How to Use Shortwave

Getting started with Shortwave

In this guide, you'll learn how to set up Shortwave, an AI email client for Gmail that helps you manage your inbox more effectively by bundling messages and allowing for natural language search. After reading, you'll be ready to streamline your email experience.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to Shortwave's website.
2. Click on the "Get Started" button on the homepage.
3. Sign in with your Google account linked to Gmail. Authorise Shortwave to access your emails.
4. Once signed in, Shortwave will start importing your messages and organising them into bundles.

Step 2: Your first email search

1. In the Shortwave interface, locate the search bar at the top.
2. Type in a natural language query, such as "emails from John last week" or "project updates."
3. Press "Enter" to execute the search. Shortwave will display relevant emails based on your query.
4. Click on any email in the results to read or respond directly.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Explore the "Bundles" feature on the left sidebar to see how Shortwave has grouped your emails. You can click on each bundle to view related messages.
2. Use the filters available (like "Unread" or "Starred") to narrow down your search results further.
3. Save frequently used searches by clicking on the star icon next to the search bar for quick access later.

Pro tip

Use keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow. Press "?" while in Shortwave to view all available shortcuts, which can save you time navigating the interface.

Common mistake to avoid

Many users forget to adjust their notification settings after signing up. Check the settings by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Settings" and adjust your notification preferences to avoid being overwhelmed by alerts.