Gmail "Help Me Write": Draft Emails With AI

Gmail has a built-in AI button called "Help Me Write." Type a few words about what you need and it drafts the full email. Here is how to use it.

4 min read · 6 steps · Checked May 2026

1. Step 1. Open Gmail and start a new email

   On your computer, go to gmail.com and click the Compose button in the upper left. On your phone, open the Gmail app and tap the pencil icon at the bottom right. A new email window will open. You do not need to type anything yet — go straight to the compose screen.

2. Step 2. Find the Help Me Write button

   In the compose window, look for a pencil icon with a small star or sparkle symbol on it — this is the "Help Me Write" button. On the web it appears in the bottom row of the compose window near the formatting buttons. On the phone app, it appears at the top of the keyboard area when you are in the message body field. Tap or click it.

   Quick Tip

   Quick Tip: If you do not see the button, make sure your Gmail app is updated to the latest version. Open the App Store or Google Play, search for Gmail, and tap Update if one is available.

3. Step 3. Type a short description of what you need

   A small box will open with the prompt "Describe what you'd like to write." Type a plain English description of your email. A few words or one sentence is enough. Examples: "Ask my doctor to send me a refill reminder for my blood pressure medication." "Politely ask my neighbor to stop parking in my spot." "Thank my nephew for the birthday gift he sent me." "Request a refund for a delayed order from Amazon." Tap "Create" when done.

4. Step 4. Read the draft and decide what to keep

   The AI will produce a full email draft in the compose window. Read it through. It may be slightly more formal than you would normally write — that is intentional. If a sentence does not sound right, tap in the draft and change it the same way you would edit any text. You can delete whole paragraphs, add more detail, or change the greeting.

   Warning

   Always read the full draft before sending. The AI is helpful but not perfect. Check that the facts are correct — if you mentioned a specific order number or date, make sure the AI did not make one up.

5. Step 5. Refine it using the Recreate, Formalize, or Shorten options

   After the draft appears, look for small option buttons below it: "Recreate" (try again from scratch), "Formalize" (make it more professional), "Shorten" (make it briefer), and "Elaborate" (make it longer and more detailed). Tap the one that fits. If none of them are quite right, tap "Recreate" and try a slightly more specific description.

6. Step 6. Add the recipient and subject, then send

   Once you are happy with the body text, fill in the To field (the recipient's email address) and the Subject line if one was not already there. Double-check the recipient — it is possible to accidentally send to the wrong person. Then click or tap Send.

   Quick Tip

   Quick Tip: You can also use "Help Me Write" to improve something you already typed. Start writing the email yourself, then tap the Help Me Write button. It will offer to polish what you have written rather than starting from scratch.