Want to share a conversation or disparate emails that belong together? Instead of forwarding emails one by one, find out here how to forward an entire email thread (comprising multiple messages) in Gmail at once.
First, Fewer Blossoms for More Fruit
The branches that blossom most opulently on a peach tree, say, are not the ones that bear the richest fruit. These branches are all bloom and no support, after all. Most peaches form on shoots with a healthy mix of blossoms and leaves to support their growth.
Have a conversation that is all blossoms and no support? Here’s how to add some scaffolding in Gmail and have all those blossoms bear rich fruit—as forwards.
How to Forward an Email Thread in Gmail
Forward All Emails of a Gmail Conversation
To forward all messages in a conversation at once using Gmail in a desktop browser:
- Make sure conversation view is not turned off in Gmail.
- Open the conversation you want to forward in full.
- Click the three dots menu button (
) in the conversation’s toolbar. - Select Forward all from the menu that has appeared.
- Address, edit and send the message.
To forward an entire email thread in a single message using the Gmail apps for Android and iOS:
- Ensure conversation view is enabled for the Gmail account.
- Open the conversation whose emails you want to forward.
- Tap the three dots menu button (
). - Select Print all from the menu.
- Now choose Google Cloud Print.
- Select Save to Google Drive under Select Printer.
- Now tap Save.
- Back at the conversation, tap Forward.
- Tap the attachment icon (
). - Find and select the PDF document just saved to Google Drive.
- Edit the message’s text so it is clear the full suite of forwarded messages is in the PDF attachment.
Example: Add “Find the complete forwarded conversation in the attached PDF.” just below the “———- Forwarded message ———” line. - Address and send the forward.
Forward all, forward automatically: How to Forward Emails in Gmail Automatically
Forward Multiple Emails in Gmail (If the Messages Are Not Part of a Conversation or Thread)
in Gmail’s Desktop Browser Version
Time needed: 5 minutes
To forward multiple emails (which messages need not be in the same conversation) in one go with Gmail using a desktop browser:
- Save each message you want to forward as an EML file to your device.
- In the last email you save, click Forward in Gmail.
How to forward: You can find the Forward button at the bottom or select the More dots menu (
) in the email’s header area and choose Forward in the menu that appears.
Gmail keyboard shortcut: With Gmail keyboard shortcuts enabled, you can also press F.
- Drag and drop the saved EML message files onto the forward you are composing in Gmail.
Alternative: Click the Attach files icon (
) and select the saved EML documents using the browser’s file selector. - Optional: Delete the text automatically included from the last message and, possibly, mention that all forwarded emails are attached.
- Address, edit and deliver the message to forward multiple emails at once in Gmail.
On a Mobile Device
On a mobile device, to forward multiple emails in Gmail, either
- save the messages as EML files to your device or cloud storage using a mobile browser and attach the stored EML files as above or
- set up Gmail in a mobile email program (using Gmail IMAP access) that lets you forward emails in bulk.
How to Forward an Email Thread in Gmail: FAQ
Can I forward multiple emails in the Gmail App for Android or iOS?
While you can forward entire conversations, the Gmail apps do not let you forward disparate messages in a single go. You can work around this limitation with your device’s browser (see above); do expect some work, though.
Can I forward more than one email using basic HTML Gmail?
Not easily. Simple HTML Gmail always shows individual messages, and you can only forward individual emails.
So, to forward multiple messages using Gmail’s basic HTML view:
- Save all messages as EML files to your computer or device.
- Click Forward in the last email you saved.
- Delete the email text automatically quoted in the forward (the message will be attached together with all other forwards in bulk).
- Now click Attach More Files.
- Use the Choose file buttons to upload all messages you saved as EML files.
- Click Done.
- Address, edit and send the message with the multiple forwarded messages attached.
(How to forward an email thread in Gmail tested with a desktop browser and the Gmail app for iOS; updated October 2023)