Gmail is now letting users send mails via the Confidential Mode which was first demonstrated few months back, when the mailing client was getting a design makeover.
Confidential Mode is a secretive form of sending mails for users, who want to lock the content that’s getting shared and also have a timer that ensures the mail expires. How many times have you dithered from sending critical information like bank account number or password to someone via Gmail? That’s probably going to be sorted now.
This is probably the first time that we’re seeing mail that has an option of expiring, something that has been highly used for social media platforms like Snapchat, and even Instagram.
The feature is now rolling out to the new-look Gmail app on Android, iOS and even the web version for PCs.
![Gmail has a new feature that lets users send mail secretly.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2018-08%2Fe6f59ebc-076d-4147-a522-d41114e4ef4d%2Fmail_sent.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
New confidential mode allows you to remove the option to forward, copy, download or print messages — useful for when you have to send sensitive information via email like a tax return or your social security number.Google Blog
![Gmail has a new feature that lets users send mail secretly.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2018-08%2F4aab298b-4615-455e-9f40-3fdd85fd09a5%2F6e1f159a_d9de_4727_bb88_c6db68c2e69d.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
How to Send Mails in Confidential Mode
- Open Gmail (app or on a browser) and compose a new mail
- Select Confidential Mode on the top right of the Gmail app
- Web users will see it at the bottom of the mail
- Select duration of mail (day, week, month or year)
- You can send the mail with SMS Passcode or without it
- Enter the mobile number of the user receiving the mail
![Gmail has a new feature that lets users send mail secretly.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2018-08%2Faf3128eb-6848-423d-96cc-63410a6d7e84%2Fgmail_confi_pick.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Gmail also claims that sending confidential details like credit card numbers, bank information and passwords among others (not recommended though).
![Gmail has a new feature that lets users send mail secretly.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2018-08%2Fba7b22e9-026d-4170-9f85-73941447a853%2Fmail_secret_pick.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
These features are making way to your devices and PCs in the coming days. During our experience with the option, we found all the points advertised are working as expected. Taking the passcode via OTP route, the security part also gets covered.
All in all, looks like an interesting option for mail users – something worth trying out over the next few months.
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