How to Create and Manage a Group in Gmail

Gmail groups let you send one email to multiple people at once without typing each address

A Gmail group is a saved list of email addresses that you can send messages to as if it were a single person. Instead of typing ten addresses into the "To" field every time you email your team, you type one group name. Gmail stores these groups in your Contacts, and you manage them through Google Contacts — not through Gmail itself.

There are two ways to create a group in Gmail. The first is to build one from scratch in Google Contacts and add people to it. The second is to select multiple existing contacts and turn them into a group. Both take about two minutes.

Key Takeaways

Gmail groups are created and managed in Google Contacts, not in the Gmail inbox itself.
You can create a group by opening Google Contacts, clicking "Create label," naming it, and adding contacts one at a time or in bulk.
Once a group exists, you can type its name into the "To" field in Gmail and send to everyone in it at once.
You can add or remove people from a group at any time by editing it in Google Contacts.
Groups created this way are private to your account — other people cannot see the group or who is in it unless you share the list separately.

Create a group from scratch in Google Contacts

Open Google Contacts in your web browser by going to contacts.google.com. Log in with the same Google account you use for Gmail. On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu. Click the button that says "Create label" (it looks like a plus sign next to the word "Labels").

A box will appear asking you to name the group. Type a name that makes sense for who is in it — for example, "Marketing Team" or "Book Club" or "Project Leads." Click "Save." The group now exists, but it is empty.

To add people to the group, click on the group name in the left menu. A screen will open showing the group. Click the button that says "Add contacts" (usually near the top). A list of your existing contacts will appear. Check the box next to each person you want to add, then click "Add" or "Done." You can add people one at a time or select multiple people at once.

Create a group from existing contacts

If you already have several people saved as individual contacts, you can turn them into a group without typing their names again. Open Google Contacts and find the first person you want in the group. Click on their name to open their contact card. Hold down the Ctrl key (or Cmd on Mac) and click on the names of the other people you want in the group. All of them will be highlighted.

With multiple contacts selected, look for a menu icon (three dots) near the top of the screen. Click it and select "Add to label" or "Create label." A box will appear asking for a group name. Type the name and click "Save." All the people you selected are now in the group.

Send an email to your group

Open Gmail and start a new email by clicking "Compose." In the "To" field, start typing the name of your group. Gmail will show you a dropdown list of matching contacts and groups. Click on the group name. All the addresses in that group will be added to the "To" field at once.

If you want to send to only some people in the group, do not use the group name. Instead, type individual addresses or create a smaller group for that purpose. Gmail does not have a built-in way to send to "everyone in this group except one person."

Add or remove people from a group

Go back to Google Contacts and click on the group name in the left menu. You will see everyone currently in the group. To add more people, click "Add contacts" and select them from your contact list. To remove someone, click on their name in the group, then look for a trash icon or "Remove from label" option and click it.

Changes to a group take effect immediately. The next time you send an email to that group, it will include only the current members.

Differences between Gmail groups and Google Groups

Do not confuse a Gmail group (which is just a contact list) with Google Groups, which is a separate tool for team communication. A Gmail group is one-way: you send emails to it, but people in the group do not automatically see each other's replies or have a shared inbox. Google Groups, by contrast, creates a shared email address that everyone can see and reply to together.

For most people sending emails to the same set of people repeatedly, a Gmail group is simpler and faster. If you need a shared inbox where team members can see all replies and have a conversation thread, Google Groups is the right tool instead.

Troubleshooting common issues

If you type a group name into the "To" field and Gmail does not recognize it, the group may not be saved yet. Go back to Google Contacts, refresh the page, and check that the group appears in the left menu. Sometimes it takes a few seconds for a newly created group to show up in Gmail's autocomplete.

If you added someone to a group but they did not receive an email you sent to the group, check that their address is spelled correctly in Google Contacts. Click on the group name, find their contact card, and verify the email address. If it is wrong, click on their name and edit it.

If you want to send an email to a group but hide the fact that it went to multiple people, do not use the group feature. Instead, put the group name in the "Bcc" field (blind carbon copy) and type your own address in the "To" field. This way, each person receives the email as if it was sent to them alone, and they cannot see who else received it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a group with the same name as someone in my contacts?

Yes, but Gmail may get confused when you type the name. To avoid this, use a group name that is clearly different — for example, "Marketing Team" instead of just "Marketing." If Gmail keeps autocompleting to the person instead of the group, type the group name in full and wait for the dropdown to show the group option.

What happens if I delete a group?

Deleting a group removes the list, but it does not delete the individual contacts in it. The people remain in your Google Contacts. If you delete a group by mistake, you can recreate it and add the same people back.

Can other people see who is in my groups?

No. Groups are private to your account. Other people cannot see the group or its members unless you tell them who is in it. If you want to share a group with someone else, you would need to tell them the names or addresses manually.

Can I create a group that includes other groups?

No. Gmail groups cannot contain other groups. You can only add individual contacts. If you want to email multiple overlapping teams, create separate groups for each team and send to both groups by typing both names in the "To" field.

Do people in the group get notified that they are in a group?

No. Creating a group does not send any notification to the people in it. They only know they are in a group if you tell them, or if they receive an email sent to the group and see other recipients in the "To" field.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.