Hey!

Google Accounts

Many people have used Google as a search engine. But Google has been adding many services and to use these services, you must have a Google account.

Q: What is a Google account?

A: A Google account is the way to sign in to the Google services you are using. A Google account enables you to sign in to multiple Google services with one email address and password. It also stores your settings for those various services.

Q: I am already on some Google Group email lists. Don’t I already have a Google account?

A: Not necessarily. You can join a Google Group via email without having a Google Account. Or someone can put you on a Google group email list just by adding your email address to the list. But if you want to access any of the Google Group’s websites (of which you are a member), you will have to sign in; that requires a Google account. (It will also require you to set up a Google account using the same email address to which the Google Group is sending email.)

Q: How can I determine if I already have a Google Account?

A: You can get help regarding this at Google Accounts Help Page.

Q: What information is need to set up a Google Account?

The primary piece of information used with a Google account is your user name. Your user name is an email address, any email address (that belongs to you). Google uses an email address as your ID. (Some Google services do require you to have a Gmail email address; I don’t have a list of which services require that.)
The other required piece of information is a password. You create a password when you set up your Google account. If you are using a non-gmail email address, you can, if you want, use the same password you use when you log into your mail server (e.g. Yahoo, Hotmail, etc); that is your choice.

In addition, you will enter a first name and last name, and optionally (but a good idea), a nick name. Mine is “Greg Steward.” Cleaver, huh?

NOTE: Again, remember that if you are currently a member of a Google Group, you must set up your Google account using that same email address. Otherwise you won’t be able to access the Groups website even though you receive emails from the group.

Q: Should I get a Gmail address?

A: My suggestion is to get a Gmail address and then use that as your Google account user name. That way you are ready to use any of Google’s services. You can set up your Gmail account to forward any email to your preferred email address if you don’t want to use Gmail.

Again, if you do decide to start using a Gmail email address, you will need to subscribe to any Google groups with the Gmail address unless you want to have multiple Google accounts. But that makes life very complicated.

Q: How do I set up a Google account?

A: If you want to use a Gmail email as your Google ID, sign up for a Gmail address if you don’t already have one. That will establish your Google account.

The Google Accounts page allows you to sign in to Google. If you don’t already have a Google account, you can create one by selecting the link that says, “Create an account now.”

Q: Where can I get more information about Google Accounts?

A: There is a good Google Accounts Help Page. There is also a page for getting started.