4 ways to “unsend” an email

Have you ever wished there was an “undo” button for an email you just sent? You are not alone! Fortunately, there are now several methods of doing just that. Even though you can’t undo any of those long-regretted emails you may have sent in the past, here are 4 ways to help you to “unsend” them in the future:

1. Gmail “Undo Send”

For Gmail users, sign in to your Gmail account and follow these steps:

• Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select “Settings.”
• On the “General” tab, scroll down and find “Undo Send.”
• Click the checkbox for “Enable Undo Send” and select a cancellation period of 5, 10, 20 or 30 seconds. (This is how long you have to unsend the email back before it is delivered to the recipient.)
• Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click “Save Changes”

Now, when you click the “Send” button for your next outgoing email, a message will appear at the top of your inbox with an “Undo” link. You can click the “Undo” link for as long as the pop up is on your screen. Your email will then reappear, ready for you to edit or delete.

2. Criptext browser plug-in

Criptext is a browser plug-in that is currently offered for only Chrome and Safari, but there are versions in development for Firefox and Outlook. When you enable Criptext on an email, the message and any attachments become encrypted, it gives you the option to “recall” it, plus the message can be tracked so you know when it has been opened. It also allows you to set messages to self-destruct after a certain time period. The service works by turning the text of your message into an image, which is then sent to your recipient. Since the message is routed through their servers, they can delete the image which will cause the message content to disappear. (The email will still be there, but it will appear to be blank.)

3. UnSend.it browser plug-in

UnSend.it is another browser plug-in that works with more browsers and email services than Criptext. It functions in a similar manner to Criptext, except it does not encrypt the message. You will also need to change your email settings to allow your email service to run through UnSend.it’s servers.

4. Virtru Secure messaging

Virtru is a plug-in for Chrome and Firefox, that works with Gmail, Outlook.com and Yahoo. There’s also a plug-in for Outlook 2010 and 2013, plus apps for both Android and Apple. With Virtru, your emails are strongly encrypted and only you and your designated recipients can decrypt them. You have more control over emailing sensitive information, and therefore more privacy. Virtru has both a free version and an upgraded version, which includes more features like message revoking, expiring, and additional controls you for $4 a month.

So there you have it! With these 4 options and more, you are sure to find an “unsend” method that will meet your needs and save you from future email embarrassment.