You no longer have to enable the new Gmail. The current design is already turned on for Gmail on the web, and Google’s current help pages do not list a Try the new Gmail switch. What you can still do is turn the newer layout pieces on or off: on a computer, click Settings (the gear icon) at the top right, and under Apps in Gmail click Customize.
This guide explains what happened to the old switch, where the layout controls are now, and what to do on a phone or tablet.
What Happened to the “Try the New Gmail” Option
When Google redesigns Gmail, it usually rolls the new look out in stages. During past redesigns, the gear menu held a temporary opt-in link, labeled Try the new Gmail and later Try out the new Gmail view, along with a link to go back to the older look. Those links were only meant for the rollout period.
Google’s current Gmail Help articles describe a single layout and do not mention either link. If you are looking for that option in the gear menu and cannot find it, nothing is wrong with your account. The layout it used to enable is the one you are already using.
What You Need
- A computer with a supported browser. Google lists Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge, and says Gmail works best in the newest and last prior version of each.
- Cookies and JavaScript turned on in that browser. Google says both are required.
- Your own Gmail account, signed in at gmail.com.
Layout settings are saved per account. If you use more than one Gmail account, repeat the steps in each one.
How to Turn On the Current Gmail Layout Features on a Computer
The biggest part of the current layout is the main menu on the left, which lets you move between Gmail, Google Chat, and Google Meet without opening a new tab. These steps follow Google’s guide to navigating around Gmail.
- Open Gmail in your browser.
- At the top right, click Settings (the gear icon). A Quick settings menu opens on the right side of the window.
- Under Apps in Gmail, click Customize.
- Check the box next to Google Chat or Google Meet to show that app in the main menu. Uncheck a box to hide it.
- Click Done.
With the apps showing, click an app name on the left to switch to it, or point to an icon to preview what is going on in that app. To collapse or expand the panel, click Show main menu or Hide main menu at the top left.
If you only want Meet out of the way, our guide on how to hide the Meet section in Gmail covers that one setting in more detail.
Other Layout Settings in the Same Menu
The Quick settings menu is also where Gmail keeps the rest of its appearance controls. None of these change your messages. They only change how the inbox looks.
| Setting | What it changes | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Apps in Gmail | Shows or hides Chat and Meet in the main menu | Settings > Quick settings > Customize |
| Theme | Background, including Default and Dark | Settings > Quick settings > Theme > View all |
| Inbox type | How mail is sorted, such as Default, Unread first, or Priority Inbox | Settings > Inbox type |
| Reading pane | Previews a message beside or below the inbox | Settings > See all settings > Inbox |
Google also says you can choose your inbox density, which is how tightly messages are spaced, from the same menu. See how to switch to compact view in Gmail for that change, and how to enable tabs in Gmail if you want the Default inbox with category tabs.
For the full lists of options, Google documents inbox layouts, themes, and the reading pane separately.
How to Get the Newest Gmail on a Phone or Tablet
The Gmail app for Android, iPhone, and iPad has no layout switch. You get the newest design and features by updating the app from your device’s app store. Google notes that an older version of the app may ask you to update before you can use it.
According to Google’s Update your Gmail app page, the latest app brings faster performance, better security, and newer features such as email blocking and more formatting options.
How to Confirm the Change and Undo It
After you click Done, look at the left side of the Gmail window. Chat and Meet appear in the main menu when their boxes are checked and disappear when they are not. If you keep Chat turned on, you can stop chat requests from strangers in Google Chat.
To undo the change, open Settings again, click Customize under Apps in Gmail, reverse the checkbox, and click Done. Themes, inbox types, and the reading pane are undone the same way, by returning to the setting and picking the earlier choice.
What you cannot undo is the design itself. Google’s current documentation does not describe a way to return to an older Gmail look.
Troubleshooting
- There is no “Try the new Gmail” link. That is expected. Use Apps in Gmail in Quick settings instead.
- Gmail looks very plain or shows a browser warning. Check Google’s list of supported browsers, update your browser, and make sure cookies and JavaScript are on.
- The left menu is missing. Click Show main menu at the top left to expand it.
- Chat or Meet is missing from Customize on a work or school account. Your organization’s administrator may control those apps. Ask them, since the options you see can differ from a personal account.
- A change did not appear. Reload the Gmail tab. For settings on the full settings pages, make sure you clicked Save Changes at the bottom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there still a way to enable the new Gmail?
No separate step is needed. The current Gmail design is already on for web users, and Google’s help pages no longer describe a Try the new Gmail option. You can only adjust parts of the layout from the Quick settings menu.
Can I go back to the old Gmail?
Google’s current help pages do not offer a way to restore an earlier Gmail design. The closest you can get is hiding Chat and Meet under Apps in Gmail and choosing a simpler theme and inbox type.
Does changing the Gmail layout affect my emails?
No. Showing or hiding apps, changing the theme, or picking a different inbox type only changes how Gmail is displayed. Your messages and labels stay the same.
Do layout changes apply to all my Gmail accounts?
No. Each Gmail account keeps its own settings, so you need to repeat the steps while signed in to each account.
Where is the Quick settings menu in Gmail?
On a computer, click Settings, the gear icon at the top right of Gmail. The Quick settings menu opens on the right. For every option, click See all settings at the top of that menu.
Next Step
Once the layout is set up the way you like, you can tidy up smaller details. Learn how to disable hover actions in Gmail if the icons that appear over messages get in the way, or use our Gmail change subject tutorial to edit subject lines on replies and forwards.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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