Google is discontinuing its Gmail Basic HTML view in January 2024, requiring users to have modern browsers to access the service.
After this date, users will be redirected to the Standard view, which offers enhanced features.
The Basic HTML view is a simplified version of Gmail lacking certain features like chat, spell checking, and rich text formatting.
While it’s used by individuals with limited internet access or older hardware, it’s also preferred by some visually impaired users due to its compatibility with text-to-speech tools.
Google has not provided specific reasons for retiring this view.
Users should prepare for the transition or switch to desktop email clients, with Mozilla Thunderbird and Microsoft Outlook being recommended for older hardware.
