Gmail includes a toolbar with buttons for common actions such as archiving, deleting, reporting spam, marking messages as unread, and more. By default, many of these buttons appear as icons rather than words.
If you don’t immediately recognize what each icon means, that can slow you down because you may need to hover over a button to see its label before clicking it.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to change Gmail’s toolbar buttons from icons to text labels. It only takes a minute to update the setting, and it can make Gmail easier and faster to use if you prefer clear, descriptive buttons instead of symbols.
Video Tutorial
Step-by-Step Instructions
Note: This setting changes the main top action toolbar when you select or view an email. The main navigation panel on the far-left sidebar (Inbox, Sent, Starred) will continue to display its standard companion icons next to their text names.
1. Click the Settings (gear) icon in the top right corner.
2. Click See all settings.
3. Under the General tab, scroll down until you find the Button labels section. Switch the selection from Icons to Text.
4. Scroll to the very bottom of the page and click Save Changes.
5. Your browser will automatically refresh, and your action toolbar (like Delete, Archive, and Mark as Read) will now display as text.
Related
How to Create an Unread Emails Folder in Gmail That Updates Automatically
Learn how to create an Unread Emails folder-style view in Gmail using labels, filters, and optional Google Apps Script automation. This tutorial shows how to add an unread count to Gmail’s sidebar, automatically remove read messages from the view, and safely set up and authorize the script step by step.
How to Find Archived Emails in Gmail
Learn how to find archived emails in Gmail on a computer or mobile device. This tutorial explains what the Gmail archive is, why there isn’t a separate Archive folder, how to locate archived messages quickly, and how to use filters to automatically archive specific types of email.
How to Add a New Contact in Gmail
Learn how to add a new contact in Gmail using two simple methods. This tutorial explains how Gmail works with Google Contacts, how to check whether someone is already saved, and how to add a contact from an email or create one manually in Google Contacts.
Stay Updated
There are two easy ways to get notified when new tutorials are published:
Subscribe on YouTube for new video tutorials: @SimpleSoftwareTutorials
or enter your email below to receive new blog posts directly in your inbox:
Simple Software Tutorials 