Send or unsend Gmail messages

You can send or unsend messages from a browser or the Gmail app.

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Write an email

  1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
  2. In the top left, click Compose Compose.
  3. In the "To" field, add recipients. You can also add recipients:
    • In the "Cc" and "Bcc" fields.
    • When you compose a message, with a "+ sign" or "@mention" and the contact's name in the text field.
  4. Add a subject.
  5. Write your message.
  6. At the bottom of the page, click Send.

Tip: To add individual recipients and groups of contacts you created with labels, click To:. 

Send messages with confidential mode

Note: If you're using Gmail with a work or school account, contact your admin to make sure you can use confidential mode.

  1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
  2. Click Compose.
  3. In the bottom right of the window, click Turn on confidential mode Turn on confidential mode.
    Tip: If you've already turned on confidential mode for an email, go to the bottom of the email, then click Edit.
  4. Set an expiration date and passcode. These settings impact both the message text and any attachments.
    • If you choose "No SMS passcode," recipients using the Gmail app will be able to open it directly. Recipients who don't use Gmail will get emailed a passcode.
    • If you choose "SMS passcode," recipients will get a passcode by text message. Make sure you enter the recipient's phone number, not your own.
  5. Click Save.

Recall an email with Undo Send

If you decide you don't want to send an email, you have a short time after to cancel it. Right after you send a message, you can retract it:

  1. In the bottom left, you'll see "Message sent" and the option to "Undo" or "View message".
  2. Click Undo.

Choose an amount of time to recall a message

  1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
  2. In the top right, click Settings Settingsand then See all settings.
  3. Next to "Undo Send," select a Send cancellation period of 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds.

Options for adding message recipients

Add recipients (Cc)

When you add recipients to your message, you have the option to add a "Cc" field. Anyone in this field will see the other recipients of the message.

"Cc" is often used to add recipients to an email who don't need to take any action.

Hide recipients (Bcc)

If you're sending a message and want to hide a recipient's email address, you can add them in the "Bcc" field.

How "Bcc" works:

  • The recipients won't know that you added anyone to "Bcc."
  • Anyone you add to the "Bcc" field will see that they were added using "Bcc." They will also see message recipients in the "To" and "Cc" fields. 
    Note: If they don't use Gmail, they may not see this information.
  • People you add in "Bcc" can't see the name or email address of anyone else you add in the "Bcc" field.
  • If people reply all to a message, people in "Bcc" won't see the reply.
Send an email to multiple recipients

When you write a message, you'll add the recipients in the "To," "Cc," or "Bcc" fields.

To add more than one recipient, put a comma between each name or email address. You can also click “To,” “Cc,” or “Bcc” to add recipients or manage your contact labels.

If you need to send an email to multiple people, you can also create a group.
Note: You can add a group email address in the "To," “Cc,” or “Bcc” fields.

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