Create a group list by saving multiple addresses to one contact

Gmail does not have a built-in "group email" feature, but you can create the same result by making a single contact that holds multiple email addresses. When you send to that one contact name, Gmail sends the message to everyone in the list. This works whether you use Gmail on the web or the Gmail app on your phone.

The process takes about two minutes and works best for groups you email regularly — a book club, a team at work, neighbors organizing something, or family members. Once you set it up, you type one name instead of hunting for five different addresses.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a group by opening Contacts, clicking "Create contact," and entering multiple email addresses in the same contact card under different "Email" fields.
  • Name the contact something clear like "Book Club Members" or "Project Team" so you recognize it when you start typing in the "To" field.
  • When you compose a new email and type the group contact name, Gmail shows it as an option and sends to all addresses in that contact.
  • You can edit the group anytime by opening the contact and adding or removing email addresses without affecting past emails.
  • If someone's email bounces or they ask to be removed, open the contact and delete their address from the list.

Open Contacts and start a new contact

Go to contacts.google.com in your web browser. If you use Gmail on your phone, open the Gmail app, tap the menu (three horizontal lines), scroll down, and tap "Contacts." On the web version, look for the "Create contact" button — it is usually a plus sign or labeled clearly at the top left.

Click or tap "Create contact." A blank form appears where you enter the contact information.

Enter a group name and add the first email address

In the "Name" field, type something that tells you what the group is for. Use "Marketing Team," "Neighborhood Watch," "Mom's Book Club," or whatever makes sense. This is the name you will type when you want to send to the whole group, so make it something you will remember and recognize.

Below the name field, you see an "Email" field. Type the first person's email address there. Do not worry about the other addresses yet — you are adding them one at a time.

Add more email addresses to the same contact

After you enter the first email, look for a button or link that says "Add another email" or shows a plus sign next to the email field. Click it. A second email field appears below the first one.

Type the second person's email address. Repeat this for every person in your group. You can add as many addresses as you need — there is no limit. If you make a mistake, you can delete an address by clicking the trash icon next to it, or you can edit it later.

Save the contact and test it

Once all the addresses are entered, click the "Save" button. The contact is now stored in your Gmail contacts. You can close the Contacts page and go back to Gmail.

To test it, open a new email in Gmail and click in the "To" field. Start typing the group name you created — for example, if you named it "Book Club Members," type "book." Gmail shows matching contacts as you type. Click the group name when it appears. Gmail fills in the "To" field with the group contact name, and when you send, the email goes to all the addresses in that contact.

Edit or remove people from the group anytime

If someone's email address changes, or they ask to be removed, go back to contacts.google.com, find the group contact, and click it to open it. You can add new email addresses by clicking "Add another email," or delete an address by clicking the trash icon next to it. Click "Save" when you are done.

Editing the group does not affect emails you already sent — it only changes who receives future emails sent to that group name. If you delete someone's address and then send to the group, they will not receive that email, but they will have received all the previous ones.

Avoid common mistakes when managing your group

Do not put the group contact in the "CC" or "BCC" field unless you understand what will happen. If you use "CC," everyone in the group sees everyone else's address. If you use "BCC," no one sees the other addresses, which is better for privacy. The "To" field works the same way either way — the email goes to all addresses in the group.

If an email bounces back (the message says "delivery failed"), it usually means one address in the group is wrong or that person's mailbox is full. Check the bounce message to see which address failed, then open the group contact and fix or remove that address. You do not need to resend to the whole group — just send again after you fix it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a group email list on my phone?

Yes. Open the Gmail app, tap the menu, tap "Contacts," tap the plus sign to create a new contact, and add the name and email addresses the same way you would on a computer. Save it, and you can use it to send group emails from your phone.

What happens if I send to a group and one person's email is wrong?

That person will not receive the email, and you will get a bounce-back message telling you which address failed. Open the group contact, fix or remove the bad address, and send again if needed. The other people in the group already got the first email.

Can I see who is in a group after I send an email?

Not from the sent email itself. Open your Contacts, find the group, and click it to see all the addresses. The email you sent does not show you the full list unless you used "CC" instead of "To" — in that case, everyone can see everyone else's address in the email.

Is there a limit to how many people I can add to one group?

Gmail does not set a hard limit, but sending to very large groups (hundreds of addresses) can sometimes trigger spam filters. For groups larger than 50 people, consider using Google Groups instead, which is designed for bigger mailing lists.

What if I want different groups for different purposes?

Create a separate contact for each group. You can have "Work Team," "Family," "Neighbors," and "Volunteer Group" all as different contacts, each with its own set of email addresses. When you compose an email, type the group name you want, and Gmail shows you the right one.