Stay in touch

Email without the mystery

Email is a way to send messages and files to an address such as name@example.com.

Send your first message

  1. Choose Compose or New message.
  2. Put the person’s address in To.
  3. Write a short Subject so they know what it’s about.
  4. Write the message and check the recipient before pressing Send.

Reply answers the sender. Reply all answers everyone included in the conversation, so check before using it.

Attach a file

Look for a paperclip or an Attach button. Choose the file, wait for it to finish uploading, and check that its name appears in your message before sending.

If someone sends you a file you weren’t expecting, ask them another way before opening it, even if their name looks familiar.

Spot a suspicious message

Be careful with messages that create urgency, demand payment, or ask for a password or verification code. The display name can be faked. Check the full sender address and the destination of links. If a company’s message worries you, visit its website yourself or call a number you already trust.

Keep your inbox manageable

Search finds old mail; Archive clears it from the inbox while keeping it; Delete puts it in the trash. Spam or junk folders sometimes catch real mail, so check them if a message is missing.

Try it: Email yourself a short message with a photo attached. Then find it using your inbox search.