You add another account to Gmail from the menu behind your profile image. On a computer, sign in to Google, click that image or initial at the top right, pick Add account, then sign in to the second address. After that, the same menu moves you between accounts, with no signing out and back in.
What you're doing is signing in to two Google accounts at the same time. They stay two separate accounts, and the menu at the top right becomes the way you move from one to the other.
Before you add the second account
- Use a computer for this, because these are the desktop steps.
- You're signed in to Google already, because the option you need sits inside your account menu.
- You've got the login details for the other account to hand, since you'll be taken through signing in to it.
- You've thought about which account should come first. In many cases, the first one you sign in with ends up as your default, and that matters later on.
Locked out of the account you want to add? Deal with that first, using our guide to getting a Gmail account back, and then come back here.
Adding the account, one click at a time
- On your computer, sign in to Google.
- Select your profile image or initial at the top right.
- In the menu, choose Add account.
- Follow the instructions to sign in to the account you want to add.
- To switch later, select your profile image again.
- Pick the account you'd like to use from the menu.
That sequence comes from Google's help page on signing in to more than one account. The final pair are the ones you'll repeat from now on, and the rest are a one-off for each address you bring in.
What changes once both accounts are signed in
You're now signed in to both at once, and moving between them no longer means signing out and back in again. That's the whole benefit, and if you keep a work address apart from a personal one, it's a big one.
Your settings stay your own, most of the time. Each account usually keeps separate settings, so the way you've arranged one shouldn't carry across to the other just because they're both open.
What does change is how much attention you need to pay. With two accounts running on one computer, it's easy to lose track of which one you're in. Check before you write anything that matters, because an email from the wrong address is an awkward thing to explain afterwards.
Why your default account's settings can show up in the other one
Here's the part you wouldn't guess. Google may apply settings from your default account when it can't tell which account you're using. So the separation described above is the usual behaviour, not a promise.
In many cases, your default is simply the account you signed in with first. You may never have chosen it on purpose, and it might not be the one you'd have picked.
Say you've got a personal address and a work address. Sign in with the personal one and add the work one second, and in many cases personal becomes your default. Then, if Google can't work out which of the two you're on, it's the personal account's settings that may turn up while you're in the middle of something for work.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
So if something looks wrong while you're on your second account, consider this before you start changing things. And if you're starting from a clean slate, sign in first with the account you'd want as your default and add the others after it. It won't hold every time, but it's a good bet.
If the extra account turns out to be one you no longer want at all, read up on deleting a Gmail account first, because that's a far bigger step than anything on this page.
Frequently asked questions
Will adding an account sign me out of the first one?
No. Both stay signed in side by side, and the new one simply joins the list in your menu.
How do I tell which one is my default?
Think back to which you signed in with first, as that's the default in many cases. It's a strong clue, though Google doesn't say it's always so.
Do these steps work in the app on my phone?
These are desktop instructions, so use Google's help page for phones instead.
Why can't I see the Add account option?
Look behind your profile image or initial in the top corner. Not signed in yet? Do that, and the option will be waiting.
Can I add more than two accounts?
Yes, Google lets you sign in to multiple accounts at once. Repeat the Add account steps for each one.
