Canned response

A canned response is essentially a generic email that you can send to a number of recipients. You can:

  • Create more than one.
  • Use one automatically when setting up a filter to reply to a specific type of email.
    See Using filters in Gmail.
  • Use one directly from your Inbox when composing a message.

Examples:

  • You can send a canned response to job applicants, letting them know that you have received their applications.
  • If you use different signatures with different recipients, you can create a canned response to use with each signature.

First, enable the Canned Responses lab.

  1. Go to your Gmail Settings (gear icon).
  2. Click on the Labs link at the top of the page.
  3. Scroll down to Canned Responses.
  4. Select the Enable radio button.
  5. At the bottom of the page, click Save Changes.

Next, create a canned response.

  1. Compose an email message.
  2. Leave the To field blank (filled automatically with the recipient’s email address).
  3. Leave the Subject field blank (filled automatically with a reply to the recipient’s subject).
  4. At the bottom of your compose window, click on the “More Options” arrow.
  5. Select Canned Responses.
  6. Click New canned response.
  7. Enter an appropriate name for the response; e.g., “Application-Received” to use for job applicants.
  8. Click OK.
  9. Enter the wording for the canned response.
  10. Click Save.

Help with canned response

Contact the NC State Help Desk.