Google Domains & Setting up customised email without workspace

📧 Google Domains & Custom Email Setup (Free Gmail Integration)

🔍 Summary

Google services are extremely powerful and customizable. In this guide, we'll show you how to set up:

• 📥 Email forwarding from your custom domain to Gmail
• 📤 Sending emails from your domain via Gmail using SMTP
• 💸 All at zero cost (aside from the domain purchase)

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🛠️ Prerequisites

• ✅ A custom domain (e.g. from Google Domains)
• ✅ A Gmail account

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📩 Part 1: Email Forwarding via Google Domains

Step 1: Setup Email Forwarding

1. Go to https://domains.google.com/registrar/<your_domain>/dns
2. Navigate to: Email → Email forwarding → Add email alias
3. Enter your alias (e.g. admin@yourdomain.com) and the Gmail address to forward to
4. Click “Add” and verify via the email sent to your Gmail

Step 2: Verify DNS MX Records

1. In Google Domains, go to DNS section
2. Ensure the correct MX records are set (added automatically during forwarding)

Step 3: Test Forwarding

Send an email to your new domain email address (e.g. admin@yourdomain.com). It should land in your Gmail inbox.

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📤 Part 2: Send Emails Using Gmail with Your Domain

Step 1: Generate an App Password

1. Go to Google Account Security
2. Under “App Passwords”: Generate one for "Mail" → "Other"
3. Copy the generated 16-character password

Step 2: Add Your Domain Email in Gmail

1. Go to Gmail Settings → Accounts
2. Under “Send mail as”, click “Add another email address”
3. Enter your name and custom email (e.g. admin@yourdomain.com)

Step 3: Configure SMTP Settings

• SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com
• Port: 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)
• Username: your Gmail address
• Password: the app password you generated

Step 4: Confirm & Verify

1. You’ll receive a verification email to your domain email address
2. Click the link or enter the code in the Gmail popup
3. ✅ Done! Now you can choose your domain email as the “From” address when replying from Gmail

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✅ Final Notes

• ✔️ You now receive and send emails with your custom domain via Gmail
• ✔️ Professional branding with zero email hosting cost
• 💬 Questions? Drop them in the comments below