Email, Messaging, & Video Calls > Email How to Switch to Gmail Basic's Simple HTML View Use HTML Gmail when you have a slow connection or an old computer By Heinz Tschabitscher Heinz Tschabitscher Writer University of Vienna A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 31, 2021 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Gmail HTML vs. Standard Gmail How to Switch to HTML View How to Switch to Standard View Features Not Available in Basic HTML Trending Videos Close this video player Gmail offers a simple HTML version for users with slow internet connections or old computers. The Gmail basic HTML interface is similar in appearance to earlier iterations of the Google email service, and it relies only on the most essential browser features. Information in this article applies to the use of Gmail in all web browsers. Gmail HTML vs. Standard Gmail The HTML version of Gmail loads faster than the standard version. If you want to add text formatting to Gmail messages or embed links, then you must use the appropriate HTML code. You don't have to switch to the HTML view to send a plain text message in Gmail. How to Switch to Gmail Basic HTML View To view your Gmail in simple HTML, open the Gmail HTML website in any web browser and log in to your Gmail account if prompted, then select I’d like to use HTML Gmail. You may have to go to the Gmail HTML website again if Gmail automatically opens the standard interface. How to Switch to Full Gmail Standard View To switch to the standard Gmail interface from Gmail Basic HTML, scroll down to the bottom of your inbox, then select Standard next to Gmail view. If your browser automatically loads Gmail in HTML view, you can open the standard version at any time by using this link: http://mail.google.com/mail/. Depending on your browser, certain features may not work in Gmail standard view when you follow the above link. Features Not Available in Gmail Basic HTML Gmail Basic HTML does not support the following standard Gmail features: Gmail keyboard shortcuts Gmail spelling checker Gmail tasks Google chat Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit