What is Confidential Mode?
Users can send messages and attachments on their personal Gmail with confidential mode to help protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. Confidential mode allows users to set an expiration date for messages or revoke access at any time. Recipients of the confidential message will have options to forward, copy, print, and download disabled.
Users should always be cautious when sending Personally Identifiable Information, or PII, over email. PII is information that can identify a specific individual, including financial documents, or employee information. If they must send it over email, it is recommended they use confidential mode.
How to Use Confidential Mode
In Gmail, select Compose.
Type the message, then select the lock icon at the bottom of the window.
In the pop-up window, select the expiration on the message and choose to require a passcode.
Note - if requiring a passcode, the user will need to enter the recipient's phone number.
After a confidential message is sent, the user has editing rights to revoke access early, if needed.
Here is the recipient's view of a confidential email:
