How to add Google Mail (Gmail) & Other Work Apps to Personal Devices

Want to have access to your work email on your personal devices like your own smartphone/tablet?

 

It’s possible to do this, however, policies are usually enforced by administrators/IT teams to help protect organisational data. These may include any or all of the below measures and more

 

  • All devices require passcodes/biometric methods to be setup before the account will successfully add to your device.
  • Devices may require encryption.
  • Setting up a Work profile when prompted during setup is highly recommended to help keep everything separate.

 

You can add your work Google account to any of the below devices

 

  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Android Smartphone (This includes Samsung and any manufacturer running the Android platform)
  • Android Tablet (This includes Samsung and any manufacturer running the Android platform)

How to add your Google Workspace account to Android Smartphones/Tablets

(Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later)

Any earlier versions of Android are not supported and connot be used with Google for Education accounts where Advanced management is used

Step 1 – Adding your account

Please ensure you have the Android Device Policy App downloaded and installed on your device from the Google Play Store before proceeding. (If you need to download and install it, please find a link to it below:

Android Device Policy App on Google Play (Tap HERE)

Once Android Device Policy is installed, DO NOT OPEN IT, please instead follow the below steps.

  1. Go to Settings on your device
  2. Accounts or Accounts and Backup
  3. Manage Accounts
  4. Add Account
  5. Tap Google
  6. Verify your identity if you have biometric or a pincode on your device. If not, you’ll be asked to set one up during the enrollment process.
  7. Enter your work email address
  8. Enter your work password
  9. Authenticate with 2 step verification (if setup) – If not, please find further information on our 2 Step Verification page. We highly recommend its use!
  10. Follow the onscreen prompts, you should be asked to install Android Device Policy (Tap Yes or Install/Update)
  11. You should be prompted to setup a “Work Profile” Tap Yes. (Sometimes it can take you through work profile setup automatically)
  12. This process can take a long while, please leave the device to setup. When it’s complete, it’ll take you back to your home screen, if you don’t have a lock screen setup, it may show you steps on how to do this (Your profile won’t sync and become compliant unless it has a screen lock)
  13. You may also be asked to install some essential work apps, tap continue, any you don’t use/need can be uninstalled later.

Step 2 – Finding your Work Profile

  1. Go to your app tray (Where all your apps are located, not on your homescreen. Usally swipe up from the homescreen on more modern Android devices) – Along the bottom of the app tray you should see a “Personal profile” and a “Work profile”, these are two completely separate profiles to help keep things separate. All of your installed work apps should have a small briefcase icon on the apps, this is how you can easily identify between them.

FAQ’s & Troubleshooting

Q: I can’t find the Gmail app with a briefcase icon for accesing my work email, help!

A: Don’t panic! if you’ve followed the above steps properly and your work profile is setup, it may be that Gmail isn’t setup for auto deployment to your device. In this case, go to your work profile (Swipe up from your home screen and tap Work), Find Google Play with a briefcase icon and open it. Search for Gmail and install it. Once downloaded it’ll add to your work profile.

How to add your Google Workspace account to iPhones/iPads

Step 1

  1. On your iOS device, open the App Store and search for a Google app, such as Gmail.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the app.
    You might need to enter your Apple ID and password.
  3. When the installation is complete, open Gmail "".
  4. Tap Sign inand thenGoogleand thenContinue.
  5. Sign in using your Google Workspace account.
    Your Google Workspace account is the account that you use for work or school.
  6. Authenticate with 2 step verification (if setup) – If not, please find further information on our 2 Step Verification page. We highly recommend its use!
  7. If you want to receive notifications from Gmail, tap Allow.

What’s next?

It depends on how your administrator manages your device.

  • If you open Gmail and see your work email messages, you can start using the app right away. 
  • If you see a prompt to install the Google Device Policy app, go to step 2 below. 
  • If you’re prompted to install a security profile, tap Nextand thengo to step 3 below.

Step 2: Install the Google Device Policy app

To make sure that your organization’s data stays safe, you might be asked to install the Google Device Policy app. You’ll be asked to install the app if:

  • Your administrator enforces certain security policies for mobile devices. Learn more
  • Your administrator wants to manage corporate apps on your device. Learn more
  • You try to sign in to your work account through a third-party app. 

Install the Device Policy app

  1. Choose an option:
    • If your device prompted you to install the app, tap App Store.
    • If you didn’t see a prompt, open the App Store and search for Google Device Policy. 
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the app.
    You might need to enter your Apple ID and password.
  3. Open Google Device Policy "", read and swipe through the information screens, and tap Continue.
  4. If you want to receive notifications from the app (recommended), tap Allow.
  5. Tap Get started and sign in using your Google Workspace account.
    Your Google Workspace account is the account that you use for work or school. 
  6. Tap Accept to agree to the Terms of Service. 
  7. Tap Download ""and thenfollow the steps to install the configuration profile. See step 3 below. 

Step 3: Install the configuration profile

If you see a Device Policy alert message that asks you to install a security profile, follow these steps.

You might be prompted to install a Google mobile device management configuration profile on your device. This profile helps your administrator to protect your organization’s data on the device. Learn more

To install the configuration profile:

  1. Tap Allow to download the configuration profile.
  2. Tap Closeand thenopen your Settings app.
  3. Depending on your iOS version, do one of the following actions:
    • Tap Generaland thenProfileand thenGoogle Apps Device Policy Profile.
    • Tap Profile Downloaded.
  4. Tap Install.
  5. If prompted, enter your device passcode and tap Install.
  6. Tap Installand thenTrust.
  7. Tap Done. If your administrator needs to approve your device, you’ll get a message at your work or school email address.
  8. Close your Settings app.

To get work apps, open Google Device Policy ""and thentap Menu ""and thenApps.