social

Gmail

Gmail: How To Use Confidential Mode In Gmail

Added On: Oct 15, 2022

Last Update: Dec 10, 2022

What is Gmail confidential mode

Gmail allows You can send messages and attach attachments in confidential mode to help protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. You can use confidential mode to set an expiration date for messages or remove access at any time.

Can We Download The Attachments Of Confidential Mode?

Gmail Recipients of the confidential message will have options to forward, copy, print, and download disabled. So you can’t download the attachments of confidential mode emails.

Can we remove access to confidential email before its expiration time?

Yes, you can remove access to confidential mail before it expires. If you want to know how to remove access, then stay on the page and read till the end.

Is Gmail confidential mode encrypted?

Confidential Mode doesn't involve encryption or any sort of higher-level privacy. This mode is very useful for what it is.

All emails are end-to-end encrypted, but you can read them without entering any passwords or you can download them but the confidential mode doesn’t allow you to download and print copies and forward that email and even you can set passwords in Gmail confidential mode.

Can’t we take screenshots of Gmail confidential mail?

Confidential mode doesn't prevent recipients from taking screenshots or photos of your messages or attachments. You can’t share and forward that mail but yes we can take screenshots of confidential mail.

Let’s see how confidential mode works!!!

How to send messages & attachments confidentially on computer?

Step 1: Go To Gmail Account

Open your Gmail account, on your computer in any browser of choice.

Step 2: Open Gmail Compose

Now, click on the ‘Compose’ tab which is available in the left section of the screen of Gmail.

Step 3: Turn On Confidential Mode

Next, In the bottom right, you can see a "lock time" symbol just click on that button, this will "turn on confidential mode."

Step 4: Set Expiry Date

Here, You can set the expiry date of the mail, as shown in the image below.

Step 5: Set Passcode For Protection

Now, Set Your password (All passcodes will be generated by Google). Here you have two options to "set password", mentioned below:

If you select "No SMS passcode", then recipients using the Gmail app will be able to open it directly and Recipients who don't use Gmail will get a passcode on email.
If you select "SMS passcode", then recipients will get a passcode by text message. Make sure you enter the recipient's phone number, not your own.

Step 6: Save Your Details

When you are done with setting the passcode and other details, click on the "Save" button to save your details.

Step 7: Finally, Click Send

Once you save the details, now you can click on the send button to send the mail in confidential mode.

HOW YOUR CONFIDENTIAL MAIL SHOWS ON COMPUTER?

By referring to two images you can understand:

You can’t see the content on the inbox panel.

You can see that the options of forward and download are not available.

How to send messages & attachments confidentially on Mobile Phone?

Step 1: Open Gmail In Mobile Phone

First of all, go to the Gmail app and open your Gmail account or log in to your Gmail account for which you want to use confidential mode.

Step 2: Go To Compose Mail

Now, Click on compose button in the bottom right corner as shown in the below picture.

Step 3: Open Options of Mail

Click on the three dots to open options, which are present in the top right corner

Step 4: Start Confidential Mode

To start confidential mode you have to click on the "Confidential Mode" option.

Step 5: Give Expiry Date

From the drop-down menu u can select the expiry date

Step 6: Enter A Passcode For Security Purpose

set the password of choice, as you can see here two options are available, so it’s up to you which option is suitable for you, we mentioned both options below you can refer to them:

If you choose the second option which is "SMS passcode," then all the recipients will get a passcode by SMS text message. Make sure to enter the phone number of the recipient, not your own phone number.

Step 7: Click On Save And Send Buttons

Once you are done with all your actions then first click on the save button to save your actions and then click on send a symbol to send a mail with confidential mode.