3 Gmail features that save you from embarrassing email mistakes
Gmail has a few handy tools that give you more control over when your emails go out, and what happens after you hit the send button. Here are my favorites:
Schedule send
I don’t know about you, but there are plenty of times when I want to write an email now and don’t want it landing in someone’s inbox until later. Sometimes I’m working late, I want to draft a birthday message while I still remember, or I’m trying not to bother a coworker while they’re on vacation. Gmail’s Schedule send feature makes this easy.
Simply write your email like normal, then click the small arrow next to the Send button, and choose Schedule send. Gmail offers a few suggested times, or you can pick your own date and time instead. You can also find scheduled messages in the Scheduled folder below your Inbox, where you can cancel or edit them before they go out. Gmail lets you queue up to 100 scheduled emails.
Undo send
Another nifty feature most people overlook is the Undo Send option. Despite its name, it doesn’t actually take a sent email back after it reaches someone’s inbox. Instead, it allows you a second chance to make any corrections before sending the email.
After you send an email, a small black box appears at the bottom of your window with the option to click Undo. By default, Gmail is set to wait a short time before actually sending your emails. You can change that delay to five, 10, 20, or 30 seconds under Settings. Hit Undo during that window and the message pops back into your draft without ever being sent. Once the hidden timer runs out, though, it’s sent for good.
Confidential mode
Then there’s Confidential mode, which serves a different purpose. It lets you set an expiration date, revoke access, require a passcode, and block built-in options for forwarding, copying, printing, or downloading a message.
To turn it on, click on the lock icon at the bottom of your Gmail messaging window. Here you can set the expiration date and require a passcode. All emails that have Confidential mode enabled will automatically restrict forwarding, copying, printing, or downloading. Just don’t mistake it for foolproof security—there are always ways around these types of protections. Someone can still take a screenshot or photo of what you sent, for example.
For more fun and helpful tips, tricks, website and app recommendations, be sure to subscribe to our PCWorld Try This newsletter.
