Create custom email address and attach with Gmail

Scenario

• I have a Gmail address (e.g.: free@gmail.com)
• I have a domain (e.g.: example.com)
• I want to make a custom email address with own domain (e.g.: hello@example.com)
• I want to receive all the emails sent to custom email address in my Gmail (e.g.: hello@example.com -> free@gmail.com)
• I want to send email from custom email address while sending emails from my Gmail (e.g.: select hello@example.com as sender from free@gmail.com)

Solution

Set up email forwarding

The first step is to set up email forwarding in the domain management dashboard. I am using Dynadot as my domain name provider. The following process should be similar to other domain providers too.

• Go to My Domains > Manage Domains
• Click on the DNS Settings

• If you are using custom DNS switched on:

  • Keep Dynadot DNS
  • Add a record in Domain Record with the following information:
    • Record Type: Email Forwarding
    • Alias: hello
    • Email: free@gmail.com
  • Click Save DNS

• If you are using custom DNS switched on:

  • Select My Domains from the left-side menu bar and click Manage Domains in the drop-down.
  • Check the box next to your domain name(s) and click on the Bulk Action button
  • Choose Email Forwarding from the Bulk Action list
  • On the Email Settings page, select the Forwarding Email setting from the top drop-down menu
  • Enter in the email address you want for your domain email in the Username column (you do not need to enter the full email address such as email@yourdomain.com, only the email part should be entered from this example)
  • Enter an existing email address that you want your email forwarded to in the Existing Email Address column (e.g.: free@gmail.com)
  • If you would like to create additional aliases, click on the Add Email button
  • Press the Save Email Settings button to save your changes

Send an email from your alias in Gmail

• Step 1: Generate your app password
  • On your computer, go to your Google Account.
  • At the left, click Security.
  • Under Signing in to Google click App passwords and sign in, if required.
  • If you don’t find App passwords, click 2-Step Verification and follow the steps to turn on 2-step verification for your account. You may have to sign in again.
  • Under App passwords, click Select app and then Mail.
  • Click Select device and then Other.
  • Enter the name of your domain and click Generate.
  • From the app password box, copy the 16 character password generated. You’ll need this address when you add your new send-as (forwarded) account (in Step 2 below).
• Step 2: Add an email alias
  • On your computer, go to Gmail.
  • At the top right, click Settings.
  • Select the Accounts and import or Accounts tab.
  • In the Send mail as, click Add another email address (e.g.: hello@example.com).
  • In the window that opens, enter the name you want recipients to view.
  • Enter the email address alias you’ve set up for email forwarding.
  • Confirm that Treat as an alias is marked, and click Next step.
  • In the SMTP Server field, enter: smtp.gmail.com.
  • From the Port menu, choose 587.
  • In the Username field, enter the username you’re signed in with. (e.g.: free@gmail.com)
  • In the Password field, enter the 16-character generated app password that you copied in Step 1.
  • Confirm that the Secured connection using TLS box is marked.
  • Click Add account.
• Step 3: Confirm the address
  • On your computer, go to Gmail.
  • Open the confirmation message you received from Gmail.
  • Click the link.

Reference

• How do I set up email forwarding? - Dynadot Blog
• How to combine custom DNS with Dynadot Email forwarding?
• Send an email from your alias in Gmail
• Setting Apex record for custom domain for Github site