your email accounts in one place makes you more efficient and productive.
However, if you have a business, Drop Cowboy Ringless Voicemail can make it easier for you to send and receive messages in bulk to achieve your business goals, such as increasing leads and boosting brand recognition.
In this article, we’ll explain the steps you need to follow to set up email on your Mac or MacBook, including how to add a second email.
We’ll list why we use Mail on our Macs as an overview.
Here are some of the benefits of using Mail:
- You set up Mail to receive emails from all the different email addresses you use, including your work and email, so you can read and send all your emails in the same place.
- It works with popular email providers such as Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Outlook, and Apple’s iCloud, so it’s straightforward to set up. It also supports Exchange.
- You can add and mark up attachments – for example, you can email a photo or PDF with instructions you have ‘drawn on.’
- It integrates with other macOS apps such as Calendar and Maps.
- You can send large files and folders as attachments, and Apple’s Mail app will automatically send the recipient a download link.
- It’s straightforward to block senders and unsubscribe from mailing lists.
- You can mute group conversations when they become too distracting.
- You can organize your emails into Mailboxes that abide by specific rules, such as unread or received today or from particular people.
- You can Flag your messages with a different colored flag to make finding certain groups of emails easier.
- It is easy to search through all your emails.
To find the Mail app on your Mac or MacBook, press Command + Space Bar, type Mail, or click on the Mail icon in the Dock.
How to set up Mail on your Mac
It’s forward to set up email on a Mac or MacBook, mainly if you use one of the more popular services, such as Gmail, Yahoosly, or Apple’s iCloud. All you need is your email address and login details. Here’s what you need to do:
- Open System Preferences
- Click on Internet Accounts
- On the right, you’ll see a list of commonly used services, including iCloud, Exchange, Google, Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo, and more. If you don’t see these, click on the + sign.
You can also add an email account directly from within Apple Mail; the first time you open Mail, it will prompt you.
- Open Mail.
- Click on Mail in the menu and choose Accounts; this opens the same screen you access through Systems Preferences.
- If you wish to disassociate or turn off any accounts, select them and click on the minus (-) on this page.
We’ll run through how to set up the various kinds of email accounts below:
How to add iCloud email to Mac Mail
If you set up an iCloud account when configuring your Mac, you’ll probably see an iCloud entry on the left. This should mean your iCloud email already appears in your Mail app. However, if not, this is what you need to do.
- If you see this iCloud section on the left, click on it.
- Check that there is a tick in the box beside Mail. This will make sure you receive your iCloud emails in the Mail app.
If you don’t see an iCloud section, follow these steps:
- Click on the +.
- Now choose iCloud from the right-hand side.
- Next, you need to sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID. (If you don’t already have one, click Create Apple ID).
- Wait while your Mac signs in and sets up your iCloud email account in Mail.
How to add Gmail to Mac Mail
If you have a Gmail account, it’s easy to set it up.
- Click on Google.
- If you see a message that you need to use a web browser, click on Open Browser.
- This will open your Google account – log in as usual.
- You’ll see a message that macOS wants to access your Google Account; confirm this by clicking Allow.
- Now you’ll be directed back to System Preferences, where you must confirm if apps such as Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and Notes should use the Account. Make sure that Mail is selected.
- Now you can send and receive Gmail emails in the Mail app.
If you have a Yahoo! AOL or Microsoft Exchange account, it is similarly simple to add it.
How to add another email account
You can add multiple email accounts this way. Just click on + and add your various email details as above.
How to add an email manually
If your email provider isn’t one of the ones listed by Apple, it is still possible to add it.
For example, if you have a Hotmail account, it’s a bit more complex to add; we cover this here: How to set up Hotmail on a Mac.
To add your email details manually, follow these steps:
- On your Mac, open Mail.
- Click on Mail> Add Account.
- A window will open with the iCloud, Exchange, other options, and Other Mail Account…
- Select Other Mail Account…
- Click on Continue.
- Now add your Email Address and Password and click Sign In.
- You will see details such as Account Type, Incoming Mail Server, and Outgoing Mail Server. If you must manually enter the settings, choose IMAP or POP (probably IMAP, but check with your provider).
- Add the Incoming Mail Server and Outgoing Mail Server details (get them from your email provider).
- Tap Save. You may need to obtain these from your email provider.
- Assuming the email is still active, it can verify your Account, and you can sign in.
IMAP or POP?
Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and Post can sign are used to access email messages from a mail server.
POP downloads the emails onto your Mac, but if you want to access them on another device, you must download them again. At the same time, IMAP leaves them on the server. So IMAP is generally preferred.
IMAP is a more modern and feature-rich protocol allowing greater flexibility and better integration with multiple devices. POP is more straightforward and may be a good choice for users who only need to check their email from one device and have limited storage capacity.
If you are wondering whether a free email program is better than Mail, read: Best free alternatives to Mail on the Mac.
We also cover how to set up email on iPad and iPhone here.
Here’s How to stop spam in Mac Mail and our guide to setting up an Out of Office in Mail on the Mac.