Google Adds Gmail Email Delegation To Ease Multiple Account Usage

Google has today solved a problem that has plagued avid Gmail users since the very start of the service. If you were the owner of two different Gmail accounts (one for business and one for personal use, as an example), you used to either have to check them in different browsers or sign in/out each time you wanted to switch from one to the other. But now, that's all history.

Google has launched Email Delegation, a new Gmail feature that is "super useful for people who want their assistants to have access to read or respond to mail on their behalf." The feature was previously only available to those with a Google Apps account, but now it's rolling out to all Gmail accounts. To grant access to another account, click the Settings link in the top right corner of Gmail. On the "Accounts" tab, you'll see a new section where you can "Grant access to your account." For example, below we've given hikingfan@gmail.com access to the hikingfanfamily@gmail.com account.


The account you add will get a verification email with links to accept or deny access. Once the account accepts and you've refreshed your browser or logged in and out again, you'll see a small down arrow beside the email address at the top right corner of Gmail which can be used to toggle between accounts — in this case hikingfan@gmail.com and hikingfanfamily@gmail.com.

Each account will open in a different browser tab or window so you can view both accounts simultaneously, all while signed into your primary account. When you send a message from hikingfanfamily@gmail.com while signed in as hikingfan@gmail.com, it will appear as being sent by hikingfan@gmail.com on behalf of hikingfanfamily@gmail.com.

Not bad, and definitely a huge time-saver for some.