Gmail Web UI Versions

Why This Article?

You might be surprised to know that there are at least four different versions of the Gmail web UI - all appear when opening the standard URL https://mail.google.com but will appear under different circumstances.  The circumstances will mostly be controlled by browser User Agent strings (you can see your browser's UA string at https://www.whatismybrowser.com/detect/what-is-my-user-agent).

These different UIs have access to different feature sets so it's important to know which version you are seeing.  Users commonly use the wrong names to describe what they are seeing and this can cause confusion at the Help Community.

This article includes screenshots of the four versions I have identified so that they can be recognised and described correctly.

1 The standard Gmail UI

This view is the default UI that appears when you are using a desktop or laptop computer or a tablet with a larger screen.  This is the most common view and has access to the full feature set.  NB: For this screenshot, the features Chat and Meet were enabled.

This format was introduced progressively from February 2022 and as at August 2022, it is still possible in some accounts to revert to the previous format shown in the next image.

This view, introduced in early 2021, has access to the full feature set.  NB: For this screenshot, the features Chat and Meet were enabled.

The image below shows what was current until early 2021.

2 Basic HTML View

Basic HTML is the view that Google offers to users on a slow connection as it requires lower data transfer to operate.  When you select this version, the URL is https://mail.google.com/mail/h/

This version cannot access the following features

• General - advanced signature settings, the smart features
• Accounts - check email from other accounts
• Labels - label show/hide
• Filters - address blocking
• IMAP - advanced features
• Chat and Meet, Offline, Themes, Keyboard shortcuts
• Multiple Account Sign in

If you get into the Basic HTML view by accident, you can return to the Standard view by scrolling to the bottom of the Inbox and clicking on the link standard

3 Mobile View

Mobile view appears when Gmail recognises that it is running on a mobile phone.  The browser automatically redirects to https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/.  It is designed to maximise the use of the smaller screen.

This version cannot access the following features

• Any settings except to turn Out of Office Autoreply on or off
• Chat and Meet, Offline, Themes, Keyboard shortcuts

It can handle multiple account sign in.

At the bottom of the label list (accessed through the Menu icon - three horizontal lines at the top left) there are links to switch to either the Older view (next) or the standard desktop view.  The latter will take you to the Basic HTML view (see #2).

4. Older Mobile View

The older mobile version might appear automatically on an older mobile phone.  When it appears, the browser has redirected from the standard URL to  https://mail.google.com/mail/x/

You can switch to this version from the Mobile View (#3) using a link at the bottom of the label list.

This version cannot access the following features

• Any settings at all
• Chat and Meet, Offline, Themes, Keyboard shortcuts
• Multiple account sign in

Please note: If you have issues with Gmail, do not comment here - comments will be deleted.

Ask your question at the Gmail Help Community:

https://support.google.com/mail/community