Send an email

Step by step

1. Click the Start button! Look at the bottom of this practice computer: the dark strip there is its taskbar. In the middle of it, click the Start button (four blue squares). The main menu opens just above it. If you see two taskbars, use the one inside this page.
2. Click "Browser". In the menu that opened, click the "Browser" tile (a square with a small picture and its name under it): the app opens in its own window.
3. Open "Practice Mail". Just under the address bar there is a row of small buttons with names: the favorites bar. Click the one called "Practice Mail" (with a small red envelope icon): your mailbox opens.
4. Click "Compose". In your mailbox, look at the left column: at its top, above the list that starts with "Inbox", click the light-blue "✏️ Compose" button. A "New message" window opens at the bottom right of the page.
5. Enter the recipient. In the "New message" window, click the first line, the "To" box, then type Emily's address: [email protected] (all one word, with the @ in the middle). The recipient is the person who will receive the email.
6. Write a subject. Click in the "Subject" box, the second line of the "New message" window, and type a short title, for example "Hello".
7. Write your message. Click in the big white area under the Subject line (it says "Write your message…") and write a few words, like a short note to a friend.
8. Click "Send". At the bottom left of the "New message" window, click the blue "Send" button. The window closes, you are back on your Inbox and "Message sent." shows for a moment at the bottom of the page.
9. Wait for the reply. Do nothing for a few seconds, looking at your Inbox list. Emily answers: a new line from "Emily Carter", with a subject starting with "Re:", appears at the top of the list (a notification also shows at the bottom right of the screen).
10. Close this window. You are done with this window, so close it: click the ✕ button at the top right corner of the "Browser" window (on its title bar, the strip at the top). The window disappears.

These steps are written for SafePC, a pretend Windows-style computer in your web browser. On your own computer, the buttons and menus may look a little different, but the idea is the same.

More lessons in Online services

• Read an email and save a photo you received
• Spot a scam email
• Write a document online (Practice Docs)
• Do your budget with an online spreadsheet (Practice Sheets)
• Organize your documents online (Practice Drive)
• Search for a picture and save it