Gmail groups let you email multiple people at once without typing each address

A Gmail group is a saved list of email addresses that you can send messages to all at once. Instead of typing five or ten addresses into the "To" field every time, you type one group name. Gmail stores these groups in your Contacts, and you create them there rather than inside the email composer itself.

The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you use Gmail on the web or the Gmail app on your phone. Once you create a group, you can add people to it, remove them, or delete the group entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail groups are created in your Contacts, not in the email composer, and they appear as a single name you can select when addressing a message.
  • You can add existing contacts to a group, or type new email addresses directly into the group creation form.
  • Groups you create are stored only in your own account and are not shared with other people unless you send them a message addressed to the group.
  • You can edit a group after creating it by adding or removing members, and you can delete the group at any time.

How to create a group on Gmail's website

Open Gmail in your web browser and click the Google Apps menu — the grid of nine dots in the top right corner. Select Contacts from the menu. This opens Google Contacts in a new tab or window.

On the left side of the Contacts page, look for the section labeled Labels or Create label. Click the plus sign next to "Labels" or select Create a label. Type a name for your group — something like "Project Team" or "Weekly Standup" — and press Enter. Google Contacts calls these labels, but they function as groups in Gmail.

Now add people to the group. Click the group name you just created, then click the plus sign or Add members button. You can either select existing contacts from your list or type new email addresses directly. After you add each person, click Add or press Enter. Repeat until everyone you need is in the group.

How to create a group in the Gmail mobile app

Open the Gmail app on your phone and tap the menu icon — three horizontal lines in the top left. Scroll down and tap Contacts. This opens Google Contacts within the app.

At the bottom of the screen, tap the plus sign to create a new contact. Instead of filling in a person's name, tap Create label or look for an option to create a group. Type the group name and tap Save. Then tap the group name to open it and add members using the same process as the web version — select existing contacts or type new addresses.

Adding and removing people from a group

To add someone after you create the group, open Contacts, click the group name, and click Add members. Type or select the person's email address and confirm. To remove someone, open the group, find their name in the list, and click the X or trash icon next to it.

You can also add a person to a group directly from their contact card. Open their contact, scroll down, and look for a Labels section. Click the label or group name you want to add them to, and they will appear in that group immediately.

Sending an email to your group

Open a new email in Gmail and click in the "To" field. Start typing the group name — it will appear as a suggestion. Click the group name to add it. Gmail will show you how many people are in the group, and when you send the message, everyone receives it.

If you want to see who is in the group before sending, click the group name in the "To" field and it will expand to show all members. This is useful if you want to make sure you are not sending to the wrong list.

Deleting a group

Open Contacts, find the group name in the Labels section on the left, and right-click it (or long-press on mobile). Select Delete label or Delete. Confirm the deletion. Deleting a group does not delete the people in it — they remain as individual contacts in your address book.

If you accidentally delete a group, you can recreate it by following the same steps as creating a new group. Your contacts will still exist, so you can add them back to the new group quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can other people see my groups?

No. Groups you create are private to your account. Other people can only see that you sent them a message; they cannot see the group name or who else received it. If you want to share a group with someone else, you would need to tell them the email addresses manually.

What is the difference between a Gmail group and a Google Group?

A Gmail group (or label) is a personal contact list you use to send emails. A Google Group is a separate product that creates a shared email address and discussion space that multiple people can manage together. For most people sending emails to the same team, a Gmail group is simpler.

Can I rename a group after I create it?

Yes. Open Contacts, right-click the group name, and select Rename label. Type the new name and press Enter. Everyone in the group stays in it — only the name changes.

What happens if someone's email address bounces when I send to a group?

Gmail will send the message to everyone else in the group. The person with the bad address will not receive it, and you will get a bounce-back notification. You can then remove that address from the group or update it with the correct one.