Gmail security tips

Follow the steps below to help keep your Gmail account secure. 

If you think that someone has unauthorised access to your account, reset your password immediately.

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Step 1: Complete a security check-up

Start by visiting the Security Check-Up page to do things such as adding account recovery options, setting up 2-Step Verification for extra account security, and checking your account permissions.

Start my Security Check-Up

Step 2: Follow these Gmail security tips

Choose a strong password

First, find out how to create a strong password.

Then, change your password.

1. Visit the Account Security page.
2. Click Password.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Check your Gmail settings

There are a few settings that you can check to make sure that nobody else has access to your emails.

1. Using a browser, open Gmail.
2. In the top right, click Settings See all settings.
3. Click the tabs below to check your settings.

General tab

• Check your signature to make sure that the text looks correct.
• Check your Out of Office AutoReply to make sure that the text looks correct and that it isn't turned on if you don't need it to be.

Accounts and Import tab

• Check 'Send email as' to make sure that all the email addresses listed belong to you.
• Check 'Grant access to your account' to ensure that no unknown people have access to your account.
• Check 'Check email from other accounts (using POP3)' to make sure that all the email addresses listed belong to you.

Filters and Blocked Addresses tab

• Check to make sure that emails aren't being automatically forwarded to an unknown account using a 'Forward to' filter.
• Check that any filters that automatically delete messages ('Delete it') were set up by you.

Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab

• Check that your messages aren't being forwarded to an unknown account.
• Verify that your POP or IMAP settings are correct.

Check for an update and check the current browser version on your computer

1. On your computer, open Chrome .
2. At the top right, click More .
3. Click Help About Google Chrome.

The current version number is the series of numbers beneath the 'Google Chrome' heading. Chrome will check for updates when you're on this page.

Click Relaunch to apply any available updates.

Report scams, spam and phishing

If you receive a suspicious email that asks you for personal or financial information, don't reply or click on any links in the message.

Learn how to block unwanted emails or avoid and report scams.

Related resources

• Gmail Security and Privacy Settings