According to Google, they will be retiring Gmail Basic HTML view for desktop and mobile web browsers this month (January). The Basic HTML view is a previous version of Gmail that was replaced by the standard Gmail experience and does not include full feature functionality.
Some users have continued to use Basic HTML view because of compatibility with assistive technologies, other accessibility needs or preferences, or lower bandwidth connections. These users will be most impacted by the change.
What to Expect
In the coming weeks, if you use the Basic HTML view, you should receive an announcement in Gmail with instructions on how to switch to the Standard Gmail view before the Basic HTML view is retired.
If you currently use Basic HTML view, once it is retired:
- You will automatically be redirected to the Standard Gmail view in your browser(s).
- You may need to update your browser to the latest version and/or use a supported browser.
University of Michigan accessibility staff are working with Google to ensure that the Standard Gmail view meets accessibility standards, and Google is continuing to make updates. Google has published a guide for screen reader users switching from Basic HTML view to Standard view in Gmail.
U-M ITS staff also provide basic self-configuration documentation for users who need or prefer the Mozilla Thunderbird mail client for accessibility.