A Simple Guide to Creating a Google Account

You do NOT need to create a Gmail address to have a Google Account.

You can keep your existing email exactly where it is — whether that's your business email, Outlook, another email provider or somewhere else entirely — and use that existing email address to create a free Google Account.

This guide shows you how.

Have you ever been sent a Google Drive file or Google Doc and been told you need a Google Account to access it?

And immediately thought:

“But I don't want another email address!”

Good news.

A Google Account is NOT the same thing as a Gmail account.

You do not have to create a new Gmail address.

Your existing email can stay exactly where it is, with your current email provider. Creating a Google Account does not move your email to Google or create another inbox.

Instead, you can use an email address you already have to create your Google Account — and that's exactly what this free Simple Guide will show you how to do.

Inside, we'll work through the process one chunk at a time, including:

• what a Google Account actually is — and how it's different from Gmail
• creating a free Google Account using your existing email address
• verifying your email and setting your Google password
• security, recovery information and possible phone verification
• signing into Google Drive
• accessing files, folders, Docs and Sheets that other people have shared with you
• what to check when Google insists you don't have access even though you definitely do 😂
• how to check you're signed into the right Google Account when you have more than one.

By the end, you'll have a working Google Account and understand what you've actually created — without accidentally creating an email address you didn't want in the first place.

Who is this guide for?

It's particularly useful if a client, membership, course, colleague or organisation uses Google Drive to share resources with you, but you don't currently have a Google Account attached to the email address they're using.

And if you've been avoiding setting one up because you thought Google Account = Gmail…

this one's definitely for you. 😂

And if Google doesn't behave?

Technology doesn't always read the instructions.

If you hit something strange, you can email me with a quick question.

And if you'd rather say “Paula, can you just help me do the bloody thing?”, there's also the option to book a Zoom call and we'll work through it together.

FREE DOWNLOAD

A Simple Guide to Creating a Google Account

38 pages of practical, jargon-free help from Magic Tadzik.

No Gmail address required. 💜