Google Account

The MILL's community chat runs on Google Chat, and Google only lets us add people who have a Google account. You don't need a new Gmail address: you can turn the email address you already use into a Google account. It takes about five minutes, and you keep using your own email as before. If you already have a Gmail address, or a Google account on your own address, you're all set and can skip this page.

Before you start

  • Use a desktop or laptop computer, not a phone.
  • Have your email open in another window, because Google will send you a code.
  • Keep your phone nearby. Google asks you to verify yourself with it.

Steps

  1. Open an incognito or private window. Any window that isn't signed in to a Google account works, but incognito is best.
  2. Go to google.com. Start there, not at mail.google.com or any other Google service, or the option you need in step 7 won't appear.
  3. Click Sign in, top right.
  4. Click Create account, to the left of the Next button.
  5. Choose For my personal use.
  6. Enter your name, then your birthday and gender, clicking Next after each screen.
  7. When Google asks you to choose a new gmail.com username, look to the left of the Next button for the link Use your existing email.
  8. Click Use your existing email and enter the address you already use. It can't be a Gmail or other Google address.
  9. Google emails a verification code to that address. In your other window, find the message from Google, copy the code, paste it in and continue.
  10. Create a password. Make it a good one.
  11. Google asks you to verify yourself with a mobile device. Scan the QR code: your phone offers to send a text message. Tap send, and the screen on your computer moves on by itself once Google receives it. This doesn't tie your phone to the account.

Google may ask a few more questions after this. Follow its prompts to finish.

When you're done

Reply to the email we sent you with the address you used, or email join@stirlingmill.ca. We'll add you to the community chat space.

Accepting the chat invitation

When we add you to the community chat space, Google shows the invitation with a warning that it looks like spam and to accept it only if you know the sender. The invitation comes from a stirlingmill.ca address, at the moment angus@stirlingmill.ca. That's Google's standard warning for an invitation from outside your own organization, and it's safe to accept.


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