Jace auto-drafts a reply only when an email lands in a label that has Auto-draft email replies turned on. Out of the box that's the Needs Reply label. If an email went to a different label, such as FYI or To Do, Jace sorted it by its own rules and didn't draft. To get a draft for it, open the thread and ask Jace for one.
The checks before every auto-draft
Jace drafts a reply when all of these are true:
- The email is in a label with Auto-draft email replies on (Settings → Labels, open the label).
- The email is less than 3 days old. Older email, including history imported when you connect, doesn't get auto-drafts.
- The email isn't in spam, and it isn't one you sent or a draft.
- The sender isn't listed under Email(s) to exclude in that label.
- If Autodraft only when directly addressed is on (Settings → Advanced), your address is in the To field. Emails where you're only in CC or BCC are skipped.
- You have credits left. When credits run out, auto-drafts pause until they refill (Why your credits run out).
- The mailbox is connected. A disconnected inbox gets no drafts until you reconnect it.
A real email landed in the wrong label
Labels are applied by AI from each label's description. If real questions from clients keep landing in FYI or To Do, open Needs Reply in Settings → Labels. Add a plain line to its description, such as "always include website contact form submissions" or "include emails from my clients asking for a quote". Website forms are a common case, because many of them arrive from your own address and look automated.
The draft is in Jace but not in Gmail or Outlook
Whether Jace drafts appear in your Gmail or Outlook drafts folder depends on Settings → Advanced → Sync drafts to your Gmail (or Outlook). There are three options:
- Sync replies only, the default: reply drafts appear in Gmail or Outlook.
- Sync all drafts (even created in chat): drafts you write with Jace in chat also appear.
- Don't sync Jace drafts: drafts stay in Jace only.
If you chose Don't sync Jace drafts, switch back to see them in your email app, including on your phone.
Turn auto-drafts off
To stop drafts for one label, open it in Settings → Labels and switch off Auto-draft email replies. Do this for each label that has it on, including any you created yourself. Jace still sorts email into the label, and you can ask for a draft on any thread by hand.
To draft only when you're addressed directly, turn on Autodraft only when directly addressed in Settings → Advanced. Both settings apply to the inbox you're in, so repeat them in each connected inbox.
Automatic sending is separate
Drafts wait for you to review and send them. A label sends on its own only if you turned on Automatically send emails for it, and Jace asks you to confirm before it enables that. If emails went out that you didn't send, check that setting on your labels first.
Follow-up drafts
With Automatic follow-up drafts on in Settings → Advanced, Jace also writes a follow-up draft 3 days after you send a message that carries the Waiting label. These are drafts too: nothing is sent until you send it.
Related: Why your credits run out · Labels · Drafting