When you add another address to your Gmail account for sending messages, Gmail typically treats the new address the same as your original Gmail address. The added address is an alias for your original address.
If you send messages on behalf of another user, you might want to uncheck the Treat as an alias box for this address. Check or uncheck the box when you add the other address, or change this setting later in your Gmail settings.
I want to...
Send and receive messages in my Gmail inbox
Check the Treat as an alias box.
Example: You own 2 email addresses. You want messages sent to either address to arrive in the same Gmail inbox. When you send a message, choose which address to send from. Recipients see that the message came from whichever address you choose.
Send on behalf of another user or account
Uncheck Treat as an alias.
Example: You manage 2 email addresses in separate accounts or mail systems. You sign in to each account separately to read messages. But you want the convenience of sending mail as either address from your Gmail account.
When you uncheck the box:
- Messages sent to the address you're adding don’t appear in your current Gmail Inbox. Instead, you need to sign in to another account or mail system to receive the messages. The other account must be able to get mail at this address.
- Replying to messages from the other address adds that address to the To: field.
Send from a group mailing list
Check Treat as an alias.
Example: You use Gmail at work or school, and belong to a group mailing list. In addition to getting group posts in your Gmail inbox, you want to send messages using the group address. Add the group address as a sending address, and leave the box checked.
Compare
| Treated as an alias box is... | ||
|---|---|---|
| Checked | Unchecked | |
| Messages sent to the other address appear in this Gmail inbox | Yes | No |
| Messages you send from the other address appear in Sent mail | Yes | Yes |
| Replying to messages sent from your other address fills the To: field with... | Addresses in the To: field of the original message | The sender's address |
| Replying to messages sent from a group alias fills the To: field with... | Addresses in the To: field of the original message | The group address |
Note: When you add a custom display name to your Gmail Send mail as setting and you check the Treat as an alias box, you can't use the Reply all feature in Google Groups. Other members of the group can still use Reply all in Groups.
Verify or change your setting
- Sign in to Gmail.
- In the top right, click Settings
Settings.
- Click the Accounts and Import or Accounts tab.
- In the Send mail as section, find the address and click edit info.
- Check or uncheck Treat as an alias.
- Click Save.
Note: When two users have the same Send mail as address and a message is sent between them, the recipient has the message in the Sent mail label, in addition to the Inbox label.