For the past few months, I’ve been trying to clean up and organize messages, folders, and labels in my business Gmail account.
Given I’ve had my business Gmail account for over 13 years, that’s a lot of organizing to do!
Yes, I’ve done quarterly clean-ups.
But somehow there’s always more to do. And more Gmail features to learn about.
Which is what happened this week when I discovered two Gmail features which look promising for saving time reading messages.
Unread Messages Inbox Layout Option and Auto-Advance
In Gmail, you have the option to change the inbox layout from the Default option to other layout options, including:
- Important first
- Unread first
- Starred first
- Priority Inbox
- Multiple Inboxes
In the past, I’ve used the Default option.
Which divides my inbox into different tabs of Primary, Social, and Promotions.
But I never seem to read all my unread messages when they’re in three different tabs. Too many places to look.
My solution?
I’ve changed my inbox layout option to Unread first.
I’ve noticed since I made the change this week, I’m keeping on top of my unread messages. We’ll see how long I keep the setting.
For now, it’s working for me!
Note: to make an inbox layout change in Gmail, you’ll need to make the change in each device where you’re using Gmail.
Another helpful feature in Gmail is the auto-advance option.
When it’s turned on, auto-advance displays the next conversation in your inbox after you delete, archive, or mute a conversation.
Which saves me time!
I don’t have to return back to my inbox and start the whole process of reading messages all over again.
It’s not a feature you’re likely to find on your own.
It’s hidden in Gmail’s Advanced section on the web. Which is found in Settings (gear icon) > See all settings > Advanced.
Once you’ve turned on auto-advance, be sure to scroll down and Save Changes.
Note: it’s a two-step process on the web.
You’ll also need to select whether to go to the next or previous conversation. That setting is found on the Settings > General Settings page.
On Android, turn on auto-advance within Settings > General Settings > Auto-advance.
Once you’ve selecting the auto-advance option, you’ll be prompted to choose which Advance option: Newer, Older, or Conversation list.
From what I read on the Gmail help site, auto-advance is not available in the iOS version of the Gmail app.
Wrapping Up
I’m always looking for productivity tips to speed up my work. The two Gmail features, unread message inbox layout and auto-advance, are features that will help me save time.
Have you used these features in your Gmail? Or have other productivity features in Gmail you like? Share your thoughts in the comments.
