Want to loop someone into an email without making them the main recipient? Gmail’s CC field does exactly that, and it takes about two seconds to use once you know where to look.
But CC isn’t just a button. It comes with its own etiquette: who to include, when to use BCC instead, and how to avoid accidentally spamming your entire team.In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to CC in Gmail on every device, including when you’re replying to an existing thread, not just starting a new one.
TL;DR: Here's how to CC someone in Gmail:
- On desktop – Click inside the To field when composing, then click Cc on the right.
- On Android or iPhone – Tap the arrow next to the To field to reveal Cc and Bcc.
- In a reply – Click the dropdown arrow next to the sender's name to add a Cc field.
- For large groups – Use a mail merge tool like Mailmeteor so each recipient gets their own personalized email, instead of one CC'd message everyone can see.
In the guide below, you'll find the exact steps for each method, plus when to use CC instead of BCC.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- How to CC in Gmail (Desktop, Android, iPhone)
- How to CC someone when replying to an email
- What CC means, and how it’s different from BCC
- How to CC (or personalize) emails to a large group at once
Sounds good? Then let’s dive in.
How to CC in Gmail
Here’s exactly how to add a CC recipient, whether you’re on a computer, an Android phone, or an iPhone.
On Desktop
Here’s a video we made showing how to CC someone from your computer (Mac or PC) in under a minute.
Here’s the process ⤵️
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Open Gmail and log in to your account.
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Click the Compose button to start a new email.
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Write your subject line and message. Add your signature if you have one, then enter the email address of your primary recipient in the To field.
Bonus Tip: You can add multiple primary recipients. Just type each email address and separate them with a comma, space, or press enter.
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Click anywhere inside the To field. A small Cc label appears on the right. Click it to reveal the Cc field.
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Add the email address of your secondary recipient in the Cc field.
Want to Cc more than one person? Add each address the same way you did in the To field: type it, then separate with a comma, space, or Enter.
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Once you’re happy with your email, press Send.
And voilà. That’s how to add CC in Gmail and send an email to multiple recipients at once.
On Android
You can CC in Gmail from your Android phone or tablet too. Here’s how ⤵️
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Open the Gmail app on your Android device and log in to your account.
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Tap the Compose button.
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Write your email as usual, and add your primary recipient in the To field.
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Tap the small arrow near the To field.
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Gmail adds a Cc field to your email. Type the address (or addresses) you want to Cc.
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When you’re done, tap the blue arrow to send.
And that’s it. Both your To and Cc recipients receive the email within seconds.
On iPhone
The process on iPhone is nearly identical ⤵️
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Open the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad.
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Log in, then tap Compose in the bottom right corner.
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Write your email and add your primary recipient in the To field.
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Tap the small arrow next to your primary recipient’s address. The Cc field appears.
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Type the email address of your Cc recipient.
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Tap Send.
And voilà. That’s how to CC someone in Gmail on iPhone or iPad.
How to CC Someone When Replying to an Email
CCing on a brand-new email is simple. But what if you’re already in the middle of a conversation and want to loop someone in, without starting over? Gmail makes that possible too, you just need to know where the Cc field is hiding.
On Desktop
- Open the email you want to reply to, then click Reply (or Reply all to keep the original recipients).
- Click the small dropdown arrow next to the sender’s name, at the top of the reply box.
- A Cc field appears. Type the email address of the person you want to loop in.
- Finish your reply and press Send.
And that’s it. Your new Cc recipient sees the full conversation history, not just your latest reply.
On Android & iPhone
- Open the email and tap Reply.
- Tap the three-dot menu, or the small arrow next to the To field.
- Select Add Cc and type the email address.
- Tap Send.
Heads up: if you were BCC'd on the original email, you can't Reply All to the other recipients. Gmail hides BCC from Reply All by design, to protect their privacy. You can only reply to the sender and anyone already in the To or Cc fields.
What Does CC Mean? To vs CC vs BCC Explained
Now that you know how, let’s cover when. Email etiquette is the set of unwritten rules that decide what’s appropriate when you’re emailing your boss, a colleague, or a customer.
You don't have to follow email etiquette. But you'll look more professional if you do, and your emails will likely get higher response rates.
The To field
The To field is for the primary recipient(s) of your message: the people expected to take action in response. Include their names in your greeting.
The CC field
CC stands for Carbon Copy. Use it when you want your recipients to receive a copy of the original email. People often confuse To and CC, since there’s almost no functional difference.
CC is meant for secondary recipients: people you want to keep in the loop, but don’t expect to act or reply.
The catch: everyone in CC can see everyone else’s email address. That’s fine for a group who already know each other. It’s not suitable if you’re emailing multiple customers who don’t.
The BCC field
BCC stands for Blind Carbon Copy. It works like CC, except your recipients can’t see the names or addresses of anyone else on the email.
BCC is for emailing multiple people without them knowing who else received a copy. It’s a convenient way to protect your recipients’ privacy, especially when the list is made up of people who don’t know each other.
BCC isn’t perfect either: people can tell they’re part of a bigger mailing list, they just don’t know who else is on it. Some people find that impersonal.
Which is why it's worth using a tool like Mailmeteor if you want to email multiple people without any of them seeing a shared list at all.
Here’s the quick version:
| Field | Who sees the address | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| To | Everyone on the email | The person(s) expected to reply or act |
| CC | Everyone on the email | People who should stay informed, not act |
| BCC | No one (fully hidden) | Mass emails, or protecting recipients’ privacy |
How to CC Multiple People at Once (Without Typing Every Address)
The Gmail CC feature has its limits, literally. On a free, personal Gmail account, Google caps you at 500 total recipients per email and 500 emails per day, across the To, Cc, and Bcc fields combined. Google Workspace accounts get more headroom: up to 2,000 emails per day.
But the bigger issue isn’t the limit, it’s personalization. Manually CCing each recipient means everyone gets the exact same generic message, with no one’s name mentioned. Most people can tell, and plenty will delete it or mark it as spam.
A mail merge tool like Mailmeteor solves both problems. It sends personalized, one-to-one emails at scale, still directly from your Gmail account, so each recipient only ever sees their own name and address, never the whole list.
Want to give it a try? Here’s how to send a CC’d, personalized campaign with Mailmeteor.
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Create your free Mailmeteor account if you don’t already have one.
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Create a new campaign.
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Click the three vertical dots.
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Select the CC feature.
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Add the email addresses of your primary (To) and secondary (CC) recipients, write your email and subject line, then click Send emails.
With the free plan, you can send up to 50 emails a day and add multiple CC recipients, no strings attached.
Need to send more? Check out our paid plans for higher daily sending limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the CC button in Gmail?
When you click Compose, the Cc option appears next to the To field once you click inside it. On Gmail’s mobile apps, tap the small arrow (or the three-dot menu) next to the To field to reveal both Cc and Bcc.
How do I CC someone when replying to an email?
Open the email, click Reply, then click the small dropdown arrow next to the sender’s name at the top of the reply box. A Cc field appears where you can add the address. On mobile, use the three-dot menu or the arrow next to the To field.
Can I add someone to CC after I’ve already sent an email?
No, you can’t add a Cc recipient to an email that’s already been sent. If you act fast, Gmail’s Undo Send feature (in Settings) gives you a few seconds to cancel and resend with the right recipients. Otherwise, forward the email to the person instead.
How many people can I CC in Gmail?
A free Gmail account allows up to 500 total recipients per email, combining To, Cc, and Bcc, and 500 emails sent per day. Google Workspace accounts get a higher limit of up to 2,000 recipients per message.
What’s the difference between CC and BCC?
CC recipients are visible to everyone else on the email. BCC recipients are hidden from everyone, including each other. Use CC when you want to keep something transparent, like copying your manager on a client email. Use BCC when emailing a group who don’t need to see each other’s addresses, like a newsletter list.
Is it better to CC or BCC?
It depends on the goal. Use CC to keep a small group informed and transparent, like sharing a project update with colleagues. Use BCC to protect privacy when messaging a larger group, like an announcement to clients who don’t know each other.
Does the person I CC know they’ve been added?
Yes. Anyone in the To or Cc field can see every other address in those fields, including who’s been Cc’d. If you don’t want that visibility, use BCC instead.
Can I send a CC email to a large group without it looking like spam?
Not really, and CC isn’t built for that. Putting dozens of addresses in one Cc field exposes everyone’s email and reads as a mass blast. A mail merge tool like Mailmeteor sends the same message as individual, personalized emails instead, so each person only ever sees their own name in the To field.
