Email

How to Access Your Family Email

As of February 2026, security rules have changed. You no longer "give" your password to an app. Instead, you use a secure "digital handshake" that keeps your password private...

Using a Web Browser (Easiest)

Simply go to Google Mail (Gmail) and log in with your email address and password. This is the most direct way to manage your mail on any computer.

Using the Gmail App (Phones & Tablets)

Download the official Gmail app from the Google Play Store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iOS).

• When you sign in, the app will briefly open a secure Google window.

• Enter your password there to grant the app permission to manage your mail.

Using a Modern Email App (Recommended for Multiple Devices & Accounts)

If you have several devices and/or manage several email accounts, using a "Universal" app may work best for you.

We recommend Spark (free edition) because it works across all your devices and combines your different accounts into one truly "Universal Inbox." A major benefit is that you only have to organize your accounts once; Spark securely synchronizes your settings across all your other devices automatically. Most importantly, when you reply to a message, Spark is smart enough to automatically send it from the correct email address. Additional features are available on a subscription basis, but the free edition is excellent.

How to set it up:

1. Open Spark and select "Add Google Account."

2. The Digital Handshake: A secure window will pop up directly from Google. Log in there as you normally would.

3. The VIP Pass: Once you click "Allow," Google gives Spark a secure "digital token" (like a VIP pass). This lets Spark manage your mail without ever seeing or storing your actual password.

You can repeat these steps for your Outlook, iCloud, or other accounts to see them all in one place. 

NOTE: Older email apps that only ask for a password without opening a separate Google login window are no longer supported as of early 2026. If your current app stopped working, it likely needs to be updated to a modern version.