Yup, it's true: Gmail has finally launched self-destructing emails.

This message will self-destruct in…

How does it work? Similar to ProtonMail, emails don’t truly “self-destruct” but they do however become unreadable after an amount of time chosen by the sender.

The feature is part of a wider redesign for Gmail, featuring a cleaner look. Buttons are more rounded and there's a playful bubble font available.

How does it work?

But back to the self-destructing correspondence. A tiny lock icon known as “confidential mode” will appear on the compose screen, explaining that the recipient will not be able to copy/paste, print, download or even forward the email.

Emails can be configured to expire years in the future, and senders will have the option to have the recipient prove their identity via a passcode sent through text.

Right now, the feature can only be used when both sender and recipient are using a Gmail account.

You can access the new design now, with a wider roll out coming in the following months.

What do you think about disappearing emails? Would this be useful to you? Give us your thoughts in the comment section.