Lesson 1: Account Setup & Security
Learn how to create and secure your Gmail account properly
Creating Your Gmail Account
-
Visit Gmail.com
Go to gmail.com and click "Create
account"
-
Fill in Your Information
Enter your first name, last name, and choose a unique username
💡 Tip: Choose a professional username if you plan to use this
for work
-
Create a Strong Password
Use at least 12 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
-
Add Recovery Information
Add a phone number and recovery email to protect your account
Setting Up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
2FA adds an extra layer of security to your account:
- Click your profile picture → Manage your Google Account
- Go to Security → 2-Step Verification
- Follow the setup wizard
- Choose your preferred method (SMS, Authenticator app, or Security key)
⚠️ Important: Save your backup codes in a safe place!
Privacy Settings
- Review who can see your email address
- Set up email forwarding rules (if needed)
- Configure spam filters
- Review connected apps and remove unused ones
Lesson 2: Interface Navigation
Understand Gmail's interface and navigate like a pro
Main Interface Components
📧 Inbox Tabs
- Primary: Important personal emails
- Social: Social media notifications
- Promotions: Marketing emails
- Updates: Confirmations and receipts
- Forums: Mailing lists and forums
🗂️ Left Sidebar
- Compose: Write new emails
- Inbox: Received emails
- Starred: Important emails you marked
- Sent: Emails you've sent
- Drafts: Unfinished emails
Customizing Your View
-
Display Density
Click Settings (⚙️) → Display density → Choose Comfortable, Cozy, or Compact
-
Reading Pane
Settings → Reading pane → Choose Right of inbox or Below inbox
-
Theme
Settings → Themes → Choose from preset themes or upload your own
💡 Pro Tip: Use the search bar at the top to quickly find any email. You
can search by sender, subject, date, or even attachment type!
Lesson 3: Basic Operations
Master composing, sending, and managing emails
Composing Emails
-
Start a New Email
Click the "Compose" button in the top left
-
Add Recipients
- To: Primary recipients
- Cc: Carbon copy (others who should see it)
- Bcc: Blind carbon copy (hidden from other recipients)
-
Write Your Message
Add a clear subject line and compose your message
-
Format Your Text
Use the formatting toolbar to make text bold, italic, add lists, etc.
Email Management
⭐ Star Important Emails
Click the star icon to mark emails for quick access later
📁 Archive
Remove from inbox but keep in "All Mail" for future reference
🗑️ Delete
Move to Trash (automatically deleted after 30 days)
🏷️ Label
Organize emails with custom labels (like folders)
Replying and Forwarding
- Reply: Respond to the sender only
- Reply All: Respond to all recipients
- Forward: Send the email to someone else
Lesson 4: Attachment Mastery
Learn how to attach, send, and manage files in Gmail
Attaching Files
-
From Your Computer
Click the paperclip icon (📎) and select files from your device
💡 Tip: Gmail allows attachments up to 25MB
-
From Google Drive
Click the Drive icon to attach files from your Google Drive
Benefits: No size limit, recipients always see the latest version
-
Insert Photos
Click the photo icon to insert images inline in your email
Managing Large Files
For files larger than 25MB:
- Upload the file to Google Drive first
- In Gmail, click the Drive icon when composing
- Select your file and choose sharing permissions
- Send the email with the Drive link
Downloading Attachments
- Hover over the attachment and click the download icon
- Or click "Download all" to get all attachments at once
- Preview attachments before downloading by clicking on them
- Save directly to Google Drive for easy access
⚠️ Security Warning: Never open attachments from unknown senders. Gmail
scans for viruses, but always be cautious!