Sent an email to the wrong person, or forgot the attachment? Gmail gives you a few seconds to take it back. Right after you click Send, Gmail holds the message for a short time and shows an Undo link. This guide shows how to unsend a message and how to give yourself more time by changing the send cancellation period, with real screenshots from Gmail on the web.
Quick answer
To unsend, click Undo in the “Message sent” box at the bottom left right after you send. To get more time, click the gear icon, then See all settings. On the General tab, next to Undo Send, choose a send cancellation period of 5, 10, 20 or 30 seconds, then click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
Undo Send at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Where to set it | Settings (gear) > See all settings > General > Undo Send |
| Choices | 5, 10, 20 or 30 seconds (5 seconds is the default) |
| How to unsend | Click Undo in the “Message sent” box at the bottom left |
| Can it be turned off? | No. Undo Send is always on; you can only change how long it waits |
| Works after the time runs out? | No. Once the period ends, the message has gone |
Step 1: Open all Gmail settings
- Open Gmail on your computer at mail.google.com.
- Click the gear icon at the top right to open Quick settings, then click See all settings.
Step 2: Change the send cancellation period
- Stay on the General tab, which opens first.
- Find Undo Send near the top of the page. Next to Send cancellation period, open the menu.
- Pick 5, 10, 20 or 30 seconds. Thirty seconds gives you the most time to catch a mistake; the cost is that every message leaves your outbox that much later.
Step 3: Save your changes
- Scroll to the very bottom of the General settings page and click Save Changes. If you leave the page without saving, Gmail keeps the old period.
Step 4: Unsend a message
- Send your email as usual. A Message sent box appears at the bottom left with Undo and View message.
- Click Undo before the period runs out.
- Gmail shows Sending undone and reopens the message as a draft, so you can fix it and send it again, or delete it.
Tips
- Don’t close the tab right away. Gmail sends the message when the period ends, so leave Gmail open for those few seconds if you might want to undo.
- Scheduled messages work differently. A message you scheduled can be cancelled from the Scheduled folder until its send time. See how to schedule an email in Gmail.
- Using Thexyz Webmail? It has its own setting; see how to use Undo Send in Thexyz Webmail.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to unsend an email in Gmail?
Five seconds by default. You can raise it to 10, 20 or 30 seconds under Settings, General, Undo Send.
Can I unsend a Gmail message after 30 seconds?
No. Thirty seconds is the longest option. After the period ends, the message is delivered and can’t be pulled back from the recipient’s inbox.
Can I turn Undo Send off?
No. Gmail always holds outgoing messages for at least 5 seconds. Choosing 5 seconds is the shortest delay.
Does Undo Send work in the Gmail app?
Yes. Right after you send from the Gmail app on Android or iPhone, an Undo option appears at the bottom of the screen. Tap it to bring the message back.
Does the recipient see anything when I undo?
No. Gmail hasn’t sent the message yet during the cancellation period, so nothing reaches the recipient.
Sources
- Gmail Help: Send or unsend Gmail messages: click Undo in the “Message sent” notice; choose a send cancellation period of 5, 10, 20 or 30 seconds next to Undo Send and click Save Changes.
- Tested by Webmail Wiki in Gmail on the web, November 5, 2026. Screenshots by Webmail Wiki from a test account; the test message was sent to ourselves and undone, and no settings were changed.
Last checked November 5, 2026.
