Gmail does not have a built-in listserv feature, but you can create one using Google Groups

A listserv — a single email address that sends your message to multiple people at once — is not a native Gmail tool. Instead, you create one through Google Groups, which is free and integrates directly with your Gmail account. When you send an email to the group address, everyone in that group receives it. You manage who is in the group, who can post, and whether new members need approval.

The process takes about five minutes. You do not need to be a Gmail administrator or own a domain. If you have a Gmail account, you can create a group right now.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Groups is the tool Gmail users use to create a listserv; it is free and works with any Gmail account.
  • You set the group address (like myteam@googlegroups.com), add members by their email addresses, and choose whether members can post or only receive.
  • Members can reply to group emails and their replies go to everyone in the group, or you can set it to receive-only so only you send messages.
  • You manage the group from the Groups homepage, where you can add or remove members, change settings, and moderate posts if needed.

How to create a new Google Group

Go to groups.google.com and sign in with your Gmail account. Click the Create group button (usually a plus sign or labeled button near the top left). You will see a form asking for three things: the group name, the group email address, and a description.

The group name is what members see in their inbox — something like "Marketing Team" or "Book Club". The group email address is what you and others will send mail to — Gmail suggests one based on your group name, but you can change it to something shorter or clearer. The description is optional but helpful; it tells people what the group is for when they first join.

After you fill in these fields, click Create. Google will confirm that the group address is available (if it is not, you will need to pick a different one). Once confirmed, your group exists and you can start adding members.

Adding members to your group

From the group page, click Members in the left menu. Click Add members and type in the email addresses of the people you want to include. You can add them one at a time or paste a list of addresses separated by commas. Gmail will send them an invitation to join the group.

By default, members must accept the invitation before they are added. If you want to add people without their approval first, you can change this in the group settings — look for Membership approval and set it to No moderation. This is useful for internal team groups where everyone expects to be added.

You can also set a role for each member: Owner (can manage the group), Manager (can add and remove members), or Member (can only post and receive). Most people should be Members.

Choosing who can post and who can only receive

Click Settings in the left menu. Look for the section called Posting permissions or Who can post. You have several options here. All members can post means anyone in the group can send an email to the group address and it goes to everyone. Only managers can post means only you (or other managers) send messages; members can only receive. Only owners can post is the most restrictive.

For a team or project group, "All members can post" is common. For a newsletter or announcement list, "Only managers can post" keeps things organized. Choose based on what you are using the group for.

Controlling replies and email format

In the same Settings area, look for Email delivery options or Reply to. By default, when a member replies to a group email, their reply goes to the entire group. If you want replies to go only to the sender (not the whole group), change this setting. This is useful for newsletters where you do not want members replying to each other.

You can also choose how emails are formatted. Individual email sends each message as a separate email. Digest bundles multiple messages into one email sent once a day or once a week. Abridged digest shows just the subject lines. Members can change their own delivery preference, but you set the default.

Managing the group over time

Once your group is running, you manage it from the Members tab. To remove someone, click the three dots next to their name and select Remove. To change someone's role, click their name and update their role in the dropdown.

If you set the group to require moderation for new posts, you will see a Pending posts section in the left menu. Click it to approve or reject messages before they go to the group. This is useful if you want to prevent spam or off-topic posts.

You can also view all past messages in the Conversations tab. This acts as an archive that members can search through. If you want to delete old messages or keep the archive private, you can adjust this in Settings under Archive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a custom domain instead of @googlegroups.com?

Yes, but only if you own a domain and use Google Workspace (the paid version of Google's business tools). With Workspace, you can create groups with addresses like team@yourcompany.com. A free Gmail account is limited to @googlegroups.com addresses.

What happens if someone replies to a group email?

By default, their reply goes to everyone in the group — the same way it would with a traditional listserv. If you want replies to go only to the sender, change the Reply to setting in Settings to Original sender instead of Entire group.

Can I export the list of members or the message history?

You can view all members in the Members tab and take a screenshot or copy their names. For message history, Google Groups stores all conversations in the Conversations tab, which you can search and read, but there is no built-in export button. You would need to copy messages manually or use a third-party tool.

What if I want to delete the group?

Go to Settings and scroll to the bottom. Click Delete group. This removes the group and all its messages. Members will no longer receive emails sent to that address. You cannot undo this, so make sure you want to delete it first.

Can non-Gmail users join my group?

Yes. Anyone with any email address can be added to a Google Group and will receive messages sent to the group. They do not need a Gmail account. However, they cannot post or manage the group unless you give them special permissions.