How to Use Gmail Smart Compose to Write Emails Faster

Gmail's Smart Compose suggests words and phrases as you type — just press Tab to accept a suggestion and finish sentences in seconds.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Check that Smart Compose is on
2.Start typing an email
3.Accept a suggestion
4.Ignore suggestions you do not want
5.Try Smart Reply for quick responses

Check that Smart Compose is on

~15s

Open the Gmail app or website. Tap the three-line menu → Settings → tap your Gmail addressSmart Compose → toggle on. Also turn on "Smart Compose Personalization" so it learns your style.

Start typing an email

~15s

Tap "Compose" to write a new email. Begin typing the subject line or body. As you type, Gmail may show a suggestion in lighter gray text after your cursor.

Accept a suggestion

~19s

When you see a gray suggestion you like: on a computer, press the Tab key to accept it. On mobile (iPhone or Android), tap the suggested text that appears above the keyboard.

Quick Tip

You can accept just part of a suggestion by pressing Tab and then continuing to type — you are not committed to accepting the entire suggested phrase.

Ignore suggestions you do not want

~15s

Simply keep typing if you do not want the suggestion. The gray suggestion disappears and your typed text replaces it. There is no need to dismiss it.

Try Smart Reply for quick responses

~15s

When reading an email, scroll to the bottom. Gmail suggests two or three short replies. Tap one to create a quick response you can send immediately or edit before sending.

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Gmail's Smart Compose feature shows text suggestions as you type an email. When Smart Compose predicts what you are going to write next, it shows the suggested text in light gray after your cursor. Press Tab on a keyboard (or tap the suggestion on mobile) to accept it and continue.

For example, if you start typing "Looking forward to," Gmail might suggest "hearing from you." Press Tab and that phrase is inserted. This speeds up writing repetitive phrases significantly.

Smart Compose learns from your writing patterns over time. The more you use it and accept (or reject) suggestions, the more accurately it reflects how you personally write.

Smart Reply

is a companion feature that suggests short responses at the bottom of emails you receive. For common responses like "Thank you, see you then" or "Sounds great!" tapping a Smart Reply suggestion creates and sends the response in seconds.

Both features work on Gmail for iPhone, Android, and the Gmail website on a computer.

Some people find Smart Compose helpful for formal emails but distracting for casual ones. You can turn it off for specific accounts while keeping it on for others, or disable it entirely in Gmail Settings → General → Smart Compose.

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