Ipad : Wireless Sync of Your Google or Exchange Information (part 1) - Set Up your iPad to Access Your Google or Exchange Account

Using the steps we describe below, your iPad can wirelessly sync either a Microsoft Exchange account or a Google Account.

1. Why do we say Google/Exchange?

We use the words Google and Exchange interchangeably here because you setup your Google sync using the Exchange setting on your iPad. We know it is a little confusing, but you set up both types of accounts in the identical manner, so we say Google/Exchange.

If you have a Microsoft Exchange account at work or elsewhere, you will follow the steps described below to setup your account.

If you have a Google account, you would also choose Microsoft Exchange as the Account Type during the setup process even though you do not have an Exchange account.

1.1. If you Want a Google Account, Create One

If you do not have a Microsoft Exchange account, but you still want a wireless sync, then you should setup a free Google account to store your contacts and calendar. The account will allow you to start using Google Mail (Gmail), Contacts, and Calendar.

To set up your Google account, follow these steps:

1. From either your computer's web browser or Safari on your iPad, type in: www.gmail.com.

2. Press the Create an account button.

   
   
   

3. On the next screen, enter the information requested and click the button at the bottom of the page that says I accept. Create my account.

4. When that's successful, you'll see a screen that says Congratulations!

5. Click the Show me my account>> button to get started.

   
   
   

6. To see your Calendar, click the Calendar link in the upper left corner.

7. To see your Contacts, click the Contacts link in the left side of the Gmail inbox page.

   
   
   

As soon as you set up the sync as shown below, you will begin to see all changes to contacts and calendar from Google magically appear on your iPad. The same goes for any changes or additions from your iPad, they will automatically appear in Google in moments.

It is extremely easy for your Google Contacts list grow into the thousands because it adds everyone you have ever emailed. You may want to clean up your list before you set up the sync to your iPad.

2. Set Up your iPad to Access Your Google or Exchange Account

Use the following steps to set up the wireless sync for either your Exchange account or for your Google contacts and calendar:

1. Touch the Settings icon on your iPad.

2. Touch Mail, Contacts, and Calendars in the left column.

3. You'll see a list of your e-mail accounts and, below that, the Add Account option.

   If you have no accounts set up, you will only see Add Account. In either case, tap Add Account.

   To edit any account listed, just touch that account.

   
   
   
   

4. On the next screen, choose Microsoft Exchange.

   NOTE

   You should choose Microsoft Exchange if you want to have the wireless sync with your Google Contacts and Calendar.

   
   
   

5. Type your Email address. Leave the Domain blank. Type your Google Username and Password. If you want, you can adjust the Description of the account, which defaults to your e-mail address.

   
   
   

6. Tap the Next

7. button in the upper right corner.

8. You may see an Unable to Verify Certificate screen as shown. If you do see it, click Accept to continue.

   
   
   

9. Enter m.google.com to sync to Google. Otherwise, if you are setting up your Exchange Server account, enter that server address.

10. Click Next in the upper right corner.

    
    
    

11. On this screen you have the option to turn Mail, Contacts, and Calendars wireless sync on or off. For each sync you'd like to turn on, tap the switch to change it to ON.

    
    
    

If you already have contacts or calendar items on your iPad, you'll see a warning similar to the one shown to the right.

You may also be asked if you want to merge contacts or calendar items, which would combine all the existing items on your iPad together with the ones from Google or Exchange. So, for example, if you had John Smith on your iPad, he would be added to your Google or Exchange contacts if you selected Merge. If you happened to have John Smith already in your contact list on Google or Exchange, you'd end up with a duplicate. You may, therefore, want to l to make sure items won't be duplicated when you choose Merge.

Select Keep on My iPad if you want to merge or add these contacts or calendar items to your Google or Exchange account.

Select Delete if you already have these contacts or calendar items in your Exchange or Google account and do not want to duplicate them.

1. If you turned on the sync for Mail, Contacts, and Calendars, you'll see a screen similar to the one to the right. Click Save to save your settings.

   
   
   

2. Then, on the Settings screen, you should see Mail, Contacts, Calendars below the account you just set up. Tap that e-mail account to see more configuration options.

   
   
   

3. Tap Mail Days to Sync and adjust to suit your needs (you can go from 1 Day to No Limit with 3 Days as the default).

   
   
   

   Tap the E-mail Account Name in the upper left corner to save your choices and return to the previous screen.

4. Tap mail folders to push to specify which mail folders should sync to your ipad.

   The default is just the inbox, but you can tap to select any number of folders.

   
   
   

   You can only move mail between these folders on your ipad if you have selected them here to sync.

   
   

5. Tap the E-mail Account Name in the upper left corner to save your choices and return to the previous screen.

6. Then press the Done button to finish with this account and return to your Settings.

7. Press the Home button to return to the Home Screen.