Google is bidding farewell to Gmail’s basic HTML view starting January 2024 pushing all users to use the advanced “standard” view of the mailing app. This was not announced by Google on blog post rather quietly mentioned in a Google support article. Notably, users will no longer be able to use the HTML model of Gmail after this date.
Google has been encouraging users to switch to the new version of Gmail for several years, as it offers a number of advantages over the basic HTML version, including a more responsive design, improved search, and better spam filtering. While most people are already using the Standard view, the HTML version of Gmail came with advantages like faster-loading and allowing Gmail access on older devices or slow internet connections.
A Google spokesperson told The Register that the “Gmail Basic HTML views are previous versions of Gmail that were replaced by their modern successors 10+ years ago and do not include full Gmail feature functionality.”
Users who are still using the basic HTML version of Gmail are required to switch to the new version before the deadline. After this date, Gmail will automatically change to Standard view.
The discontinuation of the basic HTML version of Gmail is likely to have a minor impact on most users. The vast majority of Gmail users have already switched to the new version, and those who are still using the basic HTML version are likely to find that the new version offers more functionalities like Chat, Spell checker, Keyboard shortcuts, ability to add or import contacts, Custom “from” addresses and rich formatting. These features are not part of HTML view.
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