How to Unsend an Email in Gmail

Unsend in Gmail allows you to retract an email within a short time after sending, but it is not a guaranteed or long-term solution. The feature works by delaying the actual sending of the email for a user-specified period, during which you can cancel the send.

Before you start

• You must have a Gmail account and be logged in.
• The feature must be enabled in your Gmail settings.
• You need to act within the chosen cancellation period after sending the email.

How to Unsend an Email in Gmail

1. Enable Undo Send

   On the web, click the gear icon in the top right corner of Gmail and select 'See all settings'. Go to the 'General' tab, find 'Undo Send', and check the box next to 'Enable Undo Send'. Choose a cancellation period (5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds) and click 'Save Changes' at the bottom of the page.

2. Send an Email

   Compose and send your email as usual. After clicking 'Send', watch for the yellow 'Undo' button that appears at the bottom of the screen. This button will remain visible for the duration of the cancellation period you set.

3. Undo the Send

   If you decide to unsend the email, click the 'Undo' button immediately. This will open the email back in the composition window, and the email will not be sent to the recipient.

4. iOS/Android Mobile App

   In the Gmail mobile app, the process is similar. After sending an email, a small 'Undo' button will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap 'Undo' to retract the email. Note that the cancellation period is shorter on mobile, usually around 10 seconds.

5. Check Sent Folder

   If you successfully unsend the email, it will not appear in your 'Sent' folder. If it does appear, the undo action was not completed in time.

Tips & shortcuts

• Act quickly: the cancellation period is short, and there's no way to extend it after sending.
• The undo feature works only if you enabled it before sending the email.
• Consider setting a longer cancellation period if you frequently need more time to unsend emails.
• Undoing the send does not stop the recipient from receiving a read receipt if you included one.
• If you don't see the 'Undo' button, refresh the page or reopen the app to ensure the feature is working properly.

Troubleshooting

• If the 'Undo Send' option is greyed out, make sure you have enabled it in the settings and saved your changes.
• If the 'Undo' button doesn't appear, the cancellation period may have expired. Try sending the email again and act faster.
• In the mobile app, ensure you have the latest version of Gmail installed, as older versions may not support the feature.
• If you continue to have issues, try clearing your browser cache or reinstalling the mobile app.