Gmail has a setting called "Send and Archive" that adds a button to your reply toolbar, letting you send a reply and archive the conversation in a single click instead of two separate actions.
How to Enable the Send and Archive Button
The button is hidden by default, so you'll need to turn it on first.
- Click the gear icon in the top right of Gmail, then click "See all settings."
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On the "General" tab, scroll down until you see "Send and Archive."
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Select "Show 'Send & Archive' button in reply."
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Save Changes."
The button is now active.
How to Use It
Once enabled, reply to any email and you'll see two buttons side by side: "Send" and "Send & Archive."
- Click Send as usual if you want the conversation to stay in your inbox.
- Click Send & Archive to send your reply and archive the conversation at the same time, removing it from your inbox.
Archived emails aren't deleted. They're moved out of your inbox but still live in your All Mail folder, and you can find them anytime by clicking "All Mail" in the left sidebar, or by searching in:archive followed by a keyword (for example, in:archive invoice).
This button only appears when you're replying to an existing conversation. You won't see it when composing a brand new email, since there's nothing to archive yet.
This feature is only available in Gmail on desktop or in a web browser. It doesn't appear in the Gmail mobile app for Android or iOS, so on mobile you'll need to reply and then swipe to archive the conversation separately.
Gmail doesn't have a separate keyboard shortcut for Send & Archive, but once you enable the button, it becomes the default action for the standard send shortcut. Pressing Ctrl+Enter (⌘+Enter on Mac) while composing a reply will send and archive the conversation, not just send it. Keep this in mind if you're used to using Ctrl+Enter and don't want every reply archived automatically.
What Happens If They Reply Back?
If the person you emailed replies to the thread after you've archived it, the entire conversation, including their new message, will automatically return to your inbox. Archiving doesn't mean you'll miss a response; it just clears the thread out of your way until there's something new to see.
Send and Archive for Inbox Zero Workflows
This button is especially popular among people practicing an "inbox zero" approach to email, since it collapses the usual two-step process (send, then go archive it) into a single click. If you reply to a lot of emails that don't need to stay in your inbox afterward, this small change can save a meaningful amount of time over the course of a day.
Common Issues
The button isn't showing up after I enabled it. Make sure you scrolled all the way to the bottom of the Settings page and clicked "Save Changes." The setting won't take effect until it's saved.
The button is enabled, but it's not showing on this specific email. If the conversation you're replying to is already archived, for example if you're viewing it from "All Mail" or a label instead of your inbox, Gmail may not show the Send & Archive button, since there's nothing left to archive.
I accidentally archived the wrong conversation. You can move it back to your inbox the same way you'd unarchive any email. See our guide on how to unarchive an email in Gmail for the steps.
Why Send and Archive Is Worth Using
Send and Archive saves real time if you reply to a lot of email: instead of sending a reply and then manually archiving the conversation, one click does both. It's especially useful if you're trying to keep your inbox down to just the messages that still need your attention.
Looking to automatically archive emails before they even reach your inbox? Check out our guide on using Gmail filters and Block Sender to skip the inbox.
