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Experiencing the New Gmail: Reading an email sent using Confidential Mode

In this blog, we shall examine several scenarios.
  • Scenario A: Email received in a Gmail account with SMS passcode required.
Opening the message in inbox shows us the option to click on the button to send the password to the phone number. It is important to remember that the recipient never gets to see the full number the code is sent to. So, if after a few tries you are unable to receive the code, it is better to confirm the accuracy of the number with the sender. Otherwise, it is better to have a word with your cellular service provider.
 
Once the passcode is received on your phone, simply enter the code and click on the blue submit button to view the message.

  • Scenario B: Email received in a Gmail account with no SMS passcode required.
No additional hassles, you simply click to open the message from your Gmail inbox.
 
  • Scenario C: Email received in a non-Gmail account with SMS passcode required.
I have decided to use my Hotmail account as the non-Gmail account for these tests. This is how the email is displayed when opened in the Hotmail inbox.

 
Clicking on the blue View the email button opens the message in a new tab.
 

Clicking on the blue Send Passcode button sends the code to the phone number and presents the following screen.
 
 
Here entering the passcode and clicking on the blue Submit button allows viewing of the message.
 
  • Scenario D: Email received in a non-Gmail account with no SMS passcode required.
Updated in November 2021: Based on whether the recipient email address is registered as a non-Gmail Google account in itself or listed as an alternate username for any Gmail address or not, reading an email sent using Gmail's confidential mode can have a different process.

Scenario D.1: Where the recipient address is not registered as a non-Gmail Google account in itself or listed as an alternate username for any Gmail address:
The email when opened in Inbox.

 
Clicking on View the Email button, we get this message on a new tab.
 
 
Clicking on the Send Passcode button changed the screen to this,
 
 
and sent this email from Google at the Hotmail address.
 
 
Entering the passcode in the space provided, and clicking on the blue submit button will allow viewing the message.
 
 
Scenario D.2: Where the recipient address is registered as a non-Gmail Google account in itself or listed as an alternate username for any Gmail address:
 
 The email when opened in the inbox.


Clicking on "View the email" button shows this screen.


Click on the "Sign in with Google" button and follow the prompt to sign in, with the non-Gmail Google account. Once you are done, you should see the actual Google account you are signed into on the top-right corner of the screen.


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