How can I retrieve a discarded draft on Gmail?

Retrieving a discarded draft on Gmail can be challenging, but there are a few methods you can try:

1. Use the Undo Button

If you discard a draft on your PC, Gmail provides an Undo option for a few seconds. Clicking this button can restore your draft immediately135.

2. Check the Trash Folder

Discarded drafts are not stored in the Trash folder, but if you have deleted a draft instead, you can recover it from the Trash within 30 days of deletion145.

3. Use a Third-Party Email Client

If your Gmail account is synced with a third-party email client like Outlook or Thunderbird, you might be able to recover the draft by disabling internet connectivity on the device and checking the Drafts folder in the client34.

4. Check Other Devices

If your Gmail account is synced with other devices (like a smartphone), quickly disable internet connectivity on those devices and check the Drafts folder in the Gmail app. You can copy the draft content before reconnecting to the internet45.

5. Use Data Recovery Software

If the draft was saved locally, you can use data recovery software to scan your computer for deleted files3.

6. Read Browser Memory

If you were working on the draft in a browser, you can try using a Hexadecimal Editor to extract the draft from the browser's memory4.

7. Contact Google Support

As a last resort, you can contact Google Support to see if they can assist in recovering your draft3. However, this is generally not effective for discarded drafts.