Create a group in Gmail Contacts, then use it to send to multiple people at once

A group email list in Gmail is a saved collection of email addresses that you can send a message to all at once by typing the group name instead of individual addresses. You build the group in Gmail Contacts (the address book), add people to it, and then address emails to the group name just as you would to a single person. Gmail will expand the group and send your message to everyone in it.

This is different from a mailing list service — you are not creating a public list or a discussion thread. You are making a private shortcut in your own contacts that saves you from typing or copy-pasting the same addresses over and over.

Key Takeaways

  • Groups live in Gmail Contacts, not in the email app itself, so you must open Contacts first to create one.
  • You can add people to a group when you create it, or add them later by editing the group.
  • When you send an email to a group, Gmail expands it and sends individual copies to each person — recipients see only their own address, not the full list.
  • You can edit a group anytime to add or remove people, and changes take effect the next time you use that group name.
  • Groups work on desktop and mobile, though the mobile interface is simpler for sending than for managing the list itself.

Open Gmail Contacts and start a new group

Go to contacts.google.com in your web browser. If you are already in Gmail, you can click the Google apps menu (the grid of nine dots in the top right corner) and select Contacts from the list.

On the left side of the Contacts page, you will see a menu. Click Create a label or Create group (the wording varies slightly depending on your account). A text box will appear asking you to name the group. Type a clear name — something like "Book Club" or "Project Team" — and press Enter.

Gmail will create the group and open it. The group is now empty and ready for people to be added to it.

Add people to the group

Once the group is created, you will see a button or option to add people. Click Add members or the plus icon. A dialog box will open where you can type or paste email addresses.

You can add people one at a time by typing their email address and pressing Enter, or you can paste multiple addresses separated by commas. As you type, Gmail may suggest contacts from your existing address book — click a suggestion to add that person without typing the full address.

After you add each person, they appear in the group list. You can add as many people as you need. There is no hard limit, though very large groups (hundreds of people) may take a moment to expand when you send to them.

Send an email to your group

Open Gmail and start a new message. In the To field, type the name of your group. Gmail will recognize it and show the group name as a suggestion — click it to select it.

When you click the group name, it will appear in the To field. You can add other individual recipients in the same message if you want. Compose your message normally and send it.

Gmail will send an individual copy of your email to each person in the group. Each recipient sees only their own email address in the To field, not the names or addresses of the other group members. This is different from using Reply All in a conversation thread — group emails are separate messages, not a threaded discussion.

Edit or remove people from a group

To change who is in a group, go back to contacts.google.com, find the group name on the left side, and click it. The group will open and show all current members.

To add more people, click Add members again. To remove someone, hover over their name in the list and click the X or trash icon that appears. The change takes effect when ready — the next time you send to that group, it will use the updated list.

You can also delete the entire group by clicking the menu icon (three dots) next to the group name and selecting Delete group. This removes the group itself but does not delete the individual contacts from your address book.

Use groups on your phone or tablet

On mobile, open the Gmail app and start a new message. Tap the To field and type the group name — it will appear as a suggestion. Tap it to add the group.

To create or edit a group on mobile, you will need to use the Contacts app instead of Gmail. Open the Contacts app on your phone, look for a Create group or Create label option (usually a plus icon), and follow the same steps as on desktop. Mobile Contacts works the same way — you name the group, add members, and then use it in Gmail.

Avoid common mistakes with groups

The most common mistake is forgetting that groups live in Contacts, not in Gmail itself. If you cannot find a group you created, go to contacts.google.com to see it. It will not appear in a folder or label in your Gmail inbox.

Another mistake is assuming recipients see the group name in the To field. They do not — each person receives an individual email with only their own address showing. If you want people to know they are part of a group conversation, mention it in the message body.

Do not confuse a Gmail group with a Google Group (a separate product for public or semi-public discussion forums). A Gmail group is just a contact list shortcut. If you need a shared inbox or discussion thread, you would use Google Groups instead, which is a different tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see who else is in the group when I receive an email sent to it?

No. When you receive an email sent to a group, it looks like a regular email addressed to you individually. You cannot see the other recipients unless the sender mentions them in the message body or uses Reply All (which would only show people who reply).

What happens if I remove someone from a group after sending them an email?

Removing someone from a group does not affect emails already sent to them. It only changes who receives the next email you send to that group. The person remains in your Contacts — removing them from a group does not delete their contact information.

Can I create a group that includes other groups?

No. Gmail groups contain only individual email addresses, not other groups. If you need to send to overlapping sets of people, create separate groups for each set and add the group names individually when you compose the email.

Will people know my email address if I send to a group?

Yes. Each recipient will see your email address in the From field, just as they would with any email. The group feature only hides the other recipients from each person — it does not hide you.

Can I password-protect a group or make it private?

No. Groups in Gmail Contacts are private to your account only — other people cannot see them or access them. But anyone in your contacts can be added to a group by you, and there is no way to restrict who you can add or to require approval before sending.