Your email account

Almost every account you make in this guide starts with your email address. Claude, Apple and others send sign-in codes and receipts there. Pick one address now and use it for everything in this project.

Which address

Use an address that is yours alone, that you can open on this Mac, and that you will still have in years. A work or school address can be taken away. If you do not have one, make one for free:

• An Apple address ending in @icloud.com comes with your Apple Account. On the Mac: click the Apple menu, then System Settings, click your name at the top of the list, click iCloud, then turn on iCloud Mail and follow the steps.
• A Google address ending in @gmail.com: go to gmail.com in Safari and click Create account.

Write the address and its password on your paper list. The next step explains the list.

Two ways to read email

• The Mail app: a white envelope on a blue background, in the Dock. The first time, it asks which kind of account you have. Choose iCloud or Google and sign in.
• The website: icloud.com or gmail.com in Safari. Nothing to set up.

Either is fine. Pick whichever you like.

Find a code

When a service sends a sign-in code, it arrives within a minute or two. The message has a subject like "Your verification code". Open it, read the six or so digits, and type them into the screen that asked. Codes stop working after a few minutes, so do this without a long pause.

If it is not there, look in the Junk or Spam folder in the left column. Then use the search box at the top and type the sender's name, like Apple or Claude.

Practice

1. Open your email.
2. Click New Message (a square with a pencil in Mail) or Compose (in Gmail).
3. In the To box, type your own address.
4. In the Subject box, type Binder test.
5. In the big box, type Hello from my Mac. and click Send (a paper plane in Mail).
6. Wait a minute. The message appears in your inbox.