How to Delete a Draft in Gmail

Last Updated: April 8, 2019 Tested

Gmail emails are automatically saved as drafts until you send. What’s really helpful is the fact that you can be working on an email from your phone, save it as a draft, then continue working on that email from your computer. But what if you don’t need that draft? This wikiHow teaches you how to delete a draft in Gmail using a computer and the app. Deleting a draft in Gmail is permanent and you can’t retrieve that draft again.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Using a Computer

1
Open a browser. Popular ones include Firefox and Chrome.
2
Navigate to https://www.google.com/gmail.
- Log in if prompted.
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3
Click Drafts. This is in the menu to the left along with Inbox and Snoozed. All your email drafts will appear.
4
Click
next to the draft you want to delete. A check will mark the draft.
- You can select multiple drafts by selecting multiple boxes.
5
Click Discard drafts. You'll see this button in the menu bar near the top of the page. Your selected draft will disappear.
- If you open a specific email draft, you can also click the trash can icon
  to delete that draft.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Using the Gmail App

1
Open Gmail. This app icon looks like a white envelope with a red border. You can find this app on your home screen, in the app drawer, or by searching.
2
Tap ☰. This is in the upper left of your screen. A menu will slide out from the side.
3
Tap Drafts. Your drafts will open.
4
Tap the circular icon next to your draft. You'll usually see a profile picture or a circle with a letter in it depending on who sent the original email. The icon will change colors to indicate that the draft is selected.
- You can select multiple drafts by clicking multiple icons.
5
Tap the trash can
. Your selected draft will disappear.

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