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Give Your Friends Access to "Inbox by Gmail" Without Any Invites

Oct 27, 2014 07:22 PM
Oct 27, 2014 07:25 PM
Smartphones displaying email applications on their screens.

Google's new Inbox by Gmail service offers a new take on email with a particular emphasis on productivity. But, as an invite-only service at this stage, not many people can access Inbox just yet.

While users who have been lucky enough to receive an invite to the service will in turn get three invites to pass on, there's an easier way to spread the love. Just add your friend's Google account info to your mobile device and log into the Inbox app—they'll then be able to access the service from their own device.

Add Your Friend's Google Account to Your Device

If you've received an invite to Inbox, make sure that you have the mobile app installed on your device. It's available on both Google Play and iTunes, so go ahead and get it installed, then ensure that you're logged in with your primary account.

Inbox by Gmail app interface showing options to uninstall or open.

Next up, add your friend's Google account info to your device. On Android, this can be done by heading to Settings, then tapping Add Account and selecting Google from the list.

Settings menu on a mobile device showing account options.
Account addition options on a mobile device, featuring cloud storage and viewing services.
Settings menu on a mobile device showing account options.
Account addition options on a mobile device, featuring cloud storage and viewing services.

From here, select Existing, then let your friend type in their username and password.

Add a Google Account prompt for existing or new account creation.
Login screen with fields for email and password.
Add a Google Account prompt for existing or new account creation.
Login screen with fields for email and password.

At the end of the account setup process, you'll get a chance to configure syncing options. If you'd rather not have your friend's data synced to your device, make sure to deselect all sync options for this account.

Account sync options with checkboxes for various services.
Account sign-in successful with sync options for various apps and services.
Account sync options with checkboxes for various services.
Account sign-in successful with sync options for various apps and services.

Log into the Inbox App with Your Friend's Account

From Inbox's main screen, open the side navigation drawer and tap your account name. This will expand a list of all other Google accounts associated with your device, so tap your friend's account at this time.

Email inbox interface with menu options.
Give Your Friends Access to "Inbox by Gmail" Without Any Invites
Email inbox interface with menu options.
Give Your Friends Access to "Inbox by Gmail" Without Any Invites

After a second or two, your friend will be logged in and they should be able to log into the Inbox app on their own device—no invite needed!

Remove Your Friend's Google Account from Your Device

Now that your friend has access Inbox, you no longer need their Google account attached to your device. Under the Accounts subsection of Settings, tap the Google entry, then select your friend's Gmail address.

Settings menu on a mobile device displaying options for accounts and cloud services.
Give Your Friends Access to "Inbox by Gmail" Without Any Invites
Settings menu on a mobile device displaying options for accounts and cloud services.
Give Your Friends Access to "Inbox by Gmail" Without Any Invites

From here, tap the three-dot menu button at the top of the screen and select Remove Account. Confirm your selection, then your friend's account will be removed from your device.

Settings menu for Google account sync options on a mobile device.
Account removal prompt on a mobile device.
Settings menu for Google account sync options on a mobile device.
Account removal prompt on a mobile device.

Note that this trick will not work for any Inbox account activated using this method, so your friend will not be able to repeat this process for other people.

Now that you've invited your friends, send them a link to this article so that they can familiarize themselves with Inbox's core functions, or point them here for a list of handy keyboard shortcuts.

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

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