Security and Privacy

Confidential Mode

Learn to understand time limits and access controls and choose it appropriately in this beginner-friendly Gmail lesson.

Learning outcomes

Explain how to understand time limits and access controls.
Complete the guided activity safely.
Check that you can choose it appropriately.

Before you begin

Use the correct account. Practise with fictional content and never share passwords, recovery codes or confidential information.

Open official Google guidance ↗

Step-by-step instructions

Open Gmail and confirm that the profile picture and email address show the intended Google Account.
Review when confidential mode helps and its limits using fictional or non-sensitive practice information.
Pause before any send, delete, sharing, security or account change; check recipients, permissions and likely consequences.
Review the result and confirm that you can choose it appropriately.
Record one useful habit and safely reverse or remove any temporary practice item.

Ian's practical tip: Email can affect real people immediately. Check the account, recipients, subject, attachments, tone and privacy before you send or share.

Practical activity

Review when confidential mode helps and its limits. Your expected result is to choose it appropriately.

Completion checklist

I used the intended account and safe practice information. I completed and reviewed the activity. I checked recipients, permissions, security and the final result.