Send & open confidential emails

You can send messages and attachments with Gmail's confidential mode to help protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. You can use confidential mode to set an expiration date for messages or revoke access at any time. Recipients of the confidential message will have options to forward, copy, print, and download disabled.

Important: Although confidential mode helps prevent the recipients from accidentally sharing your email, it doesn't prevent recipients from taking screenshots or photos of your messages or attachments. Recipients who have malicious programs on their computer may still be able to copy or download your messages or attachments.

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Learn how confidential emails work

Send messages & attachments confidentially

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app.
TapCompose.
In the top right, tap MoreConfidential mode.
- If you've already turned on confidential mode, go to the bottom of the email, then tap Edit.
Turn on Confidential mode.
Set an expiration date and passcode. These settings impact both the message text and any attachments.
- If you choose "Standard,"recipients using the Gmail app will be able to open it directly. Recipients who don't use Gmailwill get emailed a passcode.
- If you choose "SMS passcode," recipients will get a passcode by text message.Make sure you enter the recipient's phone number, not your own.
TapDone.

Remove access early

You can stop your recipient from opening the email before the expiration date.

On your Android phone or tablet,open the Gmail app.
Tap MenuSent.
Open the confidential email.
On the bottom of the screen, tapRemove access.

Open an email sent with confidential mode

If the sender used confidential mode to send the email:

You can open the message and attachments until the expiration date or until the sender removes access.
Options to copy, paste, download, print, and forward the message text and attachments will be disabled.
You might need to enter a passcode to open the email.

I'm using a Gmail account

Open the email.
If the sender does not require an SMS passcode:
- If you use the latest Gmail apps (web or mobile), you will directly find the email when you open it.
- If you use another email client, open the email, click on the link View the email and sign in with your Google credentials to open the message.
If the sender requires an SMS passcode:
1. Select Send passcode.
2. Check your text message for the passcode.
3. Enter the passcode, then select Submit.

I'm using another email account

Open the email.
Select View the email..
- A new page will open.
Select Send passcode.
Check your text messages or email for the passcode.
Enter the passcode, then select Submit.

I'm getting an error

Email has expired

The sender might've deleted the email or removed your access before the expiration date. Contact the sender to give you more time or to resend the email.

The provided number is for an unsupported country

You can only add SMS passcodes for phone numbers from these regions:

North America
South America
Europe
Australia
Asia: India, Korea, and Japan

Switch accounts

Make sure you're signed into the correct Google Account that's associated with the recipient email. Then, try to open the email again.

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FAQs

Send & open confidential emails - Android? ›

Recipients of the confidential message will have options to forward, copy, print, and download disabled. Important: Although confidential mode helps prevent the recipients from accidentally sharing your email, it doesn't prevent recipients from taking screenshots or photos of your messages or attachments.

Read On ›

How do you send confidential emails? ›

Send confidential emails on a computer

On your computer, go to Gmail.
Click Compose.
In the bottom right of the window, click Turn on confidential mode . Tip: If you've already turned on confidential mode for an email, go to the bottom of the email, then click Edit.
Set an expiration date and passcode. ...
Click Save.

Discover More Details ›

What happens when you send an email as confidential? ›

How do I send an encrypted email on Android? ›

Here's how to ensure that your email is encrypted:

Enable hosted S/MIME by following Google's instructions.
Compose your message as you normally would.
Click the lock icon to the right of the recipient.
Click view details to change the S/MIME settings or level of encryption.

Jan 15, 2024

See Details ›

What is confidential mode in sending email? ›

With Gmail confidential mode, your users can help protect sensitive information from unauthorized or accidental sharing. Confidential mode messages don't have options to forward, copy, print, or download messages or attachments. Confidential mode lets you: Set a message expiration date.

Find Out More ›

How do you send an email that is privileged and confidential? ›

If an email actually is privileged, then putting "Privileged and Confidential" in the email subject line and/or at the top of the email body is the best way to signal that you believe it is covered by privilege.

Tell Me More ›

How do I send an anonymous secure email? ›

There are a couple of ways to make your email more anonymous:

Use a virtual private network (VPN) or Tor to hide your IP.
Use an anonymous email provider and create an account.
Use a temporary phone when signing up for an email.
Strip metadata from attached files.

Jul 4, 2024

Show Me More ›

Which of the following is the safest way to send a confidential email? ›

Encrypt Emails

End-to-end encryption is the safest and most secure method for transmitting sensitive information through email. End-to-end encryption ensures that your messages can only be read by the intended receiver and yourself.

Explore More ›

What happens if you accidentally send a confidential email? ›

A more critical situation arises when a misdirected email leads to a significant data breach. The stakes are much higher if you accidentally send sensitive personal information to the wrong recipient, resulting in a data breach that triggers massive regulatory fines or legal consequences.

What is the difference between private and confidential emails? ›

Yes. Private means: Belonging to, or for the use of, a particular person or group of people. Confidential means: Intended to be kept secret. So, a private conversation would only be confidential if what is discussed is intended to be kept secret (from others).

Show Me More ›

Does Android encrypt messages? ›

RCS chats between Google Messages users are automatically upgraded to end-to-end encryption. With end-to-end encryption, no one can read the content sent between you and the other person.

Read The Full Story ›

How do I open an encrypted email sent to me? ›

Reading a protected message with Gmail

Select Click here to read your message.
Select Sign in with Google.
You'll be redirected to the Gmail sign-in page. Once you sign in, select Allow.
Your protected message will display in a new browser tab. You won't be able to view the protected message in the Gmail window.

See Details ›

How do I open encrypted files on Android? ›

Access through the Application: Open the encryption app you used to secure your files. Be ready to input your previously created password or PIN. Select Files to Decrypt: Navigate to the location of your encrypted files within the app and select the ones you wish to decrypt. Unlock the Data: Hit the 'Decrypt' button.

Get More Info Here ›

What happens if you forward a confidential email? ›

This is a Legal and Ethical Issue

These laws typically require consent from the individuals whose personal information is being shared, and they impose strict guidelines on the handling and sharing sensitive data. Ethically, forwarding emails without permission can breach trust and confidentiality.

Why should you not send confidential information in an email? ›

The truth is that email is not a secure channel for sending information. Therefore, you should never send sensitive data or information in an email, whether written in the body or as an attachment. “Email by default is not and was never intended to be a secure mechanism for sending sensitive data,” says Dr.

How to put a confidentiality notice on an email? ›

This message contains confidential information and is intended solely for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee, you should not disseminate, distribute, or copy this email. Please notify the sender immediately by email if you have received this email by mistake and delete this email from your system.

View Details ›

What is the safest way to email confidential documents? ›

Here are three steps you can take to mitigate the risk of data breaches in email attachments.

Password protect the attached document: ...
Encrypt the attachment: ...
Encrypt the entire email:

How do you mail something confidential? ›

Don't Forget About Electronic Security

Encrypt all sensitive information.
Require secure digital signatures.
Back everything up, and store it offline.
Classify all documents by level of confidentiality, and group similar levels together.
Limit access to the most sensitive data.

More items...

Apr 26, 2024

Learn More ›

How do I send a confidential email in Outlook? ›

Click File > Options > Mail. Under Send messages, select Normal, Personal, Private, or Confidential in the Default Sensitivity level list.

Discover More Details ›