A Sent by indication on delegated Gmail mail can identify the person who sent a message on behalf of the mailbox. It is different from a typing mistake in the visible From address.
Distinguish the mailbox from the delegate
A delegated message originates from the mailbox the delegate is managing, while the delegate uses their own account to access it. Inspect the expanded sender details rather than relying only on the name shown in the conversation list.
Google’s ordinary delegation guide says the delegate’s address appears when they send. For Workspace, administrators have controls over whether recipients see both the owner and delegate or only the owner.
Check the organization’s sender-information choice
An authorized administrator can review Mail delegation and the sender-information option in Gmail’s administrative settings. Google’s phased shared-inbox feature also documents From and Sent by information and related shared-inbox settings.
Identify the actual mailbox setup before changing anything. A user-created Send mail as address, an alias, and delegated sending do not all use the same controls. Editing the personal display name is not a dependable way to change delegate attribution.
Test visibility without assuming anonymity
Use a harmless message to an authorized test recipient and inspect the expanded sender details in the recipient’s client. Different mail clients can display the available information differently, so test the environment your organization actually uses.
Do not promise that hiding a visible Sent by line makes the delegate anonymous or removes internal audit information. Follow your organization’s accountability and disclosure requirements. If an unexpected delegate address appears, confirm the access list and investigate who was authorized to send. Do not share the owner’s password as a workaround for visible attribution. Keep the change record, test result, and intended sender policy so future staff can tell a deliberate configuration from an unauthorized change.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
References
- Delegate & collaborate on email
- Delegate a user’s email address | User management | Google Workspace Help
- Create a shared inbox | User management | Google Workspace Help
Reviewed against the linked product guidance, standards, and identified vendor or public-authority guidance on October 29, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.