How to Unsend an Email in Gmail
You need to activate the Undo Send option in Gmail to stop an email that you’ve sent accidentally or in a rush. Read this guide for a step-by-step walkthrough on how to unsend an email in Gmail.
Most of us have sent emails unintentionally or with typos and we want to unsend the email to make corrections. Thankfully, most email service providers including Gmail enable us to undo a sent email.
However, the option is only available for a few seconds. Go through the article until the end to learn more about the Undo Send feature and how to use it in real-life scenarios.
What Is Undo Send in Gmail?
The Undo Send feature of Gmail is the primary feature behind email recalling. When you send the email, the Google email server holds it for five seconds (default Undo Send time). After five seconds, the Google email server releases the email.
You can change the Send cancellation period to increase the Undo Send period. Currently, you can switch between 5, 10, 20, and 30 seconds.
How to Activate Undo Send in Gmail
Undo Send is a default feature of all the latest Gmail users. Google has also updated the user interface for existing users with the basic HTML-based UI. You should be able to recall an email within 5 seconds of hitting the Send button.
If you’re not getting the Undo Send option, try the following steps to activate it:
- Open Gmail in a web browser and click on Settings or the cog wheel icon at the top right corner of the Gmail interface.
- Under the General tab of Settings, look for Undo Send.
- Now, set a Send cancellation period between 5, 10, 20, and 30 seconds.
- Click Save changes at the bottom of the Gmail Settings page.
The Undo Send settings option isn’t accessible from Gmail mobile app. Therefore, you must try the above steps on a computer.
How to Change the Undo Send Time Limit
Gmail does not pull your email back from the recipient when you hit the Undo Send button. It just stops the email from sending to its destination when you click the Undo Send button within a stipulated time.
If you find the default Undo Send hold time insufficient, you can increase it up to 30 seconds. Here’s how:
- Access the Gmail settings from a computer web browser.
- Go to the General tab, and you should find Undo Send under the Maximum page size option.
- Now, change the Send cancellation period to 30 seconds by clicking the drop-down list beside it.
- Select Save changes at the bottom of the page.
How to Unsend an Email in Gmail on a Computer
Recalling an email in Gmail is quite an easy task. Practice the following step to remember it:
- Click Compose button on the top left corner of the Gmail web version.
- Add an alternative email address of yours.
- You can also add a friend’s or family member’s email. Don’t add any professional contact’s email address.
- Now, simply type Test Email in the email body.
- Click Send button located at the bottom left corner of the email composer.
- Wait for the Message sent Undo View message notification on the bottom left corner of the Gmail interface.
- Quickly click the Undo button on that notification to stop the email from being delivered to its destination.
- The above notification will stay for five seconds or up to 30 seconds depending on the Undo Send settings.
That’s it! Pretty simple and straightforward. Not to mention, the draft email will open when you stop the email.
How to Unsend an Email in Gmail on an Android Phone
Since you can’t activate the Undo Send feature on an Android device, you need to make the changes first on a computer. Then, you can unsend an email in Gmail by following these steps:
- Compose an email on your smartphone or tablet as you regularly do.
- Add an email address as the recipient.
- Click the send email icon.
- A notification close to the bottom of the screen will first show Sending Cancel.
- Once sent, the same notification will show Sent Undo.
- Tap Undo to abort the email delivery from the Gmail server.
How to Enable Confirm Before Sending on Android
For Android, enable Confirm before sending as a safeguard to prevent accidental emails. Here’s how:
- Open the Gmail app on an Android phone and tap the hamburger menu in the top left corner.
- Tap Settings and then select General settings.
- Scroll down the list and then check mark the box beside Confirm before sending.
From now on, you’ll need to confirm the send activity after you tap the Send button on the Gmail app.
How to Unsend an Email in Gmail on an iPhone/iPad
The Gmail iOS app interface is highly similar to that of the Android counterpart. Hence, you can follow the steps mentioned in the “How to Unsend an Email in Gmail on an Android Phone” section to recall an email from iPhone or iPad Gmail app.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I unsend an email after 1 hour in Gmail?
Gmail web app only allows you to unsend an email after a maximum of 30 seconds of sending it. The Undo Send time threshold is also similar in Android and iOS apps. Hence, you may not unsend an email after 1 hour in Gmail.
Does deleting a sent email unsend it in Gmail?
Deleting an email from the sent folder just removes the email from your Sent box. This action won’t make any changes to the email at the recipient’s end. You can only use the Undo Send feature for up to 30 seconds to recall an email after sending it.
Can I delete an email I sent to someone?
You can only delete the sent email from your Sent box and Trash folder. You won’t be able to delete the email from the recipient’s Gmail account.
Where is undo in Gmail?
Undo in Gmail will appear as a small notification button at the bottom left corner of the Gmail web app after you send an email. The Undo button will stay for 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds depending on the Undo Send settings.
You’ll also find the Undo button in the Gmail app for iOS and Android once you send an email. However, it’ll pop up at the bottom right corner of the device screen.
Conclusion
So far, you’ve learned several options for how to unsend an email in Gmail web, iOS app, and Android app. From now on, you can unsend an email if you send one accidentally. However, you must hit the Undo button quickly, or else there won’t be any second chances.
You may also be interested to learn how to use Gmail with your custom domain.
