Managing multiple Gmail accounts on the iPhone or iPad is not as simple as it should be. If you're like me, you probably run several websites and need to send mail from several email addresses, but only want to check one inbox. This works in Gmail because you can send mail from multiple accounts, but on the iPhone or iPad it doesn't work that way.
Let's say your main Gmail account is:
me@gmail.com
You want to read all mail from that account as well as all your other accounts, and you need to send mail from the reply to addresses:
admin@mywebsite.com
admin@myotherwebsite.com
admin@mylastwebsite.com
Here's how to get around the iPad's limitations.
1. Sign up for multiple Gmail accounts
On your computer, sign up for a separate Gmail account for each email address you want to be able to send from. In our example we have 3 additional emails to send from, so we signed up for 3 additional Gmail accounts. Make sure for each of these Gmail accounts you go into Settings and tell Gmail you want to send mail from another account (admin@mywebsite.com, etc.).
2. Setup your main Gmail account as a Microsoft Exchange account on the iPad
Launch the Mail app. Use the settings for Microsoft Exchange to setup your main Gmail account. That way, you'll get push email, and sync your contacts and calendar. When it asks you for the server, use m.google.com.
3. Setup an "Other" IMAP account for each of the Gmail accounts you just signed up for.
Exit the Mail app and go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendar. Click Add Account and add in the new Gmail accounts you just signed up for. You won't have any incoming mail in these Gmail accounts so you won't be notified of new mail going forward. Do not use Gmail's SMTP server or your recipients will see your other Gmail accounts. Use your own SMTP server for all mail and you won't have the "on behalf of" issue, and all mail will be received from the sender you inteded.
4. Set your main Gmail account as the default account
You won't have to view the other Gmail accounts unless you want to send from them. Just leave them alone.
5. Start a new email from your main account
You'll start writing a new email from your main inbox, but then you'll click on the From: field and change it to one of the other address you have available.
6. Set Always Bcc Myself to On.
The Mail App will send all mail out of your SMTP server, but BCC your address so it shows up in your Gmail account.
That's it. It's not pretty, but it works!
Let's say your main Gmail account is:
me@gmail.com
You want to read all mail from that account as well as all your other accounts, and you need to send mail from the reply to addresses:
admin@mywebsite.com
admin@myotherwebsite.com
admin@mylastwebsite.com
Here's how to get around the iPad's limitations.
1. Sign up for multiple Gmail accounts
On your computer, sign up for a separate Gmail account for each email address you want to be able to send from. In our example we have 3 additional emails to send from, so we signed up for 3 additional Gmail accounts. Make sure for each of these Gmail accounts you go into Settings and tell Gmail you want to send mail from another account (admin@mywebsite.com, etc.).
2. Setup your main Gmail account as a Microsoft Exchange account on the iPad
Launch the Mail app. Use the settings for Microsoft Exchange to setup your main Gmail account. That way, you'll get push email, and sync your contacts and calendar. When it asks you for the server, use m.google.com.
3. Setup an "Other" IMAP account for each of the Gmail accounts you just signed up for.
Exit the Mail app and go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendar. Click Add Account and add in the new Gmail accounts you just signed up for. You won't have any incoming mail in these Gmail accounts so you won't be notified of new mail going forward. Do not use Gmail's SMTP server or your recipients will see your other Gmail accounts. Use your own SMTP server for all mail and you won't have the "on behalf of" issue, and all mail will be received from the sender you inteded.
4. Set your main Gmail account as the default account
You won't have to view the other Gmail accounts unless you want to send from them. Just leave them alone.
5. Start a new email from your main account
You'll start writing a new email from your main inbox, but then you'll click on the From: field and change it to one of the other address you have available.
6. Set Always Bcc Myself to On.
The Mail App will send all mail out of your SMTP server, but BCC your address so it shows up in your Gmail account.
That's it. It's not pretty, but it works!
