How to Set Up Gmail Delegation & Access a Delegated Account

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A guide to accessing & managing a delegated account

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 21, 2025

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Granting Access

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Accessing a Delegated Account

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Video

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Tips

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Things You'll Need

Gmail's Email Delegation is a great tool if you'd like to delegate the responsibility of reviewing and responding to your emails. This feature allows another user to read your email and reply on your behalf. Meanwhile, your personal settings and password remain completely private. The Email Delegation feature can be enabled by granting the delegate access in the "Accounts and Import" tab of your Gmail settings.

Gmail Delegation: Everything You Need to Know

To grant delegation access, go to Settings > Accounts and Import. Under “Grant access to your account” select “Add another email address.” To access a delegated account, click the confirmation link in your email. Then, click your profile and select the delegated account.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Granting Access to Your Gmail Account

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1
Login to your Gmail account. Both you and the delegate will need Gmail accounts, as this feature is available only with gmail.com addresses.
- You must set up Email Delegation through Gmail's standard desktop browser. You can't grant access to delegates through Gmail's iOS or Android app.
This icon is found in the upper right hand of the page and appears as a mechanical gear.

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This will take you to your General settings information.
The “Accounts and Import” section will allow you to grant access to another Gmail user.
Select “Add another account” under the field "Grant access to your account".
Enter the delegate's gmail.com address and select “Next Step”.
A confirmation request will be sent to the delegate's email account.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Accessing a Delegated Gmail Account

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The delegate should login to their personal Gmail account through a standard desktop browser, as email delegation cannot be accessed via Gmail's iOS or Android application.
It will contain a request for you to accept the delegation.
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Tap on the confirmation link provided. Doing so will activate the delegation.
- Confirmation and verification for the delegate may take up to half an hour.
You'll find it in the upper right hand of your browser window.
It will now appear under your own. You can now read and compose emails on behalf of the other user.

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Tips

The delegate will be able to read and compose replies to your emails, as well as organize your contact list. The delegate cannot chat on your behalf, view your password, or modify your account settings.

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A notice in red will appear at the top of your account stating you have granted access to another user. The notice will be removed after several days.

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To remove the user from accessing your account return to the “Accounts and Import” tab and delete the user's email.

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