Mail is the default email client for the Mac operating system. Mail supports receiving email messages using the Post Office Protocol (POP) or Instant Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and sending email messages using Simple Message Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Using your preferred download method (POP or IMAP), you can sync Mail with Gmail to provide native access to your Gmail account within the Mac operating system. Linking your Gmail account to Mail also provides a full backup of your Gmail messages, in case any problems arise or if you decide to move to a different email provider.
Enable POP or IMAP Access to Gmail
Launch Safari.
Navigate to Gmail and log in to your account.
Select "Settings" from the top right.
Select the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab.
Click the radio button appropriate for the access method you prefer (POP or IMAP) and then click "Save Changes."
POP
Launch Mail.
Select "File" and then "Add Account."
Type your name, Gmail address and Gmail password and then click "Create." Mail will automatically set up your Gmail account with the correct configurations. Select "Mailbox" and then "Get All New Mail" to sync your messages to Mail.
IMAP
Launch Mail.
Select "Mail" and then "Preferences."
Click the "Accounts" tab and then click "+" in the bottom left to create a new account.
Type your name, Gmail address and Gmail password and then click "Create."
Select "Mail" and then "Preferences" again and then click the "Accounts" tab.
Select your Gmail account and ensure that the "Incoming Mail Server" is set to "imap.gmail.com."
Select "Advanced" for your Gmail account and ensure that "IMAP Path Prefix" is left blank and that the "Port" is set to "993."
Select "Mailbox Behavior" for your Gmail account.
Disable "Store draft messages on the server" and "Store sent messages on the server."
Enable "Store junk messages on the server" and set "Delete junk messages when" to "Never."
Disable "Move deleted messages to the Trash mailbox" and "Store deleted messages on the server." Your Gmail IMAP account should now be configured correctly. Select "Mailbox" and then "Get All New Mail" to sync your messages to Mail.
Enable POP or IMAP Access to Gmail
Launch Safari.
Navigate to Gmail and log in to your account.
Select "Settings" from the top right.
Select the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab.
Click the radio button appropriate for the access method you prefer (POP or IMAP) and then click "Save Changes."
POP
Launch Mail.
Select "File" and then "Add Account."
Type your name, Gmail address and Gmail password and then click "Create." Mail will automatically set up your Gmail account with the correct configurations. Select "Mailbox" and then "Get All New Mail" to sync your messages to Mail.
IMAP
Launch Mail.
Select "Mail" and then "Preferences."
Click the "Accounts" tab and then click "+" in the bottom left to create a new account.
Type your name, Gmail address and Gmail password and then click "Create."
Select "Mail" and then "Preferences" again and then click the "Accounts" tab.
Select your Gmail account and ensure that the "Incoming Mail Server" is set to "imap.gmail.com."
Select "Advanced" for your Gmail account and ensure that "IMAP Path Prefix" is left blank and that the "Port" is set to "993."
Select "Mailbox Behavior" for your Gmail account.
Disable "Store draft messages on the server" and "Store sent messages on the server."
Enable "Store junk messages on the server" and set "Delete junk messages when" to "Never."
Disable "Move deleted messages to the Trash mailbox" and "Store deleted messages on the server." Your Gmail IMAP account should now be configured correctly. Select "Mailbox" and then "Get All New Mail" to sync your messages to Mail.