A Gmail delegate manages another mailbox but does not become the owner of its whole Google Account. A missing setting or integration may be a documented delegation limit rather than an access failure.
Check the feature against delegated access
Google’s current guide permits reading, sending, and deleting mail, while excluding sensitive Google Account settings and several integrations. Examples include password changes, Chat, Meet, Add to Tasks, and some Drive or Photos attachment actions.
The guide also lists further mobile limitations, including background message sync and notification settings. Do not assume that a function available in the owner’s normal account must be available to a delegate on every device.
Separate mailbox rights from administrative rights
A delegate is not automatically a Workspace administrator and cannot change organization service or security policy simply by opening the mailbox. Likewise, an alias does not create a separate account with its own delegation settings.
Google’s newer administrator-created shared inbox is being released in phases and has its own management documentation, including delegate-management options. Identify whether you are using ordinary delegation or that shared-inbox setup before making claims about who can change its access list.
Use a supported route for the required task
If the task involves the owner’s account security, ask the owner to perform it. If it involves organizational policy, ask an administrator with the relevant privilege. For a mailbox integration, check whether a supported alternative exists without moving confidential content elsewhere.
Do not share the owner’s password to work around a missing delegated feature. That weakens accountability and can trigger account-locking behavior when several people sign in as one user. Record the exact feature, device, account type, and whether normal mail operations work. Those details distinguish a documented limit from a genuine fault or a policy restriction that support should investigate.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
References
- Delegate & collaborate on email
- Delegate a user’s email address | User management | Google Workspace Help
- Create a shared inbox | User management | Google Workspace Help
Reviewed against the linked product guidance, standards, and identified vendor or public-authority guidance on October 29, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.