Update: You may have found your way here due to the widespread belief that Gmail will be discontinued this year, perpetuated by a rampant hoax circulating online. According to this hoax, Google has sent out an email announcing that “the journey of Gmail is coming to a close.” We happened to come across one version of this hoax being shared on Twitter/X:
But have no fear, Gmail is not going anywhere. There is, however, one method of accessing Gmail that will soon be a thing of the past, as you can discover in the details below. Most users have already been switched to the “new” Gmail view, so unless you have specifically requested to use the “basic HTML” view, there shouldn’t be any changes for you.
Another day, another Google product bites the dust. The company has announced that the basic HTML view for Gmail, which allows users to view emails in a stripped-down format, will be retiring in January 2024.
The company has updated its support page to indicate that Gmail will automatically switch to the Standard view after the given deadline. Users on Hacker News claimed to have received an email from Google alerting them of this upcoming change.
“We’re writing to let you know that the Gmail Basic HTML view for desktop web and mobile web will be disabled starting early January 2024. 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,” the email reads.
Even today, if you attempt to use the HTML version, Google will display a message stating that this version is intended for “slower connections and legacy browsers” and will ask for your confirmation to continue using the standard version.
The HTML version is lacking in many features such as chat, spell checker, search filters, keyboard shortcuts, and rich formatting. However, it can be useful in situations where you have a poor internet connection or simply want to view emails without any extra distractions. It remains to be seen if Google will introduce a low connectivity mode in the future.
Currently, Google is placing a major emphasis on incorporating AI-powered features into its products, including Gmail. Just last month, the company launched a Duet AI feature to assist users in writing emails. And most recently, it has allowed the integration of the Bard chatbot with Google accounts, making it possible to ask questions about email history.
We have updated this post to reflect that this change will be implemented in February 2024, as well as to address a related hoax that has surfaced.
