Fortunately, you are not limited to your Gmail address when sending mail from Gmail. You can set up "accounts" for any of your addresses and use them to appear in the From: header.
Send Mail from Any Account, with Any Custom From: Address with Gmail
To set up an email address for use with Gmail:
- Select Settings from the top Gmail navigation bar.
- Go to Accounts.
- Click the Add another email address link.
- Enter the desired email address under Email address:.
- Make sure you can receive emails at this address. You can only add email addresses that belong to you to Gmail.
- Optionally, click Specify a different "reply-to" address and type the email address again. If you do not set the Reply-To: address, replies to your messages may go to your Gmail address.
- Click Next Step ››.
- Now click Send Verification.
- Close the Gmail - Add another email address window.
- Check for new email in your email client and follow the verification link in the Gmail Confirmation - Send Mail as... message.
- Close the Confirmation Success! window.
- Verify your new email address appears in the Accounts section of your Gmail settings.
- Optionally, click make default to make it your new default when sending mail from Gmail.
Now, to send mail from any of your Gmail accounts and addresses:
- Select the desired email address from the From: drop-down menu when composing mail in Gmail.
Custom Gmail From: Addresses and SPF
When you send mail using an address different from your main @gmail.com address, Gmail will add the latter in the email's Sender: header. This makes sure the message complies with sender authentication schemes such as SPF. While the address in the From: line may not specify Gmail as a valid origin, the Gmail Sender: header makes sure the message does not raise red alerts for spam and fraud detection systems.
Some recipients (those using Outlook, for example) may see your message coming from "...@gmail.com; on behalf of..." you at your other email address.
