support.google.

com
/mail/thread/125430722/how-to-restore-basic-html-as-default-view

How to restore Basic HTML as default view?

Bob Cavanaugh

Original Poster

Sep 11, 2021

Hi,

Can someone please help? I've been using Gmail no problem for about four years now. I've always used
Basic HTML because it's easier with a screen reader, and I don't need all the features the standard interface
has. I had it set up to display that interface by default when I logged in, and that worked flawlessly until I got
back from vacation on Wednesday. When I logged in on Wednesday, standard view loaded. After some
fiddling, I managed to get Basic HTML to load, but logging out and back in again, standard view loads again
and I have to hit the button at just the right time to get basic HTML again. How do I get my view back to
basic HTML by default?

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Recommended Answers (2)

Recommended

icantchooseone

Oct 23, 2021

Platinum Product Expert tony_b recommended this

Helpful?

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Penelope

Hanging out since 2017

Sep 11, 2021

Hi Bob, you can just bookmark https://mail.google.com/?ui=html, which is the HTML version, and just open
that. 

https://support.google.com/mail/answer/15049?hl=en indicates that if your browser supports standard view,

then that will open.

If you're using a browser that works with Gmail, you'll see Gmail in Standard view. When you're in Standard
view, you can use all of Gmail's features.

Switch views
Switch from Basic HTML view to Standard view: Open Gmail using this link. If your browser isn't supported,
this view might not work.
Switch from Standard View to Basic HTML view: Visit the Basic HTML version of Gmail.
Diamond Product Expert geek2live recommended this

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All Replies (47)

Penelope

2/4
Hanging out since 2017

Recommended

Sep 11, 2021

Hi Bob, you can just bookmark https://mail.google.com/?ui=html, which is the HTML version, and just open
that. 

https://support.google.com/mail/answer/15049?hl=en indicates that if your browser supports standard view,

then that will open.

If you're using a browser that works with Gmail, you'll see Gmail in Standard view. When you're in Standard
view, you can use all of Gmail's features.

Switch views
Switch from Basic HTML view to Standard view: Open Gmail using this link. If your browser isn't supported,
this view might not work.
Switch from Standard View to Basic HTML view: Visit the Basic HTML version of Gmail.
Diamond Product Expert geek2live recommended this

Bob Cavanaugh

Original Poster

Sep 11, 2021

Do you know if something was changed recently? I was under the impression that I could define what view I
wanted in my account settings, and that would be displayed no matter what browser I was using. Nothing
about my browser changed between Monday and Wednesday, so I'm not sure why I could log in and get the
Basic HTML view right away on Monday and on Wednesday I unexpectedly get Standard view. Also, it
seems that the banner giving you the option to change views is only visible for a few seconds, making it
really challenging for a screen reader user to actually hit it in time.

Penelope

3/4
Hanging out since 2017

Sep 11, 2021

Hey Bob, great question. I have asked a colleague of mine. 

One question I do have is was I noticed in your categories you chose that you were on Firefox? Did that
browser receive any updates? 

I did look in both myaccount.google.com settings and Gmail settings to see if there was anything about basic
HTML and found nothing so maybe something has changed there in the settings. 

I will see what I can find out for you.

Penelope

Hanging out since 2017

Sep 12, 2021

I checked in with a colleague and they said Gmail has done no changes but best bet is just to bookmark it
now.

User 2141712144733234100

Dec 6, 2021

Way to sit on the fence there. That was very helpful!

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