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Gmail Users, You Can Now "Undo" Your Sent Email

by Melissah Yang

Never drink and text, and the same should be said about reckless emailing because an ill-planned message to a past flame rarely goes over well. But the email gods have heard your calls of sender remorse because Gmail has released a new Undo Send feature that will give you the freedom to snatch those immediate lapses in judgment back from the netherspace. Ya heard me — you can now undo your sent email.

The feature has actually been in experimental limbo since March 2009 as part of Gmail's Labs section, which lets users test new features before they officially launch. Six years, talk about a slow play. But for users who have switched over to Google's new Inbox by Gmail, the Undo Send feature will look familiar since it debuted with the app in May.

Now those of us still cherishing good ol' Gmail will finally be able to save the stress of the not-so-perfect email. Once the feature is enabled, every email you send will essentially sit in a queue for up to 30 seconds, depending on the length of time you choose. After you click "send," you'll see an option to undo in case you change your mind. Bringing the email back will reopen the draft so you can make your changes and toast yourself for catching the mistake.

Here's how to get the feature enabled:

  1. Click the handy gear icon on the top-right corner of your Gmail window.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. In the General tab, scroll down until you see "Undo Send."
  4. Click "Enable Undo Send."
  5. Select a cancellation period of five, 10, 20, or 30 seconds.
  6. Scroll down and click "Save Changes."

Now, the undo feature won't let you recall messages from other people's inboxes. Sorry, folks, those emails from long ago are long gone. And while the feature will surely be a blessing for people sending well-crafted messages to potential employers, it might not be for everybody. If you use your email for real-time conversations, the undo feature will cause your emails to come through the other side a little later than when they were sent.

But think about the liberating feeling that comes with an undo. No more forgotten attachments. No more accidental "Reply All." No more feelings of "an-email-is-better-than-a-text-to-an-ex-right??-ah-crap-I-was-WRONG!" Go on, email with peace.

Images: Melissah Yang/Bustle; Giphy (2)