Turn on Autodraft

Updated June 16, 2026 How-to

TL;DR

Autodraft is the automatic mode of Smart Drafts. Turn it on and Chiefy quietly prepares a reply for the emails that need one, so a draft is already waiting when you open the thread. Nothing is ever sent for you.

Smart Drafts can work two ways. On demand, you ask Chiefy for a reply whenever you want one. With Autodraft on, Chiefy does that step ahead of you — it watches for emails that look like they need a response and writes a draft in your voice, ready to review. You stay in control: Autodraft only ever creates drafts, it never sends.

Before you start

You’ll need the Chiefy extension installed and your inbox connected. New to Chiefy? Start with Getting started first.

Autodraft runs on your primary mailbox by default. To control it for each account, see Connected Mailboxes.

Turn on Autodraft

Open Chiefy settings

In Gmail, open the Chiefy side panel and choose Settings.
Go to Smart Drafts

Select Smart Drafts from the settings menu.
Switch Autodraft on A

Toggle Autodraft on. Chiefy starts preparing drafts for new replies right away — no need to refresh.

Chiefy · Drafts

Drafts
Active

Manage how Chiefy automatically drafts replies.

Enable drafts A

Chiefy will create reply drafts in Gmail for emails that need a response

How often do you like to reply?

I reply to almost everything, even just to be polite I reply when there's something new or useful to say I reply if it feels expected, even without a clear question I only reply when there's a direct question or request

Email signature

This signature will be appended to all auto-drafted replies

Visual HTML Preview

Jordan Lee
Bayview Cottages
jordan@bayviewcottages.com · +1 (250) 555-0142

The Drafts settings: turn auto-drafting on, tune how often Chiefy replies, and set the signature it appends.

What you’ll see

When Autodraft has prepared a reply, it’s waiting as a draft on the thread — the same draft marker Gmail shows for any saved draft. Open the thread and your reply is already in the box — read it, adjust anything, and send when you’re happy.

BC Bayview Cottages Re: Booking for 4 — last weekend of August — Hi — could you confirm the two double rooms and… Draft 9:24 AM
JL Jordan Lee Invoice question — Quick one about the March invoice — was the… Draft 8:51 AM
ST Stripe Your payout is on the way — A payout of €1,240.00 is on its way to your… No reply needed 7:30 AM

Threads that need a reply get an Autodraft; notifications are left alone.

What Autodraft won’t touch

Autodraft is deliberately conservative — it would rather skip a thread than put words in your mouth. It leaves alone:

Newsletters, receipts, and notifications that don’t need a reply
Sensitive topics — legal, financial, HR — where it holds back on purpose
Threads where it doesn’t have enough context to be genuinely useful

Autodraft never sends. Every reply waits for you to review and send it yourself.

Turn Autodraft off

Open Chiefy → Settings → Smart Drafts and toggle Autodraft off. On-demand Smart Drafts keeps working — you can still ask Chiefy for a reply any time.

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