How to Unsend an Email in Gmail: A Complete Guide

We’ve all been there, accidentally sending an email too soon, spotting a typo right after hitting Send, or realizing the message went to the wrong person. Fortunately, Gmail includes a built-in Undo Send feature that gives you a brief window to pull the message back before it reaches the recipient.

Whether you’re a long-time Gmail user or onboarding new team members, understanding how to use this feature is essential for maintaining professionalism and avoiding costly mistakes. Below is a simple, step-by-step guide to mastering Undo Send in Gmail.

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What Undo Send Actually Does

Undo Send doesn’t technically recall an email after it’s delivered. Instead, Gmail delays sending the message for a set number of seconds, giving you an opportunity to cancel it. During this delay, you can stop the send, edit the email, or delete it before anyone sees it.

This small buffer can prevent miscommunication and errors across your organization.

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How to Unsend an Email in Gmail (Desktop)

1. Compose your email and click Send.
2. Look for a small pop-up in the lower-left corner of your screen that says:
   “Message sent” with an Undo option.
3. Click Undo within the available time window.
4. Your email will reopen in the compose window, allowing you to edit or discard it.
   

If you don’t click Undo before the timer runs out, the email will send normally.

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How to Unsend an Email in Gmail (Mobile: iOS & Android)

1. Tap Send.
2. A confirmation banner will appear at the bottom of the screen with the option to Undo.
3. Tap Undo to stop the send.
4. Your draft will reopen for further editing.

The mobile experience works the same way as the desktop experience—quick, simple, and time-sensitive.

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How to Change the Undo Send Time Window

By default, Gmail gives you a short cancellation period, but you can extend it for more control.

On Desktop

1. Open Gmail.
2. Click the Settings (⚙️) icon in the top right.
3. Select See all settings.
4. Under the General tab, find Undo Send.
5. Choose your preferred cancellation period between 5 to 30 seconds.
6. Scroll to the bottom and click Save Changes.

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When Undo Send Helps the Most

Undo Send is useful in many everyday situations, including:

• Fixing typos or missing attachments
• Resending to the correct recipient
• Revising tone or clarity
• Canceling accidental emails sent by new team members
• Stopping confidential information from being shared too early

For teams working quickly in Gmail, these few extra seconds can prevent confusion and maintain a polished communication style.

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Tips for Reducing Email Mistakes

Even with Undo Send, mistakes can still happen. Here are helpful habits:

• Review recipients carefully, especially when emailing groups.
• Double-check attachments before sending.
• Write sensitive messages with care, or draft first before adding recipients.
• Use templates for commonly sent communications.
• Train new employees on Gmail’s safety features.

These small practices can significantly reduce errors across your organization.

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Conclusion

Gmail’s Undo Send feature provides a simple yet powerful way to prevent email mistakes, giving users a few extra seconds to breathe and correct errors before they reach the recipient. It’s a valuable tool for any team using Google Workspace and an important part of good email hygiene.

For more guides like how to update employee Gmail signatures or for an easier way to create signatures ,check out our blog. And if your organization is looking to ensure professional, consistent signatures across all users, Signature Manager for Gmail integrates seamlessly with Gmail to make signature deployment simple and reliable.