[Archived] Tired of ever newer updates to Gmail? Curious what a simpler version would look like? Concerned about security? Find out here how to open a basic HTML version of Gmail ⤓ and enjoy its pure email experience no matter your browser.
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How to Open a Basic HTML Version of Gmail in Any Browser
Basic HTML Gmail is no longer available as of February 2024. As an alternative to the standard web-based version of Gmail you can use an email program on your device using Gmail IMAP (or POP) or forward messages from Gmail to another email account.
Time needed: 1 minute
To load a basic version of Gmail using just vanilla HTML in any browser:
- Go to the Gmail basic HTML login in your browser.
Basic HTML Gmail link: The URL for Gmail’s basic version in full is https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/.
- Log in to Gmail if you are prompted.
- Click I’d like to use HTML Gmail if prompted.
Gmail Basic HTML bookmark: You can bookmark the link above to open simple Gmail.
This will open a version of Gmail that lets you read, file and reply to emails as well as set up filters, for example. This version
- does not rely on JavaScript or other advanced techniques and
- works in text-only browsers as well as
- speedily and reliably over even slow internet connections.
How to Open a Basic HTML Version of Gmail in Any Browser: FAQ
How can I switch back to normal Gmail?
If you open Gmail using https://mail.google.com/ in the same or any other browser, its fully featured version will open automatically — unless basic Gmail is your default view.
With basic HTML as your default,
- follow the Standard View link in Gmail’s bottom navigation bar
to return to the fully featured version.
Can I force Gmail to load in the normal, full version?
Yes, you can have Gmail disregard any qualms it may have about your browser.
To force-load the full view of Gmail:
- Open https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?nocheckbrowser in your browser.
Can I make basic HMTL Gmail version login the default?
No. You cannot have Gmail load its basic version by default. You can
- bookmark the basic HTML Gmail log-in as above, of course.
What is it that basic HTML Gmail cannot do?
Gmail’s standard version includes many a feature that the simple HTML interface lacks. These include:
- Sending messages from an email address other than your Gmail address.
- Using Gmail keyboard shortcuts.
- Composing messages using rich-text formatting and inline images. (You can include attachments.)
- Set up and use email templates.
- Swift composition with predictive text input.
- Scheduling emails to be sent later.
- Blocking emails using the blocked senders list.
- Access to extension and add-ons such as Gmail Tasks and Asana or Trello.
- Profiting from an automatically organized inbox with tabs (Primary, Social, etc.).
- Automatically prioritizing emails using the importance flag.
- Creating and sending a newsletter in Gmail.
- Keeping notes with Google Keep right in Gmail.
(How to open a basic HTML version of Gmail in any browser first published May 2018, last updated January 2024)