---
title: Write, send and reply to email | Lightfield
description: Draft an email or reply, choose its sender and attachments, and verify that it was sent.
---

Write email in Lightfield or ask the agent to draft it using the record’s context. A draft is editable work; sending is a separate action.

## Who can use it

Owners, admins and members can draft and send through a connected mailbox with the required permissions. Viewers cannot send email or have the agent send it for them. Connect your own mailbox in [Settings → Mail and Calendar](https://crm.lightfield.app/crm/settings/mail-and-calendar/).

Ordinary email does not require a sequence. For repeated outreach to enrolled contacts, see [Sequences](/help/sequences/index.md).

## Draft an email in chat

Start with a draft when you want to check the message before it leaves your mailbox.

1. Open the account or opportunity, then start its chat. You can also use a new chat and name the record.
2. Ask for a draft with a specific recipient and goal, such as “Draft an email to Dana Kim at Northwind Robotics confirming Friday’s renewal discussion. Don’t send it.”
3. Review the recipient, subject, body, sender and any attachments in the draft.
4. Ask for changes or edit the draft before sending.

The draft appears for review. A draft appearing in chat does not mean the email was sent. See [For review](/help/for-review/index.md) for automation and sequence approval behavior, which differs from ordinary drafting.

## Reply to a conversation

Sending delivers the email to the selected recipients. Check the full recipient list and quoted context before you send.

1. Open the record’s email conversation.
2. Click **Reply** on the message you want to answer.
3. Write the reply and check its recipients.
4. Open **From** if you need to choose a different connected sender or alias.
5. Click **Send** when the message is ready.

Confirm the sent message appears in the conversation. If sending fails, read the error and check the mailbox connection before retrying. Do not treat an unchanged draft as proof of delivery.

## Choose a sender and signature

The **From** menu lists connected sending accounts and their available aliases. An alias must already be configured with Gmail or Outlook; Lightfield does not create it. Outlook may send from the primary address until your Microsoft admin enables alias sending. See [Aliases](/help/settings/mail-and-calendar/#aliases/index.md).

Ordinary email uses your [Mail and Calendar signatures](/help/settings/mail-and-calendar/email-signatures/index.md). Sequence messages use [Sequence sender settings](/help/settings/sequences/#set-your-display-name-and-signature/index.md); do not add a duplicate signature to each sequence step.

## Add a file and check visibility

Attach the intended file to the draft, then confirm its filename and recipients. A chat or Knowledge upload is a separate action and does not automatically attach the file to an email. For limits and failed attachments, see [Files and attachments](/help/files-and-attachments/index.md).

Mailbox visibility controls what teammates see in synced ordinary email. Sequence emails have separate workspace visibility rules. Check [Control who can see your data](/help/privacy-and-access/index.md) before sending sensitive content.

## Troubleshooting

### I can read email but cannot send

Go to [Settings → Mail and Calendar](https://crm.lightfield.app/crm/settings/mail-and-calendar/) and open the sender. If it is **Disconnected**, reconnect it. If the page asks you to **Update permissions**, grant the requested sending permissions. A Viewer needs an owner or admin to change their role before they can write workspace data.

### The wrong signature appears

Check the selected sender and its **New emails** or **Replies** signature. Follow [Email signatures](/help/settings/mail-and-calendar/email-signatures/index.md). For a sequence, check the sender’s sequence signature instead.

## Related documentation

For sending new emails or creating drafts from an integration, follow [Emails and attachments](/using-the-api/emails-and-attachments/index.md). That guide links to the [Email reference](/api/resources/email/index.md). API sends create new messages; use the app procedure above for replies.

## Common questions

**Does asking for a draft send the email?** No. Review the draft and the action you approve. Approving an automation email sends it. An approved sequence email follows the sequence’s send window and pacing. See [review instructions](/help/for-review/index.md).

**Can I send as a teammate?** You do not gain sending access by being a workspace admin. Each member connects their own account. Use the sender options actually available in your draft; see [Mail and Calendar](/help/settings/mail-and-calendar/index.md).