How to Send Mail from a Custom Email Address With Gmail

This article explains how to set up virtual accounts for any of your email addresses and use them to populate the From header in Gmail. Instructions apply to Gmail in a web browser.

Send Mail from a Custom Email Address with Gmail

To set up an email address for use with Gmail:

1. Select Settings (gear icon) in Gmail.

2. Choose See all settings.

3. Go to the Accounts and Import tab.

4. In the Send mail as section, select Add another email address.

5. In the Add another email address you own screen, type your display name and email address, select the Treat as an alias checkbox, then select Next Step.

6. The add-address wizard evaluates your entry. If it can determine your address's server settings, the wizard prompts you to send a verification message.

   If it can't identify the settings based on your email address, manually input your SMTP settings, including the server and port, your username, and your password. Then, select Add Account.

7. Check for a new email in your email client and follow the verification link and prompts. Now, when you send messages from Gmail, select the From drop-down arrow and choose the account from which you want to send the message.

Custom Gmail From Addresses, 'On Behalf of' Tags and Sender Policy Framework

When you send mail from an address that is different from your main @gmail.com address through Gmail servers (instead of an external SMTP server set up for the address), Gmail adds your Gmail address in the email's Sender header.

This procedure complies with sender-authentication schemes such as SPF. While the address in the From line may not specify Gmail as a valid origin, the Gmail Sender header makes sure the message does not raise red alerts for spam and fraud detection systems.

Some recipients (those who use Outlook, for example) may see your message coming from "…@gmail.com; on behalf of…" when you send messages from your other email address.