I just bought myself a Nexus 7 tablet and I configured it with my primary email account to unlock all the features of the Google account. I then wanted to add additional email accounts but I did not want the accounts available to the device for purchases and such. When adding an account you can select what features you want, leaving only Gmail sync.
But here is the retarded thing, Gmail (the app) has no Combined View but the generic Email app, does. If you want to add multiple email accounts and see them all in one inbox you’re shit out of luck with the default Gmail application. This is fine though, because the generic Email app that also comes in Jelly Bean is the solution.
So here is how to setup a combined inbox with multiple email accounts, including non-Gmail accounts, without losing any of the features that make your Android device super fun to use with the rest of your Google account.
Disable Gmail Sync on device account.
1) Disable Gmail sync in your default account profile. Settings App, Accounts section. Tap Google, tap your account, and only uncheck the 1 checkbox “Gmail”.
Switch Applications.
2) Get rid of Gmail from your Android home screen. Replace it with the generic Email app.
Add your device account, and then others, to the generic Email app.
3) Assuming you have no email accounts setup in the generic Email client yet it should prompt you to set up an email now. If not bring down the main menu, choose settings, then choose add account. Add the same account you used to set up the Android system, the one you disabled the Gmail sync in earlier.
- If its a Gmail account (of any kind), choose IMAP. For non-Gmail you are going to need to know your Email system settings. Your main device account has to be GMail I believe, so at least in that case you can add that one and get started in the event you need to ask your system admin at work how to set up your work account.
- Username: your full email address if it is a Gmail account.
- IMAP Server: imap.gmail.com
- Security type: SSL/TLS (accept all certificates)
- Port: 993
- <Next Page>
- SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com
- Security type: SSL/TLS (accept all certificates)
- Port: 465
- Require Sign-in: Yes
After it has setup IMAP and SMTP, choose the options you want. To continue getting neato notifications like you did before doing all this you are going to want to tick that box. Also probably tick the “send from this by default” to make your life easier.
Once you finish the wizard you should see your email. Now bring down the main menu, choose settings, and then choose Add Account and go through the process again for any other email accounts you want to configure.
Enable Combined View
4) When you are done adding multiple accounts, tap on the Email icon on the upper left hand corner and select combined view.
Profit
5) Word. Each account gets that neato coloured tag to identify it. I have no idea why the default Gmail app cannot have this, but the generic Email client is nearly the same in all regards, except combined inbox is SO MUCH NICER.
