- Gmail has a “Undo Send” feature that lets you quickly unsend an email immediately after sending it.
- To unsend an email, click the “Undo” button within 5 seconds at the bottom of the screen immediately after sending.
- You can also extend the undo time up to 30 seconds and turn on the “Confirm before sending” option.
Have you ever pressed the “send” button on an email and immediately regretted it? Did you forget to attach a file or message the wrong person? If you’ve encountered any of these situations, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
I’ve been there too. Thankfully, Gmail has a simple but powerful feature that lets you unsend emails. In this guide, I’ll show you how to unsend an email in Gmail.
Also, Read How To Permanently Delete A Gmail Account
What Is the “Undo Send” Feature in Gmail?
The “Undo Send” feature in Gmail lets you take back an email immediately after sending it. This is useful if you notice a mistake or send it to the wrong person. After you click “Send,” you’ll see the “Undo” option for a few seconds (you can set the time, up to 30 seconds). If you click “Undo,” the email will not be sent.
How to Unsend an Email in Gmail App on Android & iPhone
You can unsend a sent email in Gmail on both the Android and iPhone apps, as well as on the website. It’s easy to do, but you have to be quick because the time to undo the email is very short by default. Here’s how you can do it:
After sending an email in Gmail, look carefully at the bottom left of your screen. You will see a small pop-up saying “Message sent” with an “Undo” option next to it. Click “Undo” fast. This will stop the email from reaching the other person’s inbox.
How to Unsend an Email in the Gmail Website
The process is pretty much the same on a PC. Right after you send an email, a “Message Sent” notice will appear at the bottom left of the screen. Simply click the “Undo” button in that message to prevent the email from being sent.
How to Extend the “Undo” Time in Gmail
By default, Gmail gives you about 5 seconds to click “Undo,” which is basically nothing. But, the good news, you can extend this to 30 seconds. Here’s how to do it.
1. First, go to Gmail on your web browser, then click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner of the screen. Then, select See all settings.
2. In the General tab of Settings, look for the “Undo Send” option. Click the drop-down menu next to it.
3. Then, choose how long you want to have to undo a sent email. For maximum time, choose 30 seconds.
After selecting your preferred undo time, scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Save Changes” to apply the new setting.
Bonus Tip: Turn On “Confirm Before Sending” in Gmail
Besides using Undo Send, there’s another smart way to avoid sending emails too quickly, especially from your phone. You can turn on the “Confirm before sending” option in Gmail mobile settings:
- Open the Gmail app.
- Go to Settings > General Settings.
- Scroll down and turn on Confirm before sending.
With this setting, Gmail will ask you if you’re really sure before sending the email. This is extremely helpful on mobile phones, where you can’t control how long the Undo button stays on the screen, as you can on the web version.
What Happens When You Unsend Emails?
When you tap or click Undo, Gmail takes you back to the email draft so you can make changes. It’s that simple. You can add whatever you forgot – like text or attachments – and click Resend. If you notice another mistake immediately after resending, you can tap Undo again (as long as it’s within the time limit).
Conclusion
Undoing a sent email in Gmail is one of those little features that can save you from an embarrassing moment. Set your undo window to 30 seconds to get the most time. Also, turn on the “Confirm Before Sending” option for added security.
FAQs
Can I unsend an email after 30 seconds in Gmail?
No, after the maximum period of 30 seconds has passed, you cannot unsend the email. It will be delivered to the recipient’s inbox.
If I unsend an email in Gmail, will the recipient know?
No, if you click Undo in time, the email will never reach their inbox. It’s like it never happened.
