How to Use a Gmail Alias With iOS Mail

Aliases are governed both by Gmail and by iOS Mail

Businessman using smartphone
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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated June 28, 2019

Although most heavy Gmail users rely on the Gmail app, the native iOS Mail application also supports Gmail. In fact, Mail even supports the sending of messages using an alias.

These instructions were tested using iOS 12. To maximize image quality, we're sharing screenshots from the iPad, but the procedure is identical for the iPhone.

Prerequisites

You must set up your Gmail account in iOS Mail as an IMAP account, not as a "real" Google account. When you use the Gmail IMAP server settings, you lose some of the functionality of a Google account, including calendars and contact lists. However, you gain access to send-as aliases, which Gmail prohibits on the iOS Mail app.

Also, when you add Gmail for the first time, or delete it and add your account as IMAP, set an application-specific password if you configured two-factor authentication for your account.

How to Configure a Gmail Alias in iOS Mail

Here's how to add an alias to your Gmail:

  1. Go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts, then tap your IMAP-enabled Gmail account.

    IMAP-enabled email account in iOS Settings

  2. In the IMAP Account Information section, tap the arrow next to the email address.

    Arrow next to Email account in iOS Settings

  3. Tap Add Another Email.

    Add Another Email in iOS Settings

    Use an enrolled Gmail account alias here. Although iOS allows any email address in this field, most spam checkers discard as spam any messages with an address that isn't authenticated to the sending domain.

  4. Add as many addresses as you need.

  5. When you're finished, tap Account to return to the previous screen, then select Done.

    Account back button in iOS Email Settings

  6. Your new address is now ready to use.

How to Use a Gmail Account Alias

When you compose a new email after you've added the alias, tap the From address in the message window to create separate lines for the Cc, Bcc, and From addresses. Tap the default From address again to display all enrolled email addresses. Choose your preferred address so that Mail will send the message with that address, using the account credentials associated with it.

Multiple addresses in New Message on iOS