# How to give delegate access in Gmail on Mac: step by step for Safari and Chrome

> How to give delegate access in Gmail on Mac: add the person in Settings from Safari or Chrome, send the invite, and remove them later.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/give-someone-access-to-your-mailbox-in-gmail
Updated: 2026-11-07

To give delegate access in Gmail on Mac, open mail.google.com in Safari or Chrome, then go to Settings > See all settings > Accounts and Import. Click Add another account under Grant access to your account, enter the person's email, and send the invite, which they must confirm within one week.

## Quick answer

- Add delegates from Gmail in Safari or Chrome at mail.google.com. The Gmail app cannot do it.
- Click the Settings gear, choose See all settings, open Accounts and Import, then click Add another account.
- The delegate must click the confirmation link within one week, or the invitation expires.
- Personal Gmail accounts allow 10 delegates. Work or school accounts allow 1,000.
- Delegates can read, send and delete mail. They cannot change your password or account settings.

Applies to: Gmail in Safari or Chrome on macOS, personal and work accounts. Time: 5 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Mac with Safari or Chrome
- Your Gmail password and access to the owner account
- The delegate's full email address
- For work or school accounts, a Workspace admin who has turned delegation on

## How to Give someone delegate access to your Gmail in Gmail on a Mac

1. **Open Gmail in Safari or Chrome.** Go to mail.google.com and sign in as the account owner, the person whose inbox you are sharing. Use a computer browser. The Gmail app cannot add delegates. Tip: Keep the main Gmail page open, not a delegated inbox tab. Press ⌘ L to jump to the address bar.
2. **Open the Settings gear.** (Gmail page > Settings gear > See all settings) Click the Settings gear at the top right of the Gmail page. Then choose See all settings. The gear sits near your profile picture.
3. **Open the Accounts and Import tab.** (Settings > Accounts and Import) Across the top of the settings page, click the Accounts and Import tab. Scroll to the section called Grant access to your account.
4. **Click Add another account.** (Grant access to your account > Add another account) Under Grant access to your account, click Add another account. Gmail asks for the email address of the person you want to add. Tip: On a work account, if you do not see this option, check the admin setting first.
5. **Enter the delegate's email address.** (Add another account > Next Step) Type the person's full email address. Use the address they use for Gmail, spelled exactly. Then click Next Step.
6. **Send the invitation.** (Next Step > Send) Gmail prepares an email for the delegate. Read it once, then click Send. The delegate receives a message asking them to confirm access. Tip: If the window closes before you send, start again from Add another account.
7. **Ask the delegate to confirm within one week.** The delegate opens the invitation and clicks the confirmation link. The link expires after one week. Ask for a reply within a few days, so you have time to send a new invite if needed.
8. **Check that access works.** Ask the delegate to open your inbox from their profile picture. Access can take up to 24 hours. A later note on Google's page says it is usually up to an hour. Tip: If the account is still missing after a day, check the troubleshooting section on this page.

## Before you start with delegate access

Delegate access lets another person open your Gmail inbox, read messages, and send mail from your account. You do not share your password. The delegate signs in to their own Google account, then opens your inbox from a menu. Your password stays with you the whole time.

Two people are involved, so keep the roles clear. The owner is the person whose inbox is shared. The delegate is the person who gets access. The owner adds or removes a delegate from the owner's own settings, and the delegate only confirms the invitation.

Gmail on a Mac runs in a browser. There is no official Gmail app for the Mac, and the Gmail app cannot add delegates. Google's instructions are written for a computer browser, so use Safari or Chrome. Open mail.google.com and sign in as the owner.

- The delegate's full email address, spelled the way they use it for Gmail
- Your Gmail password, in case the browser asks you to sign in again
- Safari or Chrome on your Mac, with mail.google.com open
- For a work or school account, a Workspace admin who has turned delegation on

- **10** delegates allowed on a personal @gmail.com account ([source](https://support.google.com/mail/answer/138350?hl=en))
- **1,000** delegates allowed on a work or school account ([source](https://support.google.com/mail/answer/138350?hl=en))
- **1 week** for the delegate to open the invitation and click the confirmation link ([source](https://support.google.com/mail/answer/138350?hl=en))
- **About 40** delegates using a work or school account at once in typical use ([source](https://support.google.com/mail/answer/138350?hl=en))

## Why not the Gmail app or Apple Mail

The Gmail app on a Mac cannot add delegates. Google's help page describes the browser steps only, so any guide that tells you to add a delegate inside the app is describing a step that does not exist. A 2018 Apple Community thread also says the Gmail and Mail apps cannot reach delegated accounts.

Apple Mail can add a regular Gmail account. Apple's guide walks through Mail > Add Account, then entering your address and clicking Continue. That guide does not mention delegation or shared inboxes.

No source I checked shows Mail on the Mac opening a delegated inbox. Treat Mail as the wrong tool for this job. Your own Gmail account can still live in Mail, and that setup stays separate from delegation. If you want that, see [how to add Gmail to Apple Mail](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/use-gmail-in-apple-mail-in-gmail).

![Man typing on a laptop at a desk while reviewing a shared inbox for delegate access in Gmail on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/give-someone-access-to-your-mailbox-in-gmail/how-to-give-delegate-access-in-gmail-1-8fa182.jpg)

## How to give delegate access in Gmail on Mac, step by step

The steps below follow the path Google documents for a computer browser. Google does not list macOS menu names, so the labels here are the ones Gmail shows on its web page. If a label looks different, check that you are on the main Gmail page at mail.google.com, not a delegated tab.

Clicking Send does not give anyone access on its own. The invitation goes out first, and the one week clock starts then. Access begins only after the delegate confirms. Most of the waiting happens on their side, so message them as soon as you send.

Before you start, pick the account you want to share. If you use more than one Google account in Chrome or Safari, sign in to the owner account in a window of its own. That keeps the Settings page you see tied to the right inbox.

## What the delegate does on their Mac

Once access is active, the delegate opens Gmail in their own browser. They click their Profile picture at the top right. They find the account marked Delegated and click its name. A new tab opens with your inbox.

To go back to their own mail, they close that tab. They can also click their profile picture and choose their own email address. Either way, the delegated inbox stays in its own tab.

![Open laptop on an office desk with an email inbox on screen, the view for delegate access in Gmail on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/give-someone-access-to-your-mailbox-in-gmail/how-to-give-delegate-access-in-gmail-2-0becc0.jpg)

Expect a delay. Google's page first says access can take up to 24 hours. A later note on the same page says it is usually up to an hour. Plan for an hour, and allow a day if the account does not appear.

Do not bookmark the delegated inbox. Google says a bookmark to a delegated account stops working, because the access link can change. Have the delegate use the profile menu each time. It takes a few seconds, and it always opens the right account.

## What a delegate can and cannot do

- Read, send and delete emails in your account
- Sent messages show the delegate's address, not yours
- Cannot change your password or open Google Account settings
- Cannot open Drive attachments, Google Photos, Tasks, Chat, Meet, or Gemini
- Cannot chat with anyone through your account

Those limits matter when you plan. Say an assistant handles your inbox while you travel. They can answer vendors and delete spam. If a message carries a Drive attachment, they cannot open that file through your inbox. Send the file another way, or open Drive yourself.

Recipients see the delegate's address on every message the delegate sends. Tell important contacts about the change before it starts. A short note saves a lot of confusion when a client replies to an unfamiliar name.

| Account type | Delegates allowed | Concurrent use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Personal @gmail.com | 10 | Google gives no concurrent figure |
| Work or school | 1,000 | About 40 at once in typical use |

_Google's stated delegate limits for Gmail accounts_

## Limits for personal and work accounts

The limit on a personal account is 10 delegates. If you already have 10, remove one before you add another. Work and school accounts allow up to 1,000 delegates, so the cap is rarely the problem for a company.

Google also says about 40 delegates can open a work or school account at once under typical use. Heavy use can lower that number. Google names automated processes such as APIs and browser extensions as examples.

Work and school accounts have extra rules. The delegate must be in the same organization. A Workspace admin must have turned delegation on. If the owner has Require user to change password at next sign-in turned on, the delegate may get an error.

## Remove a delegate from your Gmail account

Removing access is a settings change, so do it from a computer browser too. Open mail.google.com, click the Settings gear, choose See all settings, and open Accounts and Import. Under Grant access to your account, click Delete next to the delegate's account.

That Delete button ends their access to your inbox. It does not touch their own Gmail account. Afterward, ask the person to check their profile menu. If the delegated inbox still appears there, wait an hour and check again.

## Mistakes people make with delegate access

- Looking for delegation in the Gmail app, which cannot add delegates
- Waiting past one week, after which the invitation link stops working
- Bookmarking the delegated inbox, which breaks when the access link changes
- Expecting sent mail to show your address, when it shows the delegate's
- Adding a work account delegate before checking the admin setting

Here is a worked example. Say your assistant needs your inbox for a week while you travel. You add them from Safari on Monday. They click the confirmation link the same day. They answer vendors from the delegated tab. When you return, you remove them under Accounts and Import.

Notice what that example leaves out. Your password never leaves your hands. The assistant never sees your account settings. They can read and reply, and you can cut access in under a minute once the week ends.

![Woman working on a MacBook at a desk, opening a delegated Gmail inbox from her own account](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/give-someone-access-to-your-mailbox-in-gmail/how-to-give-delegate-access-in-gmail-3-5a9751.jpg)

## Keyboard shortcuts and what to do next

I did not find a keyboard shortcut for delegate access. Google's page lists none, so every step above uses the mouse or trackpad. For general Gmail keys, see [how to turn on keyboard shortcuts in Gmail](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/turn-on-keyboard-shortcuts-in-gmail).

If you will be away, set an automatic reply too. A delegate can answer mail for you, but an out of office reply still tells people when to expect a response. See [how to set up out of office in Gmail](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/set-up-an-out-of-office-reply-in-gmail). A filter can also route messages the delegate should see first. See [how to create a filter in Gmail](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/create-a-filter-in-gmail).

## If it does not work

- **No Add another account option on a work account** Delegation on work or school accounts needs a Workspace admin to turn it on. Ask your admin to check. Google also says a delegate may get an error if the owner has Require user to change password at next sign-in turned on.
- **The invitation link no longer works** Invitations expire after one week. Start over with Add another account, enter the address again, and send a fresh invitation. Ask the delegate to confirm the same day.
- **The delegated account does not show in the profile menu** Wait up to an hour, and up to 24 hours in the worst case. Forum posts report that signing out and back in fixes it, but Google's help page does not list that fix. Try it only after waiting.
- **The bookmark to the delegated inbox stopped working** Google says the bookmark stops working because the access link can change. Open mail.google.com, click your profile picture, and choose the Delegated account again.
- **Apple Mail does not show the delegated inbox** No source found shows Mail opening a delegated inbox. Use Safari or Chrome at mail.google.com instead.
- **Cannot add more delegates to a personal account** Personal accounts stop at 10 delegates. Remove an old delegate under Accounts and Import with Delete, then add the new person.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where is the Settings gear in Gmail?”: Lazur circles the gear at the top right and labels it. You click it yourself, then return to Lazur for the next step. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Can I give delegate access from the Gmail app on my Mac?

No. Google says you add delegates from a computer browser, and the Gmail app cannot do it. Open mail.google.com in Safari or Chrome, then go to Settings > See all settings > Accounts and Import.

### How long does a delegate have to accept?

One week. The invitation expires after that, so the delegate must open it and click the confirmation link inside that window. If it expires, start again from Add another account and send a fresh invitation.

### Do replies show my address or the delegate's address?

The delegate's. Google says sent messages show the delegate's address. Recipients see that address, so tell important contacts if the change matters to them.

### Can a delegate change my password or see my account settings?

No. Google says delegates cannot change the password or access Google Account settings. They also cannot open Drive attachments, Google Photos, Tasks, Chat, Meet, or Gemini.

### How many delegates can I add to my Gmail account?

Personal @gmail.com accounts allow 10. Work or school accounts allow 1,000. Google notes that about 40 delegates can use a work account at once under typical use, and heavy use can lower that.

### Can I open a delegated inbox in Apple Mail on my Mac?

I found no source that shows this. Apple's guide covers adding a regular Gmail account and does not mention delegation. Use Safari or Chrome at mail.google.com for a delegated inbox.

### Is there a keyboard shortcut for delegate access?

I did not find an official one, and Google's help page lists none. Use the menu clicks in the steps above instead.

### How do I stop someone's delegate access?

Open Settings > See all settings > Accounts and Import, then click Delete next to the account under Grant access to your account. Confirm with the person that they can no longer open your inbox.

## Sources

1. [Delegate and collaborate on email, Computer: Gmail Help](https://support.google.com/mail/answer/138350?hl=en), Google, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Add and manage email accounts in Mail on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/add-and-manage-email-accounts-mail35803/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
3. [How do I access a delegated Gmail account, Apple Community thread](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250046773), Apple Community, checked 2026-11-07