How to Set an Expiry Date and Passcode to an Email on Gmail With Confidential Mode

A feature not known to many but helpful while sending sensitive work emails.

By Ashri Khandelwal | Updated: 30 April 2021 19:45 IST

Highlights

Gmail’s Confidential Mode gives you control over your sensitive emails
You can use this feature to restrict people from forwarding your mail
It also lets you set an expiry date and passcode

Gmail

Photo Credit: Pixabay

If you often send sensitive and secretive information on Gmail and wish there was a way that could block people from forwarding the mail to someone else, then Gmail's Confidential Mode could be an essential feature for you. It enables you to restrict people from downloading, printing, copy-pasting and even forwarding your mail and its attachments. Thus, giving you peace of mind and helping you keep your messages protected from getting leaked.

This feature also lets you set an expiration date, post which the content of the email automatically disappears so that the receiver can no longer view it. Additionally, you can choose to lock your sensitive emails and allow recipients to access the messages only when they enter a passcode that is sent to them by either an SMS or email. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use this feature on Gmail's desktop version or mobile app. You can also check our guide on how to send drive files and make video calls on Gmail.

How to set an expiry date or passcode to an email on Gmail

On phone

On your Android phone or iPhone, open the Gmail app
Tap Compose, and in the top right corner tap Confidential mode. If you have already enabled confidential mode, you can go to the bottom of the email, then tap Edit.
Now, turn on Confidential mode. You can now set an expiration date for this mail for 1 day, a week, a month and even 5 years.
If you choose "No SMS passcode," recipients using the Gmail app will be able to open the mail directly. But, if you want the receiver to enter a passcode before reading the mail to verify their identity, you can go to Require Passcode and choose SMS passcode. And, when you send this mail, you will be required to add a phone number. Just make sure you enter the recipient's phone number, not your own.
Tap Done

On computer

Similarly, on Gmail's desktop version, Click Compose.
In the bottom right of the window, click Turn on confidential mode. But, if you have already enabled it for an email, then go to the bottom of the email, then click Edit.
Now, to set an expiration date and passcode, choose "SMS passcode** and the recipients will get a passcode by text message.
Click Save.

How to open an email sent with confidential mode

If the sender used confidential mode to send an email, then you can view the message and attachments until the expiration date or until the sender removes access. And, remember that the options to copy, paste, download, print, and forward the message text and attachments are disabled, and you might need to enter a passcode to open the email.

For more tutorials, visit our How To section.

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