How do I use a custom domain name for an existing gmail account?

pjb3
pjb3

I have an existing gmail account and I also have a custom domain name. For years I have been using Zone Edit's MailForward to forward mail from the custom domain name to my gmail address. I use a custom from address in gmail to make email I send appear as if it is from the custom domain name. I receive mail that is sent both to my custom domain name as well as directly to my gmail account. I'd like to host my domain name somewhere else, which I know doesn't have the mail forward feature, but I still want all mail sent to my custom domain name to continue to end up at my gmail account, as well as email sent directly to my gmail account.

I'm wondering, what's the best way to do this? I set up a google apps account, but that gives me a completely different gmail account and I see no way to link a google app account to an existing gmail account. If there is a way to do that, that is what I'd like to do. If that's not possible, would the next best thing be to setup a mail server and just have it forward everything to my gmail account?

This question originated from superuser

Answers(4)

  • Terrell
    Terrell

    Option 1: Forward all email from your domain to Gmail (easier)

    Most domain registrars (Godaddy, Net Sol, etc) have an email forwarding option where you can have all emails sent to your domain forwarded to a specified email.

    Option 2: Google Apps for Domains (better but more involved)

    Check out Google Apps for Domains as this is probably the best way. After you setup your Google Apps account and update your domain's DNS settings, you should be good to go. You may want to import your existing Gmail into this new account. Also, you probably want to have your existing Gmail account forward all email to this new address.

  • MikeR
    MikeR

    If you want to use googleapps for your hosted mail, but not for web hosting, you can still set-up google apps and point your domains MX records to point to the address' google tells you at set-up and any other records to any other IP address you desire

    With regards to getting your mail into your existing account (or you existing mail into the new google apps account), I found that the best way to do that was to enable POP3 on the account I want to transfer the mail from, and then set-up the account you want to use day to day to collect the mail from that account via POP3

  • hyperslug
    hyperslug

    I used to use ZoneEdit, too, but they had downtimes. My registrar (Namecheap) does have its own free mail forwarding service but after a few outages and lost emails, I decided only a paid service would take this seriously enough.

    I now use DNS Made Easy Mail forwarding for USD 19/yr which isn't too much for not having to always worry if I'm losing out on important emails. It's been 7 months with no problems. Mail sent to certain domain emails is forwarded to my Gmail account automatically.

  • Sidnicious
    Sidnicious

    Google apps is separate from Gmail, so you have two options:

    1. Transfer the mail in your Gmail account to the new Google Apps account (you can do this with a desktop IMAP client) and forward your Gmail mail to it in the future.

    2. Host your domain with a company that offers mail forwarding, or find a separate mail forwarding service. Several companies offer this. I like NearlyFreeSpeech.NET (they can also provide hosting, name registration, and other services à-la-carte).

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