Gmail is unique and mostly used email services worldwide. As per information, the Google email service had 1.5 billion active users in the year 2021. Google email has all features i.e. Mode, to Passcode, to recalling sent emails, to sending mail without internet connection. And more new features added in the past 17 years. What are the features of Gmail let’s see?
Mute emails with long threads to reduce intrusions
A lively email thread can be provoking, especially if it doesn’t concern you directly. Gmail has a function that allows users to opt-out of such a thread. The function is known as Mute. You can directly open the email thread and tap on the three dots at the top right and choose the Mute option.
This will shift the conversation to archive and will work for even new messages arrives. In such a case, when you want to check or read such messages, later on, you can head to the Archive section and unmute them.
Auto-advance for a better and categorized Gmail
Deleting and checking mail can be a mind-numbing task. Here Gmail’s default setting of taking the user back to the opt-out inbox after deleting each email will further quite painful. By enabling the Auto-advance feature you can reduce your efforts. The function permits users to move directly to the next email (older to newer) in the list after the user has deleted, archived, or muted an email.
To use this, go to Setting, Advance-Enable Auto Advance> Save changes
Now, go back to setting >General >Scroll down to Auto Advance and choose to go to next (Newer) conversation >Save changes.
Send heavy attachments Via Google Drive
Gmail by default permit users to send attachment up to 25MB file size. Nevertheless, you can use Google Drive to send large attachments. You have to first upload the file to Google Drive and then click on the Drive icon in the Compose section and attach the file.
Extended search option
Gmail is a Google product that will be incomplete if it does not offer a global search option. Gmail has an advanced search function that permits users the option to personalize their searches based on the sender, receiver, keywords, date, and more.
To ingress the advance search, click on the Setting icon on the right side of the search bar.
Increase call back time for the emails to 30 seconds from 5 seconds
Undo send (Recall a send email) is an old function in Gmail. By default, this function gives users 5 seconds window to recall an email. Nothing less, there is an option to increase this to the 5-second window to up to 20 seconds.
To use this, go to the Setting > General >Undo send > choose 30 from the drop-down menu.
You also have 10 and 20 seconds options.
Use Gmail Nudges to recall you of important emails
Gmail Nudge function is line up to recall users to reply to important emails or follow up on important emails.
To enable this head to Setting >General>Nudges.
Here two options are visible— Advised emails to reply to and advised email to follow up on. Enable them both if you want to get a notification timely by Gmail regarding a reply or follow-up.
Schedule an email
Gmail also has an email scheduling feature where you can compose an email and schedule to send whenever you want as per date and time.
To schedule an email, you have to compose an email and tap on the down-arrow beside the send button, and choose the schedule and send. Then select date and time from the presser options or choose your own by clicking on the pick date and time option.
Smart Compose features to help you write emails faster and easily
The Smart Compose function in Gmail is lined up to help users write faster. It is powered by machine learning and offers suggestions as one type. Smart Compose is a Google Account-level setting. Changes to the Smart Compose setting are applied where your email id is signed in any of the devices.
You can enable it by heading to Setting >General >Smart Compose.
Another fascinating feature of Gmail that is not known is that you can create a Task directly from Gmail. To use this all you need to do is right-click on any email and select the option Add to tasks.
Set passcode and expiry to Email with Confidential Mode
Confidential Mode is a feature that already exists in Gmail that adds a layer of security to email and attachments to secure sensitive information from Known or unauthorized access. With confidential Mode, you can set an expiry date or reverse access at any time. You can also set a Passcode to the emails sent in Confidential Mode.
To use this Confidential Mode, Click on the confidential Mode icon (represented with a clock and lock icon) >select expiration date and SMS Passcode (in any case which you want) and then send the mail. You can set an expiration date between 1 to 5 days.
Gmail also offers offline access mode. This means is that you can read, reply to, and search Gmail without an internet connection All you need to do is enable the function and bookmark mail.google.com. Make a note that the feature only works with Chrome.
To enable open Setting > Enable offline mail.
Save attachments directly to Google Drive and access them from anywhere
Gmail attachments can be directly saved to Google Drive. Just scroll down to the attachment section and rather than the Download icon (down arrow) click on the Drive icon.
Make Google Translate work rightly inside your Gmail account
Google Translate function can work right inside your Gmail account. It permits the user to translate the entire email into the language required. For this, you just need to open the email which you want to translate and then click on three dots on the right side of your page. Choose the Translate message tool. Then a new bar will be visible at the top of the mail body from where you can choose your preferred language in which you want to translate.
Create labels to better manage their inbox
Labels are better than folders when it comes to arranging an inbox. While they work as folders, the only major difference is that you can assign multiple labels to an email and later on you can find the labels by clicking on labels from the left panel. Labels can also be used to search an email or track email. Also, users can arrange emails as per their requirements which they want to follow up or read later.
Enable the Reading Pane to better utilize the screen space
Use Gmail’s reading pane, click on the settings > see all settings >scroll down to the reading pane. Here you have to choose between multiple layouts. The recommended ones are right or Below the inbox.
Also read:
How to Send Confidential and Secure Email using Gmail
What are the features of Microsoft Outlook 365?