Google: "You’re Not on The Recipients List" Banner in Gmail Reply

This article provides information on the following alert that may appear when replying to a message in Gmail: "You’re not on the recipients list. Replying to all lets everyone know you were included."

Environment

U-M Google, Gmail

Issue

• When replying all to an email in Gmail, I receive the following banner: "You’re not on the recipients list. Replying to all lets everyone know you were included." What does this mean?
• I received an email because I'm a member of an MCommunity group or Shared Account group. That group/account was not BCC'd. Why does this banner appear when I reply all to the message?

Resolution

• Google displays this banner in the compose box whenever you attempt to reply all to an email thread where your email address is not listed explicitly in the To or CC fields (such as BCC'd, auto-forwarded, or delegated emails).
• However, this banner may also appear when replying all to an MCommunity group or Shared Account.
  • This affects both public and private MCommunity groups and Shared Accounts with group members (who receive messages sent to the address).
• Because of how MCommunity groups function within U-M Google, Google interprets these groups as having members who are "hidden" from recipients and other group members.
  • Because your account's email address isn't explicitly named in the recipient field, if you reply all, it will display the banner.
  • An example where this matters is if the group you're replying all to has external members. While you have access to MCommunity to view the group members (as someone with an @umich.edu email address and membership to the group), other non-UM external members do not. Replying all would reveal to these external members that you are also a member of this group.

Additional Information

• Google Workspace Update regarding the banner
  • As of September 2026, Google has updated the language from "You were BCC'd on this message" to the better-phrased "You’re not on the recipients list."
• Screenshot of the banner is attached to this article

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.