Create an Email Alias in Gmail Using Squarespace

Google has completed the transfer of their Google Domains service to Squarespace. With this transfer, I had to revisit how to set up an email alias. I wrote about this option for free custom email a couple years ago but some of the steps have now changed. Here are the updated steps:

Step 1 - Create the email alias

• Register the domain you want at Squarespace.com.
• Once registered, navigate to the dashboard for that domain on Squarespace.
• Click on the "Email" sub menu on the left, then to the "Email Forwarding" section, and finally clock on the "Add Rule" button.
• Enter the beginning part of the email (note, it fills in the @yourdomain part automatically). Then pick an existing @gmail.com email account to forward your new alias to.

Step 2 - Prep your Google account

• Log into your Google account at myaccount.google.com. Note this is not Gmail. It's your actual Google account.
• Click "Security" in the left menu then "2-Step Verification". Follow the steps to sign in.
• Once complete, a new page should pop-up and at the bottom should be an "App passwords" section.
• Click on the arrow inside that section and to bring up a box to fill out an "App name".
• Type in any name you wish. Note, I just use the custom domain as the name (e.g. yourdomain.com). Then click "Create".
• You should see a pop-up with a box containing a 16 letter password. Copy this password for the next step.
• Click "Done".

Step 3 - Activate the email alias

• Now log into your Gmail account at gmail.com using the same Google account that you set up the password in Step 2.
• Click the gear icon in the top right corner for settings then click on "See all settings".
• You will see tabs at the top. Navigate to "Accounts and Import".
• There will be a section labeled "Send mail as" with a link labeled "Add another email address". Click that link.
• You will get a yellow colored pop-up box.
• In the "Name" field, enter the name you want people to see when you send an email from this alias email.
• In the "Email address" field, enter your new alias email.
• Keep the "Treat as an alias" box checked and click "Next Step".
• You will see another set of inputs. For "SMTP Server", it will display as "smtp.yourdomain.com". Change to "smtp.gmail.com".
• The "Port" number should be 587. If it isn't, change it to that.
• For username, input the first part of your Gmail account that you are using. Don't add @gmail.com.
• For password, enter the 16 letter password that you copied from Step 2.
• Keep "Secured connection using TLS" selected and not "using SSL".
• Click the "Add Account" button.
• This will send an email to your Gmail with a link to activate your new alias email. If you don't get one, you can go back to your Gmail Settings > Accounts and Import, and you should see your new email with a "verify" link. Click this and you'll be able to send another email.
• Click the link in the email and your new custom email is now ready to use.

To use your new email, compose an email from your Gmail. Now click on the "From" field and you should see a dropdown to pick your new custom email. Now you are sending from that new alias email!

Note, I tried to see if GoDaddy also had email aliases but have not had any success. It appears they lock down their ecosystem to require you to purchase an email subscription through them. If anyone knows of a workaround, please post it in the chat below.