While Gmail is loading, what else is there to do but wait for the Inbox to appear? Only then can you gauge whether the important (or at least an entertaining) email has arrived, making the wait worth the while. Or can you not?
With Gmail's Inbox preview enabled, you can see a snapshot of the latest messages in your Inbox while the main interface is loading. You can't interact with the emails in any way but you can prepare for what's to come — or quit loading, especially on a slow connection, when a longed-for email has not yet come.
See an Inbox Preview While Gmail is Loading
Note that previewing your inbox is currently not available in Gmail.
To get a glimpse of your inbox's latest messages while Gmail is loading (so you can quit right away when an expected email has not yet arrived, for example):
- Click the Settings gear in Gmail.
- Select Settings from the menu.
- Go to the Labs tab.
- Make sure Enabled is selected for Inbox preview.
- Click Save Changes.
(Updated May 2012)
