Read and reply to email

Once an email arrives, you can read it, write back to the sender, write back to everyone on the thread, or pass it along to someone new. This page covers all four.

Open a message

Click any message in the list to open it. It opens in the reading pane next to the list, showing the sender, the date, the subject, and the full message. Any attachments appear above the message text.

Opening a message marks it as read.

On a narrow screen the message fills the window. Use the back arrow at the top to return to the list.

Reply to the sender

1. Open the message.
2. Click Reply in the toolbar above the message.
3. A new message opens with the sender already in the To field and the subject set to RE: followed by the original subject. The message you are answering is quoted below your cursor.
4. Type your reply at the top.
5. Click Send.

You can also right-click a message in the list and choose Reply from the menu.

Reply to everyone

Use Reply All when a message went to several people and you want them all to see your answer.

1. Open the message.
2. Click Reply All in the toolbar.
3. The new message is addressed to the sender and everyone else who was on the original, all in the To field. Your own address is left out, so you do not write to yourself.
4. Type your reply and click Send.

Check the recipients before you send. Reply All writes to everyone on the thread, which is more people than Reply.

Forward a message

Forwarding sends a copy of a message to someone who was not part of it.

1. Open the message.
2. Click Forward in the toolbar.
3. A new message opens with the subject set to FW: followed by the original subject, and the original message quoted below. The To field is empty.
4. Type the address of the person you want to send it to in the To field. Add Cc or Bcc recipients if you need them.
5. Add anything you want to say above the quoted message, then click Send.

Nothing sends until you click Send

Reply, Reply All, and Forward all open a draft for you to finish. They never send on their own. Your message goes out only when you click Send, so you can change the wording, add or remove people, or attach a file first.

If you have a signature set up, it is added to your reply or forward above the quoted message. See Create an email signature.

To start a fresh message instead of answering one, use the Compose button at the top of the sidebar. See Compose and send an email.