How to Delay Sending an Email for 30 Seconds in Gmail

Using public terminals can make your Gmail account vulnerable to attacks.

One of the disadvantages of using your web-based email account to send emails is the inability to delay outgoing messages. In fact, this important functionality may cause you to use an email client program, such as Microsoft Outlook, for your email needs instead. Fortunately, one email service that has addressed this issue is Gmail. Gmail's Undo Send feature allows you to delay outgoing emails by up to 30 seconds. Since Undo Send is not enabled in Gmail by default, you must enable the feature in your account to begin using it.

Instructions

1. Sign in to your Gmail account, and then click on the settings icon located at the top right-hand corner of your account, next to your Gmail address.

2. Choose "Labs" from the drop-down menu. Select the "Enable" radio button next to the "Undo Send" section and then click on the "Save Changes" button located at the bottom of the page. You have successfully activated the "Undo Send" feature.

3. Click on the settings icon and then choose "Mail settings" from the drop-down menu.

4. Scroll to the "Undo Send" section and then choose "30" next to "Send cancellation period." Apply the changes by selecting the "Save changes" button at the bottom of the page. You have successfully configured the "Undo Send" feature to cancel outgoing emails up to 30 seconds after you hit the "Send" button.

5. Click the "Compose mail" button located on the left pane in your account, type your email in the empty field provided and then complete the "To" and "Subject" fields, respectively. The "Subject" field is optional.

6. Send the email by clicking on the "Send" button.

7. Delay sending the outgoing email for up to 30 seconds by clicking the "Cancel" link after you hit "Send." The "Cancel" link is located at the top center of the page.

   You must click "Cancel" before or by the 30-second mark after you hit the "Send" button to delay transmission of the email. Any delay in clicking "Cancel" may result in delivery of the email.

References

• Gmail Help: Undo Sending Your Mail
• Tech Mag: Gmail Undo Send: Now Configure Undo Sent Options Upto 30 Seconds

Resources

• Gmail: Become a Gmail Ninja