How To Unsend An Email In Gmail

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by

Vector Linux
in

Have you ever sent an email and immediately regretted it? Maybe you accidentally hit send before completing your thought or realized that you sent it to the wrong person. We’ve all been there. Fortunately, Gmail has a feature that allows you to unsend an email and save yourself from potential embarrassment or misunderstandings. In this article, I will guide you through the process of how to unsend an email in Gmail and share some personal tips and tricks along the way.

Enabling “Undo Send” in Gmail

Before we dive into unsending emails, we need to make sure the “Undo Send” feature is enabled in your Gmail account. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Open Gmail and click on the gear icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
  2. Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
  3. In the General tab, scroll down until you find the “Undo Send” section.
  4. Check the box next to “Enable Undo Send”.
  5. Set the cancellation period to your desired time span (between 5 to 30 seconds).
  6. Click on the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page.

Unsending an Email in Gmail

Now that we have enabled the “Undo Send” feature, let’s go through the steps of unsending an email in Gmail:

  1. Compose a new email or open the email you want to unsend.
  2. Once you have finished composing or editing the email, click on the “Send” button as you normally would.
  3. Look for the “Undo” notification that appears at the top of your screen after clicking “Send”.
  4. Click on the “Undo” button within the cancellation period you set (e.g., within 10 seconds) to unsend the email.
  5. If you successfully click “Undo” within the cancellation period, the email will return to your drafts folder, allowing you to make any necessary changes before sending it again.

My Personal Tips and Tricks

Now that you know how to unsend emails in Gmail, let me share some personal tips and tricks that can come in handy:

  • Use the “Undo” button immediately: Don’t hesitate to click the “Undo” button as soon as you realize you made a mistake. The earlier you unsend the email, the better chances you have of rectifying the situation.
  • Double-check recipients: Before clicking “Send”, always double-check the recipient’s email address. It’s easy to accidentally send an email to the wrong person, especially if you have similar contacts. Take a moment to ensure the recipient is correct.
  • Compose emails offline: If you’re concerned about sending an unfinished or poorly-worded email, consider composing it offline using a text editor. This allows you to take your time, review, and make edits before copying and pasting it into Gmail.
  • Delay sending emails: If you find yourself frequently needing to unsend emails, consider using a third-party email client or service that allows you to delay the sending of emails. This way, you have a grace period to change your mind before the email is actually sent.

Conclusion

Unsending emails in Gmail can be a lifesaver when you realize you’ve made a mistake or sent an email prematurely. By following the steps outlined in this article and enabling the “Undo Send” feature, you can take advantage of this useful functionality. Remember to double-check recipients and compose emails thoughtfully to minimize the need for unsend. Happy emailing!