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Adding a Google Account to your iPhone or iPad

Whether you have an iPhone or an iPad, the adding of a Google account is essentially the same... However, there are two different ways you need to consider adding an account depending on how you're going to use it:

Using Gmail to sync with iOS services

If you are using your own device and want to sync Google's services to your iDevice or to sync your account's Apple services to Google, you'll use this option:

  • Go to Settings

  • Tap on Passwords & Accounts
  • At the bottom of the list of accounts you already have loaded, select Add Account
  • Choose Google

    You will be prompted with a message saying "Settings" Wants to Use "google.com" to Sign In. At this point, choose Continue
  • You will then be shown a Google Sign-in screen asking for your Email or phone number. Enter your email address and choose the blue Next button below.
  • Next, you will be asked for your password. Enter this and choose the blue Next button below.
  • If you have Google Two-Factor Authentication enabled (if you aren't, you really should be using it), wait for your confirmation code and verify your account.
  • At this point, your Google account will be loaded on your device if you press Save at the top right of the screen, however, you really should review which services you want to sync with the account you have connected:
    • If this is a shared account, you should disable Contacts, Calendars and Notes.
    • If you are going to use the official Gmail app, you should disable Mail.
  • Choose Save at the top right of the screen.

At this point, you can optionally also rename the new Google account as it will, by default, be called Gmail. From the same screen (Settings > Passwords & Accounts):

  • Select your newly created account.
  • Tap on your email address at the top of the screen.
  • Modify your Name (what people will see you're called if you send an email) and Description (currently Gmail) to something more descriptive.

    Using Google with Google's official apps (Gmail, Drive, Sheets, Docs etc.)

    If you're only really interested in using the official Google apps or you are using a shared account for a range of reasons, you can add the account inside one of these apps. We're going to assume you're using the Gmail app:

    • Open Gmail (you can install it from here).
    • If you've just installed it for the first time, you will be presented with a simple wizard to add your account or sign up for a new account. We're going to assume you're adding an existing account.
    • Click on the menu () at the top of your screen, or your emoticon (your face or first initial) on the top right of the screen.
    • Choose "Add another account".
    • Choose Google from the list of providers.

      You will then be shown a Google Sign-in screen asking for your Email or phone number. Enter your email address and choose the blue Next button below.
    • Next, you will be asked for your password. Enter this and choose the blue Next button below.
    • If you have Google Two-Factor Authentication enabled (if you aren't, you really should be using it), wait for your confirmation code and verify your account.

    At this point, your account will be available as an [additional] account for all your Google apps that you install on your iDevice. To switch between them, look for your emoticon (your face or first initial) and choose another.

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