Have you heard of the confidential mode in Gmail? Read on to find the step-by-step guide on how to use confidential mode in Gmail.
How to Use Confidential Mode in Gmail?
Emails sent using the confidential mode on Gmail are not like regular emails. The receiver has to click on a unique link to view the mail. This happens because when in confidential mode, the Gmail services are hosted on Google's server. So they don't have to use the regular email protocols.
The following section provides details on how to use confidential mode in Gmail.
How to Send Emails in Confidential Mode?
Step 1
Click on the Compose option in Gmail to open a new message box. The Confidential mode icon is at the bottom of the message box. The Confidential mode icon contains a lock and a timer.
Step 2
Click on the Confidential mode icon. A dialogue box appears.
Step 3
The dialogue box includes options like expiry period, passcode generation, etc. You can generate a passcode that further adds confidentiality.
Step 4
Once the confidentiality settings are in place, you can write your email. The email will have a confidentiality badge alongside it.
Step 5
Send the email as usual. At this stage, you must provide the recipient's phone number if you have enabled the SMS passcode option.
How to Receive Emails in Confidential Mode?
The receiver of a confidential message cannot forward, download, copy, or print the email. So, the options or icons to forward or download will be disabled in a confidential email.
A confidential email comes with a notification regarding the impossibility of forwarding or downloading it.
Gmail Users
A Gmail user can access the confidential email like any other regular email. If the sender has assigned a passcode for the email, the receiver must enter it to open the email.
Non-Gmail Users
Non-Gmail users must access a confidential email through a couple more steps. They will receive the email as a link. They must click on it and go to a browser to access and read the email. Those links will also not be able to copy, forward, or download the email.