Does deleting a message on gmail unsend it

Deleting a message on Gmail does not necessarily "unsend" it. Here's what happens:

  1. Deleting a message: When you delete a message in Gmail, it is moved to the "Trash" folder. This is a temporary holding area where deleted messages are stored for a short period before they are permanently deleted.
  2. Permanently deleting a message: If you empty the Trash folder or let the messages in it expire (Gmail automatically deletes messages in the Trash after 30 days), the messages are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
  3. Unsent messages: If you use Gmail's "Undo Send" feature, which is enabled by default, you can retract a sent message within a short period (usually 5-30 seconds, depending on your account settings). This feature sends a "cancel" request to the recipient's email server, effectively "unsending" the message. However, this only works for messages sent using Gmail's web interface or mobile app, not for messages sent using other email clients or services.

To summarize:

If you need to retract a message, make sure to use the "Undo Send" feature promptly, and keep in mind that it's not a foolproof solution.