Wish Gmail required less scrolling? Like to work on multiple emails at a time? Find out here how to change the number of emails that appear per page in Gmail.
First, “Is the Car in Reverse?”
Is the car in reverse? is, quite appropriately, often the first question asked helpfully in response to a plea for help on a Saab owners’ and (possibly first-time) drivers’ forum.
For to get the ignition key out of a Saab 900 and park the car:
- First, pull the handbrake (for more reasons than the obvious one).
- Second, locate the key. It is hidden (now only partially) beneath the handbrake.
- Third, pull the little ring located beneath the knob on the gearstick.
- Fourth, put the car in reverse. This only works with the ring pulled.
- Fifth, remove the key.
Saab thought of you all the way.
Now, with that accomplished, want to switch pages less in Gmail and see more emails in one go? Gmail has thought of you all the way to its Settings page:
How to Change the Number of Emails per Page in Gmail
Time needed: 2 minutes
To change how many emails (or conversations) Gmail will show on each page (for folders and Gmail search results):
- Click the Settings gear icon in Gmail.
Here’s where: The icon is near the top right corner of Gmail.
- Select See all settings from the menu that has appeared.
- Go to the General tab.
Gmail shortcut: You can open Gmail settings directly.
- Select the number of emails you want to see per page in Gmail under Maximum page size:.
Min and max: The minimum is five emails per page, and you choose 100 as the maximal maximum here.
How to pick: A smaller number makes Gmail a tad snappier to load and its display more concise; if you frequently act on emails in bulk, a larger number of emails per page lets you pick and choose more conveniently. 25 is an oft-used compromise.
- Click Save Changes at the bottom of the Settings page.
How to Change the Number of Emails per Page in Gmail: FAQ
How can I scroll past the maximum number of emails on a page?
To go to the next or previous page of results in Gmail (past the maximum number of emails per page):
- Click Older to go to the next page of emails.
Gmail keyboard shortcut: With Gmail keyboard shortcuts enabled, you can press G N to load the next page.
- Click Newer to switch to the previous page of emails (with emails that have been saved more recently).
Keyboard shortcut: The corresponding shortcut is G P.
No continuous scrolling: Currently, pressing J or K will not take you past the current page of emails in Gmail but stays at the top- or bottommost message or conversation if you are in the message list. (With an email open, Gmail will always scroll to the next or previous message with J and K respectively.)
Can I change the number of emails per page in Basic HTML Gmail?
Yes.
Reducing or augmenting the number of emails that are visible on a page is just as useful in Basic HTML Gmail, of course.
To change how many emails are displayed per page in Basic HTML Gmail:
- Follow the Settings link in HTML Gmail.
- Go to the General tab.
- Choose the desired number of emails per page under Maximum page size:.
- Click Save Changes.
(How to change the number of emails per page tested with Gmail in a desktop browser; first published May 2023, last updated September 2024)