How to Setup Gmail on an iPhone: 23 Steps (with Pictures)

Setting up Gmail on an iPhone isn't as simple as choosing the Gmail profile apple builds into your phone. A customized profile will provide you with the most flexibility and control over your mail and where it goes.
STEPS
METHOD 1 OF 2: SIMPLE METHOD

1

OPEN SETTINGS AND CHOOSE MAIL, CONTACTS, CALENDARS FROM THE LIST.

2

UNDER "ACCOUNTS", CLICK "ADD ACCOUNT"

3

CLICK ON THE "GMAIL" ICON.

4

FILL IN THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. Email and password are required.

5

SELECT WHICH GMAIL FUNCTIONS YOU WANT AVAILABLE ON YOUR PHONE--YOU CAN SYNC MAIL, CONTACTS, CALENDARS, AND NOTES FROM YOUR GOOGLE ACCOUNT INTO YOUR PHONE.

6

CLICK "SAVE" ON THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER.

7

GO TO THE HOME MENU AND CLICK ON THE MAIL ICON TO VIEW YOUR MAIL.
METHOD 2 OF 2: ADVANCED METHOD

1

OPEN SETTINGS AND CHOOSE MAIL, CONTACTS, CALENDARS FROM THE LIST.

2

DELETE YOUR EXISTING GMAIL ACCOUNT IF YOU ADDED IT VIA THE AUTOMATIC GMAIL PROFILE ON THE IPHONE. You cannot simply edit the settings for that account, they will not save correctly.

3

TAP ADD ACCOUNT...

4

CHOOSE OTHER FROM THE LIST. This is probably the most important step.

5

ENTER YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, PASSWORD, AND DESCRIPTION FOR THE ACCOUNT. Then tap Save in the upper right corner

6

ENSURE THE IMAP TAB IS SELECTED (HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE)

7

ENTER THE FOLLOWING SETTINGS:
Under Incoming Mail Server


Host Name: imap.gmail.com


Username: Use your full Gmail address, like test@gmail.com


Password should be automatically filled in from the previous page


Outgoing Mail Server


Host Name: smtp.gmail.com


Username: Use your full Gmail address, like test@gmail.com


Password: Your Gmail password

8

TAP NEXT, THEN SAVE. Your iPhone will verify your settings and return you to the Settings page.

9

TAP ON YOUR NEWLY ADDED ACCOUNT AND THEN SCROLL DOWN TO CHOOSE "ADVANCED"

10

SELECT THE DRAFTS MAILBOX, FROM ON THE SERVER UNDER [GMAIL] CHOOSE DRAFTS

11

SELECT SENT MAIL, FROM ON MY IPHONE CHOOSE SENT. Gmail will automatically place a copy in your Gmail's sent messages folder. The iPhone does not need to try to do this manually

12

SELECT DELETED MAILBOX.
To map the trash can button to delete messages: from On the Server under [Gmail] choose Trash
To map the trash can button to archive messages: from On the Server under [Gmail] choose All Mail

13

CHANGE THE DELETED MESSAGES - REMOVE SETTING TO NEVER. You do not want your iPhone to try and empty your trash, or delete your archive.

14

CHECK YOUR MAIL SO YOUR IPHONE CAN SYNC UP ALL THE BOXES.

15

NOTE: If you have 2-Step Verification code activated in the Gmail Password settings, then please generate one and enter it with imap.gmail.com. It will work. Also people with an Australia @optusnet email address, IMAP does not work as Optus does not support it only POP3.
VIDEO

TIPS
After mapping a folder to Drafts, Sent, or Trash, those folders will no longer appear in the All Folders listing. Instead, choose the item you mapped them to. This can be particularly confusing to always look in the "Trash" to view all of your mail.
WARNINGS
Test out your settings to ensure they are working correctly. Make sure that messages you trash on the iPhone still exist in the web interface for Gmail.