Google has started informing Gmail users that the basic HTML view interface will no longer be supported starting January 2024, and users will need modern browsers to continue using the service.
After this date, all users of the popular email service will be automatically redirected to the standard modern interface, which supports the latest usability and security features.
The basic HTML view interface is a simplified version of Gmail that doesn’t provide users with features such as chat, spell-check, keyboard shortcuts, adding or importing contacts, or setting custom “from” addresses.
This feature was designed for users in areas with very low internet speeds, those using older devices with limited memory, or older web browsers that don’t support current HTML capabilities.
However, one of the significant reasons users preferred the HTML view was its reliability with text-to-speech conversion tools used by individuals with visual impairments, as the standard view presented technical complexities that these tools found challenging to manage.
Google has decided to discontinue the basic HTML view for Gmail without providing specific reasons for the decision.
In email notifications sent to Google Workspace administrators, the company stated, “Basic HTML view will be supported until early January 2024. Until then, your organization can continue to use the current Basic HTML view.”
The company added, “Once Basic HTML view is deprecated, users will be automatically redirected to the standard Gmail view, which provides the latest security features and capabilities from Google.”
Users with older browsers are advised to update their browsers to use the standard view. On mobile devices, users can also download the official Gmail app.
Generally, users of older devices are encouraged to switch to lightweight email clients such as Mozilla Thunderbird and Microsoft Outlook instead of relying on web-based core systems.
For individuals in need of accessibility features, Thunderbird, in particular, is known to work well with screen readers like Jaws, NVDA, and Windows Eyes, offering a range of display and text size adjustment options to enhance usability for visually impaired individuals.
