Gmail Confidential Mode: Sending, Receiving, and Set Up Instructions

Security has always been at the core of Gmail services. To safeguard the interest of users from spamming, malware, and phishing attack; Gmail never stops enhancing and strengthening its services. After the 2 level authentication, Google launched the authenticator feature to simplify the process of login. What is Google authentication and 2FA on Gmail is another long answer. We will discuss it some other day. In this post, we are going to discuss the less known but effective Gmail security feature known as Gmail Confidential Mode. This feature aims to prevent an unauthorized person from reading confidential emails. If you are already using this awesome feature and having any problem you can contact us and get help. Else, keep on reading this helping post and educate yourself about Gmail Confidential Mode.

How does Gmail confidential mode work? 

The working principle of Gmail confidential mode is pretty simple. You can think of the Gmail confidential mode as an extra layer to the security of your email. This security feature is free, simple to set up, and customizable. From being customizable I mean Gmail users can enable and disable it in just a few simple clicks with ease of mind. But, as it happens with all other things, this feature has its own bright and dark sides. Before I make you aware of the disadvantages of the Gmail confidential mode, let's first understand how Gmail confidential mode works. 

Enabling a confidential mode on Gmail means you are adding passcode security and expiration date to your email. As per the chosen option, recipients of such emails get a passcode on their registered phone number. That passcode is mandatory to enter into the given field by the recipient to get full access to the confidential email. And if the recipient does not open the confidential email the message expires on its own once the deadline is crossed. That's how the Gmail confidential mode works. 

How to send a secure email attachment in Gmail?

Keeping in mind the rising digital threats, making attempts to make an email private can be a good idea. However, Gmail is already considered the world's safest and secure email service. But, adding an extra layer of security to important email messages sounds good. A piece of good news is that whether you are a school student or any working professional, the feature of the email confidential mode on Gmail is available for everyone. After login into your Gmail account, all you need is just to find and select the clock and lock-shaped icon in the email compose section. These are the steps to follow: 

• After the login to your Gmail account, select compose. 
• Type your email and attach a file if you want. 
• Now, look carefully at the options bar available on the bottom side. 
• To enable confidential mode on your mail click "Turn On Confidential Mode". 
• After that click edit if you want to customize the email expiration date and passcode settings. 
• Now set an expiration date and passcode to your email. 
• If you are choosing the option of passcode security make sure you enter the phone number of the intended recipient not your own. 
• Finally, once check the details and if you think everything is fine then click Save. 
• Now click send. 

How to open an encrypted email in Gmail?

In the last section, as you have learned how to send Gmail confidential mail now let's proceed to our next important question. How to open an email sent with confidential mode. The answer to this question is quite simple. What exactly you have to do to open a confidential mail on Gmail largely depends upon the applied settings. 

You will receive a passcode on your phone to open the confidential email if the passcode security has been applied to the email. In addition to the passcode, you will require to open the email sent with enabled confidential mode within the specified time range before it is too late. 

Disadvantages of Gmail confidential mode

You might have noticed how simple it is to set up, send, and receive confidential emails on Gmail. But, hold on! Be careful before you send a confidential email to anyone. 

Why? Because there are a few things that you might not like about confidential emails on Gmail. Be informed that all those emails sent with confidential mode couldn't be copied, pasted, downloaded, or printed. That's not all a recipient of such email can't forward such email to anyone else. Most importantly, after a specific period of time, the confidential email expires, never to be accessible again. Hence, we can say that the feature of Gmail confidential mode comes on the heels of less comfortability.