How to Use Bcc in Gmail

Hide recipients' addresses from each other in an email

by
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Heinz Tschabitscher
Updated on May 01, 2020

Bcc (blind carbon copy) allows you to hide the addresses of email recipients from each other. Entering an address in the Bcc field makes it invisible to other recipients of that email.

An an email with multiple recipients.
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Although this procedure covers the use of Gmail on the web, most email programs handle Bcc similarly. RFC 2822—an official standard—specifies how Bcc should be implemented regardless of the program or service.

How to Bcc People With Gmail

Bcc is a useful administrative tool because it prevents reply-all snarls when someone replies to a list, which spirals into additional replies and emails. Bcc also keeps people's information private. Because the names and addresses of individual Bcc recipients remain obscured to everyone but the sender, the privacy of the people receiving the message is assured.

Bcc isn't without its downside, however. People in corporate settings sometimes use this field to loop in supervisors or coworkers surreptitiously.

Rule of thumb: Don't use Bcc unless you'd be OK with the Bcc list accidentally leaking.

  1. Select Compose to start a new email.

    Gmail with the Compose button highlighted

  2. Select Bcc on the right side of the New Message window.

    Another way to toggle this field is to press Ctrl+Shift+B in Windows or Command+Shift+B in macOS.

    A new message in Gmail with the BCC button highlighted

  3. Enter the primary recipients in the To section. These addresses are visible to every recipient.

    To hide the addresses of all recipients, leave the To field blank, or enter your email address.

  4. In the Bcc field, enter all the email addresses you want to hide but to which you are sending the email.

  5. Edit your message as you see fit and select Send.

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