What a contact group is and why you'd use one
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 email your book club, you type the group name once and Gmail sends to all of them. You create groups in Google Contacts, which is the address book connected to your Gmail account.
Groups save time when you email the same set of people regularly — a project team, a family chain, a volunteer committee. They also reduce the chance you'll forget someone or type an address wrong. Gmail stores these groups in your account, so they sync across any device where you sign in.
Key Takeaways
- Contact groups live in Google Contacts, not in Gmail itself, though you access them from both places.
- You create a group by opening Google Contacts, clicking "Create label", naming it, and adding people one at a time or by selecting existing contacts.
- Once a group exists, you can type its name in the "To" field of a Gmail message and Gmail will expand it to all members.
- You can add or remove people from a group at any time, and changes take effect immediately on all your devices.
How to create a new contact group
Open Google Contacts in a web browser by going to contacts.google.com. Sign in with the same Google account you use for Gmail. On the left side of the screen, you'll see a menu. Look for the option that says "Create label" — this is how Gmail names contact groups.
Click "Create label" and type the name you want for your group. Use something clear: "Book Club", "Project Alpha Team", "Mom's Side of Family". Avoid special characters like asterisks or slashes. Click "Save" when you're done. The group now exists, but it's empty.
Adding people to your group
After you create a group, Google Contacts shows you the group name on the left. Click it to open the group. You'll see a button or option to add contacts — the exact wording changes depending on whether you're on a computer or phone, but it's usually "Add contacts" or a plus sign icon.
You can add people in two ways. First, you can search for contacts you've already saved in Google Contacts by typing their name. Select them from the list and they're added to the group. Second, if someone isn't in your contacts yet, you can type their email address directly into the group. Either way, the person is added to the group without sending them any message — they won't know they're in a group unless you tell them.
You can add as many people as you need. There's no limit to group size in Gmail, though very large groups (hundreds of people) may take a few seconds longer to expand when you use them.
Using a group to send an email
Open Gmail and click "Compose" to start a new message. In the "To" field, start typing the name of your group. Gmail will show you a dropdown list with matching contacts and groups. Click the group name and Gmail fills in the field with the group name itself — not the individual addresses, just the group label.
When you send the message, Gmail expands the group and sends a copy to every person in it. Each recipient sees only their own address in the "To" field, not the other people in the group. This is different from putting everyone's address in the "To" field, where everyone can see everyone else's email.
If you want people to see who else received the message, you can put the group name in the "Cc" field instead. Then all recipients will see all the other recipients' addresses.
Editing and removing people from a group
Go back to Google Contacts and click the group name on the left. You'll see all the people currently in the group. To remove someone, click on their name or find a delete or remove button next to it — the exact location depends on your device, but it's usually a trash icon or an X. Confirm the removal and they're out of the group.
To add more people later, use the same "Add contacts" button you used the first time. You can edit a group as many times as you want. Changes take effect immediately, so the next time you use the group to send an email, it will include only the current members.
Deleting a group entirely
If you no longer need a group, go to Google Contacts, right-click or long-press the group name on the left, and look for a "Delete" option. Deleting a group removes the label but does not delete the individual contacts inside it — they stay in your address book. You can recreate the group later if you change your mind.
Keep in mind that deleting a group doesn't send any notification to the people who were in it. The group simply stops existing in your account. If you want to let people know a group email list is ending, you'll need to send them a separate message.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a group on my phone?
Yes. Open the Google Contacts app on Android or iPhone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and select "Create label". The steps are the same as on a computer. You can add people to the group from your phone as well.
What happens if I change someone's email address in my contacts?
The group automatically uses the updated address. You don't have to edit the group itself. Gmail pulls the current email address from your contacts each time you use the group.
Can I send a message to a group without including everyone?
Not directly from the group. You would need to type individual addresses or create a smaller group. However, you can reply to a group message and remove people from the reply before sending.
Do people in my group see each other's email addresses?
Only if you put the group in the "Cc" field. If you use the "To" field, each person sees only their own address. This is a privacy feature — people don't know who else is on your mailing list unless you choose to show them.
Can I share a group with someone else?
Not directly. Contact groups are personal to your Google account. If someone else needs the same group, they have to create it in their own Google Contacts. You can send them a list of the email addresses to add, but the group itself stays in your account.