How to Create a Group in Gmail: Step-by-Step Guide

To learn how to create a group in Gmail, easiest process is to create a label in Google Contacts. Once label is created:

• Select contacts saved in Google Contacts or create new contact with their email in contacts.
• Add your desired contacts in that label.
• Select that label when you compose an email.

This saves you from entering same email addresses every time you send an update. If you regularly send same email to your coworkers, customers or family members. You can organize them into groups through labels and use that group name directly when you want to contact them together.

Note: Gmail contact group is different from a Google Groups mailing list. Google Contacts groups organizes your contacts for sending emails. Google Groups mailing list provides dedicated group email address.

Quick answer: Open Google Contacts, create a label, name that label, select your desired contacts, click on manage labels icon and add them label. Then open Gmail, click Compose, and type group name (label name) in recipient field.

How to Create a Contact Group in Gmail

User can create contact group in Gmail via Google Contacts or from Gmail’s contact selector on computer. Simplest method is to create label in Google Contacts.

How to Create Contact Group on Computer: To create contact group on your computer:

Step 1: Create a Contact Label

• Open Google Contacts and sign in with Google Account you use for Gmail.
• Click on Plus icon under labels.

• Create label with recognizable name, as we will be using this name to send them emails.

Your label is now created. You can think of it as saved list that will help you organize people you contact regularly.

Note: Select descriptive and easy to use name. If you create groups for clients, coworkers, and family members, names like “Client Updates”, “Family News” are easier to recognize than generic names such as “Group 1”.

Imagine that you send weekly content creation update to six coworkers. Instead of entering all six email addresses every Saturday. You have created group called “Content Creation Crew” and reuse it future updates. See How descriptive the name is, “Content Creation Crew”.

Step 2: Add Contacts and Apply Created Label

Creation of label is only first part. Second step is to assign contacts to created label before you can use it as a group in Gmail. To assign contacts:

• Return to your contact list in Google Contacts.
• Check box beside each person you want to include in that group.

• Click Manage labels at the top of the page.
• Select label you created.
• Click Apply.

Note: To cross-verify, open the label from sidebar to check that correct contacts appear in the group.

If you forgot to add someone, simply select that contact and apply same label. You do not need to create new group. This is how to create a group in Gmail. Once this is done. On your Gmail dashboard click compose,. In To, field when you will type that label name you will see name of the group. Select that group and you will be able to send messages to the members added to the created label in Google contacts.

How to Create a Contact Group in Gmail on a Phone

Process depends whether you use Android or iPhone. Contact-label creation in its Contacts app for Android and through Google Contacts on a computer. The iPhone workflow has different limitations, especially when you want to reuse a contact label inside the Gmail app.

Android: Create a Label in Contacts

On Android, user can create and manage contact groups using the Google Contacts app.

1. Open Google Contacts app on your Android device.
2. Tap the Label icon.
3. Select New label.
4. Enter a group name and tap ok.
5. Open label and tap Add contact.
6. Select the contacts you want to include and click Done.

You can now view those contacts under label in Google Contacts.

Note: You will be able to send emails to these added contacts together only when their email id is saved in Contacts.

Related Read: How to Sync Phone Contacts with Google Account

How to Send an Email to a Group in Gmail

Now you know how to create a group in Gmail. Sending an email to that contact group is next work. To email contact group follow these steps:

1. Open Gmail on your computer.
2. Click Compose.
3. In To field, start typing the group name.
4. Select group from the suggestions.

• Check recipient list and make sure correct people are included.
• Enter subject and message, then click Send.

For example, if you created group named “Content creation crew,” typing name will help you find saved group. Once selected, Gmail displays recipients you added in that group in Google Contacts. You can reuse group for future emails without selecting each contact again. If you want to keep user recipient addresses private, use Bcc field instead of To. If you do this people receiving your message should will not be able to see each other’s addresses.

Recipients in To and Cc are visible to other recipients, while Bcc addresses are hidden from them. Before hitting send button, check recipient fields carefully. Group label helps you organize contacts, but it do not automatically make an email private.

Contact Groups vs. Google Groups

Gmail contact group is best for emailing saved list of people. Google Groups is an option when you need dedicated group email address and additional membership and communication settings. Here is the difference:

Related Read: How to Take Google Contacts Backup

How To Create Group Email Address With Google Groups

If you want one shared address for team, use Google Groups instead of contact label.

• Visit Google Groups and sign in with Google account in which you want to create a group.
• Click Create group.

• Enter group name, email address, and description for the group and click Next.

• Configure who can join, view conversations, and send messages according to your requirements and press Next.

• Add members or follow available invitation options.
• Review settings and click Create group.

Wait for few minutes for group to become active before sending message to its address. Collaborative Inbox separate Google Groups feature that requires the appropriate configuration and permissions. It should not be confused with an ordinary Gmail contact group.

How To Add or Remove Contacts From Gmail Group

Users do not need to recreate group whenever its members change. To add contacts,

• Select them in Google Contacts.
• Click Manage labels.
• Choose relevant label.

How to remove contacts from Gmail Group:

• Open the label.
• Select people you want to remove.
• Click label controls or three-dots menu.
• Select remove from Label.

Note: Removing label from contact will not delete contact itself. Deleting contact and removing contact from label are two different things.

To rename or delete an outdated label, open its options in the Labels section and select the appropriate action.

Common Gmail Group Problems and How to Fix Them