This guide helps you switch from Outlook to Gmail on computer. If you're switching to Gmail on mobile, or need detailed instructions for troubleshooting, visit these Gmail topics instead
.
Gmail helps you reply to email quickly with Smart Reply suggestions and templates.
On this page
- Reply to email
- Respond directly to the content of a previous message
- Send a prewritten reply
- Change the subject in a reply
Note: The instructions in this guide are primarily web only. Get switching information for mobile devices .
Reply to email
- In Outlook: On the ribbon, click Reply.
- In Gmail: In the message, click Reply. For fast replies, use Smart Reply suggestions.
Learn how
Reply & Reply all
- On your computer, go to Gmail .
- Open the message.
- Below the message, click Replyor Reply all.
- Click Send. If you click Send+, the conversation will also be archived, or removed from your inbox until someone else replies. Learn more about archiving .
Learn more at the Gmail Help Center
Reply options at a glance
| To reply to a single email or the last email in a thread, click Reply . | |
| To reply to an email within a thread, click Reply all. | |
| To forward a single email or the last email in a thread, click Forward . | |
| To forward an email within a thread, click More Forward. | |
| To see previous email in a thread, click Show trimmed content. | |
| To forward an entire conversation, at the top, click More Forward all. | |
| To use a Smart Reply, at the bottom of the email, click a suggested reply. You can then edit the email before sending it. |
Respond directly to the content of a previous email
- In Outlook: In your reply, write, "see my response inline below." Then type into the previous message.
- In Gmail: Copy text from the previous message into your reply, and apply the quote format. Then enter your response.
Learn how
- Open Gmail , and copy the part of the email you want to reply to.
- Click Reply.
- Click Formatting options
Quotes
.
This adds a gray bar, marking where you quote the original message. - Next to the gray bar, paste the original message text.
- Press Enterand enter your response below the original message.
Your response has no gray bar, so it stands out from the original text. - Click Send.
Send a prewritten reply
- In Outlook: In the message window, insert Quick Parts.
- In Gmail: Use email templates.
Learn how
Enable templates
- Open Gmail .
- At the top right, click Settings See all settings.
- At the top, click Advanced.
- In the Templates section, select Enable.
- At the bottom, click Save Changes.
Create or change a template
- Open Gmail and click Compose.
- In the Composewindow, enter your template text.
- Click More Templates.
- Choose an option:
- To create a new template, click Save draft as template Save as new template.
- To change a previously saved template, click Save draft as templateand under Overwrite Template, choose a template and click Saveto overwrite it.
- (Optional) To send an email, compose your message and click Send.
Insert a template
- Open Gmail and click Compose.
- Click More Templates.
- To insert a template, under Insert template, choose a saved template to insert in your email.
- Compose the rest of your message and click Send.
Tip:If you're a Workspace Individual subscriber, you can create a branded email and send it to many recipients at once.
Change the subject in a reply
- In Outlook: In the subject line, type a new subject.
- In Gmail: Edit the subject in the reply window.
Learn how
Edit an email subject
- Next to Type of response
, click the Down arrow Edit subject.
- Enter a new subject.
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