Google is discontinuing Gmail's basic HTML view starting January 2024. This feature, which allows users to view their emails in a no-frill state, is over 10 years old. Google has updated its support page to reflect that Gmail will automatically switch to the Standard view after the deadline date, and has also sent an email to Gmail users.

Google's email to users

Google has announced that the Gmail Basic HTML view for desktop web and mobile web will be disabled starting early January 2024. This is due to the lack of full Gmail feature functionality in the Basic HTML view, which was replaced by modern successors over 10 years ago. The support doc also confirms the shutting down of the feature, stating that users can display Gmail in the Basic HTML view until January 2024, after which it will automatically switch to the Standard view. The HTML version is designed for slower connections and legacy browsers and lacks features like chat, spell checker, search filters, keyboard shortcuts, and rich formatting. It is unclear if Google plans to add another mode for low connectivity. Google has also announced the closure of Google Podcasts and the discontinuation of its collaborative whiteboarding app, Jamboard, in late 2024.