Internet & email
Send an email
Write and send an email — great for longer notes, photos, and letters.
Which device are you using?
Pick one and the steps below will use the right words for you.
A quick heads-up
This guide is written for phone, tablet, and computer. Choose that device above to follow along — or look at the related guides below for your device.
Email is like sending a letter, but it arrives in seconds. You can write as much as you like and even attach photos.
New to this? Start here first
These short guides cover what you need before this one — no rush.
What you need
- An email account (such as Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo)
- The email address of the person you are writing to
Step by step
- Open your email app, such as Gmail or Mail. Open your email — either an app, or a website like gmail.com in your web browser.
- Tap the Compose or pencil button to start a new email. Click the Compose or New button to start a new email.
- In the To box, type the email address of the person you are writing to.
- In the Subject box, type a few words about your message, like 'Hello from Grandma'.
- Tap the large box and type your message. Click the large box and type your message.
- Tap Send. It is often an arrow. Click Send.
Helpful tips
- An email address always has an @ symbol in the middle, like jane@example.com.
- To reply to an email, open it and choose Reply — the address fills in for you.
Email is wonderful for longer notes and for keeping a record of things, like appointment confirmations. Take your time — there is no rush to send.