Overview
Gmail is a web-based email service from Google. It’s part of the Google Workspace suite of productivity tools, like Google Calendar, Google Meet, Google Docs, and more.
For personal and professional communications, you can use Gmail to:
- Send and receive emails.
- Store and organize your messages.
It’s available on various devices, like:
- Computers
- Smartphones
- Tablets
Gmail's content, ads, and elements are accessible through platform features and tools designed for accessibility, such as screen readers. There are several built-in accessibility features in Gmail, like:
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Multiple viewing options
- Suggested replies
- Spelling and grammar correction
For the best experience, use the latest version of:
- Gmail
- Your web browser
- Your device’s operating system
- Any assistive technology you use
Some accessibility features discussed in this article require specific local setup or configuration and might not be available in all locales.
Vision
To interact with your device with touch and spoken feedback, you can turn on TalkBack to:
- Describe Gmail elements and content as you perform actions.
- Inform you about alerts and notifications.
Learn how to turn on TalkBack.
To customize the appearance of Gmail, you can:
If you want to adjust contrast or colors, use Android features like:
These Android features for low vision assistance may be useful:
- Screen magnification
- Text scaling
- Screen resolution
- Select to speak
For more information on the features for low-vision assistance, check the Android Accessibility Help Center.
Alternative input
To modify or reduce your interactions, you can change:
- Default notification action
- Conversation view
- Swipe actions
- Sender image
- Default reply action
- Auto-fit messages
- Auto-advance
- Open weblinks in Gmail
- Action confirmations
Learn how to change your Gmail settings.
These Android features for interaction and dexterity might be useful:
- To navigate and interact with the Gmail user interface, add a switch device.
- To navigate and interact by voice, configure Android’s Voice Access.
- Add a touchpad and cursor to the “Assistant” menu.
- Configure touch sensitivity and duration settings.
- Add a physical keyboard with:
- Sticky keys
- Slow keys
- Bounce keys
For more information on platform settings for alternative input, check the Android Accessibility Help Center.
Cognition
Users with cognitive challenges like processing orders or distraction issues have different requirements. Some users need extensive hints and attention-grabbing UI to stay on task, while others need minimal distractions. To meet these requirements, Gmail provides settings and features with toggles to turn individual features on or off. Learn how to change your Gmail settings.
- Inbox density.
- Display snippets of an email body in the inbox.
- Options to change your Gmail layout.
- Message recall time or “Undo send.”
- Present each message separately or group emails into conversations.
- Configure notifications.
Some Gmail usability features that can be helpful are:
- Automatic addition of email contacts
- On the web app:
Additionally, these optional smart features in Gmail can improve your efficiency, especially if you have a processing disorder, distraction issue, or other cognitive challenges:
- Automatic email filters and categories
- High priority notifications for emails
- Summary cards above emails
- Smart Compose in Gmail
- Smart Reply in Gmail
- Nudges about important emails
Learn about smart features in Gmail.
You can also use these additional features:
- Animation toggle
- Notification timeout and appearance
- Select to speak
To learn more about these additional features, check the Android Accessibility Help Center.