Messages arrive in your mailbox whenever they are sent. Usually, this only takes a few minutes from the moment the sender clicks "Send." Anytime you want to check for new messages, log in to your account and click "Check Mail" in the upper-left corner. Or click "Inbox" on the Welcome page, or "Inbox" at the top of your list of folders along the left side of the Yahoo! Mail page.

If you want to be alerted whenever you get a new email, download Yahoo! Messenger (a great free way to stay in touch in real time online). Or enable alerts on your cell phone or mobile device (and send and receive email while you're at it) with Yahoo! Mobile. Or download the Yahoo! Toolbar and make everything you want on the web just a click away.