Gmail Is Kind of a Mess. Here’s How to Fix It

There are 1.5 billion (with a b!) lively Gmail customers, which Google clearly sees as an asset it may well leverage. Perhaps you’ve got seen: Google retains filling the interface with buttons for different providers.

The left sidebar on the desktop, and the underside sidebar on cell, now have giant buttons for Chat, Space, and Meet, three providers Google would very very similar to you to begin utilizing.

A chonky sidebar with 4 buttons takes up a lot of house, seemingly simply to remind Gmail customers that Google gives videoconferencing and chat providers. It’s even worse on the cell model, the place the chonkbar consistently lives on the underside of the display screen. It’s a lot of muddle, I’m drained of seeing it, and I do not suppose I’m alone.

You may take this as a possibility to replace Gmail with a privacy-first email provider, however I perceive not everybody needs to change electronic mail addresses. With that in thoughts, this is how to hold your Gmail tackle with out having to have a look at the chonky Gmail consumer interface—or, should you choose, how to conceal the chonkbar so you may get again to having fun with Gmail.

Try an Email Client

It’s okay should you forgot about electronic mail purchasers—all of us did. It’s time to keep in mind, although, as a result of they present you your emails and in any other case keep out of your means. Here’s a few I like:

1. On Apple gadgets, the default Mail app is clear, quick, and even blocks email tracking by default.
2. On Windows, there’s the default Mail app, which may be very clear and stays out of your means.
3. Outlook is admittedly good now, and it is included should you’re already paying for Microsoft Office. The cell model, specifically, is far cleaner than Gmail in some ways, and it is a fairly good calendar app too.
4. Thunderbird remains to be a excellent open supply electronic mail consumer for all desktop working techniques.
5. Canary is a clear, quick, safe electronic mail consumer for Windows, Android, and Apple gadgets. You can optionally use the default Gmail keyboard shortcuts, which is a huge deal should you’re a longtime Gmail energy consumer.

All of these purposes make it simple to add a Gmail account after putting in, so you’ll be able to check out a few and see what you want finest. And all the pieces will sync between these purchasers and Gmail, so you should utilize each directly for a whereas if that helps.