Key takeaways
- Gmail templates let you save frequently used emails and insert them in a few clicks.
- Templates are useful for repetitive emails like outreach, follow-ups, scheduling, and support responses.
- You’ll need to enable templates under Gmail’s Advanced settings before creating one.
- Saved templates can include more than plain text, including images like logos.
- Gmail templates only work in the desktop browser version, not the Gmail mobile app.
How to create an email template in Gmail
If you send similar emails on a regular basis, Gmail's Templates feature can save you real time. Instead of writing the same message from scratch, or copying and pasting from an old email, you save it once and insert it in a couple of clicks.
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Read MoreWhy use email templates in Gmail?
Plenty of jobs involve sending many similar emails a day: outreach, follow-ups, scheduling, support responses, and so on. For example, someone running a link-building outreach campaign might send hundreds of emails a week where only 10 or 20 words change between them. Dedicated outreach software exists for this, but it comes with cost and a learning curve. Gmail's built-in templates get you most of the benefit for free.
Create an email template in Gmail
How to enable templates in Gmail
Templates are off by default, so you'll need to turn them on first.
- Open Shift, or whatever browser you're using, and go to Gmail.
- Click the gear icon, then See all settings.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Next to Templates, select Enable.
- Scroll down and click Save Changes.
How to make an email template in Gmail
- Click Compose to start a new email.
- Write the content you want to save.
- Click the three-dot menu in the bottom right of the compose window.
- Hover over Templates, then click Save draft as template.
- Choose Save as new template and give it a name.
- Click Save to add the template to your Gmail.
How to use a saved Gmail email template
- Click Compose.
- Click the three-dot menu.
- Hover over Templates.
- Select the template you want from the Insert template section.
- Add your recipient, adjust the message as needed, and send.
One important note for mobile Gmail users: Gmail templates only work in the desktop browser version of Gmail. If you're checking email from the Gmail app on your phone, you won't see them there.
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Read MoreFAQs about Gmail templates
How do I set up Gmail templates using Shift?
If you're using Shift to manage Gmail alongside your other accounts and apps, the steps to set up email templates in Gmail work exactly the same way. How to add templates in Gmail is a standard Gmail functionality available wherever you access your inbox. What Shift adds is a way to keep Gmail, Google Drive, Slack, and the rest of your tools open in one place, so you're not hunting across browser tabs to get to them.
What is the purpose of creating an email template in Gmail?
Templates save time on emails you send often, so you can insert the message in a couple of clicks instead of writing it from scratch each time.
Are Gmail templates the same as Gmail canned responses?
Yes. Canned responses was the original name; Google renamed the feature Templates. They work the same way.
Can I use Gmail templates on my phone?
No. Templates only work in the desktop browser version of Gmail. They won't appear in the Gmail app on iOS or Android.
Is there a limit to how many templates I can create and save in Gmail?
Google doesn't publish an official limit. The feature works reliably for a reasonable number of templates, but performance can get spotty if your library grows very large.
Can you create an email template in Gmail with a logo?
Yes. Insert the image into your draft before saving it as a template, and it will save along with the rest of the content. If the logo shows up blank, try inserting it directly rather than pasting it from another document.
