Gmail groups let you email multiple people at once by typing one address

A Gmail group (called a contact group in Gmail) is a saved list of email addresses under a single name. Instead of typing five email addresses every time you want to reach your book club, you type one group name. Gmail will send your message to everyone in that group automatically.

You create groups inside Gmail's Contacts section, not in your inbox. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you're using Gmail on a computer or the Gmail app on your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail groups are created in Contacts, not in your inbox — go to contacts.google.com or click the Google apps menu and select Contacts.
  • You can add people to a group either when you create it or by editing the group later to add more addresses.
  • When you send an email to a group, everyone in that group receives the message, but group members cannot see each other's addresses unless you use Reply All.
  • Groups you create are stored in your Google account and sync across all your devices where you use Gmail.

Creating a new group on a computer

Open Gmail and click the Google apps menu — it's the grid of nine dots in the top right corner of the page. Select Contacts from the menu that appears. This takes you to Google Contacts, which is separate from your Gmail inbox.

On the left side of the Contacts page, you'll see a menu. Click Create label (or Create group depending on your Gmail version). A box will appear asking you to name your group. Type a name like "Book Club" or "Project Team" and press Enter. Gmail creates the group immediately, but it's empty.

Now you need to add people. You can do this two ways: search for existing contacts and add them, or type in new email addresses. Click into your new group name to open it, then click the Add members button (or the plus icon). Start typing a contact's name or email address. If that person is already in your contacts, Gmail will suggest them. Click their name to add them. If they're not in your contacts yet, type their full email address and press Enter.

Repeat this for each person you want in the group. You can add as many people as you need. When you're done, close the group — Gmail saves your changes automatically.

Creating a group on your phone or tablet

Open the Gmail app 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 icon to create a new contact. Instead of filling in a person's details, tap Create label at the top of the form. Type your group name and tap the checkmark to save it.

Now tap into that group to open it. Tap the plus icon again to add members. Type or search for each person's name or email address, just as you would on a computer. The phone version works the same way — add everyone you need, then close the group.

Adding people to an existing group

You don't have to add everyone when you first create the group. Open Contacts, find your group in the left menu, and click or tap it to open it. Click or tap Add members, then search for or type the new person's email address. You can add people to a group at any time.

You can also add someone to a group while you're looking at their contact card. Open their contact, click the menu icon (three dots), and select Add to label. Choose the group from the list that appears.

Sending an email to your group

Go to Gmail and start a new email. In the "To" field, type your group name. Gmail will suggest it as you type. Click on the group name to add it. All members of that group will receive the email when you send it.

One important thing: when you send to a group, the recipients see the group name in the "To" field, not the individual email addresses. However, if someone clicks Reply All, their reply goes to everyone in the group, and then everyone can see all the addresses. If you want to keep addresses private, use Reply instead of Reply All.

Editing or removing a group

To remove someone from a group, open Contacts, click the group name, find the person you want to remove, and click the X next to their name. To delete the entire group, right-click the group name in the left menu and select Delete label. Deleting a group does not delete the contacts themselves — it only removes the group.

To rename a group, right-click it in the left menu and select Rename label. Type the new name and press Enter.

What happens when you remove someone from a group

If you remove someone from a group, they will not receive any future emails you send to that group. However, they will still have any past emails you sent to the group in their inbox — removing them from the group does not delete old messages.

If you delete the group entirely, the group stops working, but again, all past emails remain in everyone's inbox. The group name just disappears from your Contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see who is in a group?

Yes. Open Contacts, click the group name, and you'll see a list of everyone in it. You can also hover over the group name in Gmail's "To" field when composing an email to see a preview of the members.

What's the difference between a Gmail group and a mailing list?

A Gmail group is something you create for your own use — it's stored in your Google account. A mailing list is a separate service (like Google Groups) where people can join and manage their own membership. For most everyday use, a Gmail group is simpler.

Can I create a group from an email I received?

Not directly from the email itself, but you can add the sender to a group through Contacts. Open the email, click the sender's name or address, then click "Add to label" and choose or create a group. This is faster than typing addresses manually.

Do group members know they're in a group?

No. When you send an email to a group, members see the group name in the "To" field, but they don't receive a notification that they've been added to a group. They only know they're in it if you tell them or if they see the group name on an email you send.

Can I use a group to send emails from my phone?

Yes. The Gmail app on your phone works the same way — type the group name in the "To" field and it will suggest your group. Tap it to add everyone at once.