How to Send a Group Email in Apple Mail

Get your message out fast to multiple people

Apple Mail is the default email client that comes with every Mac using OS X 10.0 or later. Mail is a full-featured application that includes the ability to set up groups and then send out a group email to multiple recipients quickly and easily. Here's a look at how to set up group emails in Mail.

The information in this article applies to the Apple Mail app on Macs running OS X El Capitan and above.

Illustration of mail messages with wings flying around the world

Sending Group Emails in Apple Mail

Apple Mail makes it easy to create groups, letting you organize your contacts and then work within that set of contacts. Create a group for work associates, friends, your book club, a sports team, or any group with which you communicate regularly.

Once you've created a group, it's easy to send email messages to the entire group from within your email client or Contacts.

Add People to Your Contacts List

First, make sure you've added all the people you want in your group into your Contacts list.

Here's how to enter in each contact manually:

  1. Open the Contacts app on your Mac.

    To open your Contacts app, go to Applications > Contacts, or type Contacts into Spotlight Search.

  2. Select the Add button (plus sign) near the bottom of the window.

    Selecting the plus sign in Contacts.
  3. Choose New Contact.

    Screenshot of adding new contact in Apple Mail
  4. Select Info, then add contact information. (In older versions, you don't have to select Info.) You don't have to fill in every field. Empty fields won't appear in the contact card.

    Check the Company box if you're adding a company.

    Screenshot of adding a contact in Apple Mail
  5. When you're finished, select Done. You've created a new contact card.

    To quickly add someone to your Contacts, open an email from them, right-click on their email address, and select Add to Contacts.

Create a Group

If all the people you want to add to your group are already in your Contacts list, it's easy and quick to create a group.

  1. Open the Contacts app.

  2. Click the Add button (plus sign) near the bottom of the window.

    Selecting the plus sign in Contacts.
  3. Select New Group, and then enter a name for the group. The area on the right says No Cards until you add contacts to the group.

    Screenshot of creating a group in Apple Mail
  4. Enter a name for your new group.

    Screenshot of creating a group in Apple Mail
  5. Select All Contacts in the sidebar and then select the contacts you want to add to the group. Hold down the Command key to select multiple people.

  6. Drag the contacts over to the new group.

    Screenshot of creating a group in Apple Mail.
  7. When you're finished adding contacts, you've created a new group.

    Another way to create a group quickly is to select contacts in the list, choose File > New Group From Selection, and then name the group.

Send a Group Email

When you have a group set up, it's easy to send an email to all members.

  1. In the Mail app on your Mac, choose Mail > Preferences.

  2. Select Composing.

    The Composing tab.
  3. Deselect When sending to a group, show all member addresses.

    Screenshot of sending group email in Apple Mail
  4. Compose a new message. In the address field (such as To or Cc) type your group name.

    Screenshot of sending group email in Apple Mail.
  5. When you're finished writing your message, select Send. Your group email is on its way!

Send Group Email From the Contacts App

As an alternative, send your group email straight from the Contacts app.

  1. Open Contacts.

  2. Press Control+Click over the group name to which you want to send an email.

    Screenshot of sending group email from Contacts with Apple Mail
  3. A new email opens in the Mail app, addressed to the group. Compose your message and send your group email!

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