I really disliked it but now thanks to this thread I switched the density to compact and it’s all cool.
I really disliked it but now thanks to this thread I switched the density to compact and it’s all cool.
I don’t mind the layout changes except for how they’ve changed the left-hand sidebar. I have 11 labels I use nearly every day, and I don’t use chat at all. In the old view, I’d arranged it so all 11 of my frequent labels were always visible on the left sidebar, and I could easily navigate between them.
In the new view, chat popped up and took up half of the sidebar (or 2/3 to 3/4 depending on how tall I made the browser window), and even when I took off chat, the labels don’t fill out the sidebar; they roll up to the top quarter-to-half of the sidebar, meaning I can only see the top two or three unless I mouse over the sidebar and wait for the rest of them to roll out. And if I want to see all my labels, I have to click on “More” at the bottom. This is the same as it used to be, but there’s really no reason to roll up the ‘abbreviated’ labels list because it’s already abbreviated! Especially since the rest of the sidebar is blank without chat. It’s hiding my useful labels so I can enjoy…nothing.
Does anyone know if there’s a way to turn that off?
Does anyone have a fix for my problem? In some of my Gmail accounts (I haven’t switched all of them) I don’t have links to “Documents” and “Calendar” etc across the top anymore. To get to them I have to click on the Google icon itself, and then I get a list of some things, but still no “Caldendar”… for that I have to click “More” at the bottom of the list, and THEN I see “Calendar.”
Seeing that “Calendar” is one of the most clicked things for me in Gmail, putting it behind 3 clicks is pretty lame. Is there a way to move it back to the front?
I didn’t get used to the Cal change either, so eventually I put it back to the old look. I’ve done the same right off for Gmail, hope it will last a while…
It’s all washed out, like you’re looking through a mist. Silly Google.
I do not think there’s a way to change that - yet.
It would be great to be able to customize that menu…
Lots of people over dozens of have joined
“I hate Gmail’s new look” (and counting) of members:
This.
Yet to see it!
Logged in for the first time this year. The new Gmail look was not a welcome NY’s present. 
Thank goodness I remembered this thread. I’ll start trying the suggestions.
It’s a Shame they are so determined to ruin GMail.
Here’s Another vote for Compact Display Density.
That helped a lot.
The chat section is still annoying and too big. But at least my messages look better.
I hate the way they seem to have replaced all the written text with symbols. Paradoxically, it feels dumbed-down AND harder to understand at the same time.
This is my big beef. The contrast for the difference between read and unread mail is too low.
I’m resigned to it now - Compact has helped.
But I am surprised that a change like this comes along with no obvious answer to “Why did we do this? What’s better?” Absent that, a format change comes across as “Every so often, without asking you, we’re going to come into your house and rearrange the furniture - just because we can. You didn’t want the change? Wanted to feel you were in control? Tough luck.”
Today is the first day I was forced to look at the new look, it is better in compact mode but as someone above mentioned there is too little contrast. I’ve noticed a lot of sites going more washed which is a problem on my laptop because if the screen is not at the exact correct angle it all looks like white with a tinge of gray, on white.
I temprarily switched back though i’m sure eventually that option will go away.
I switched back. Got a pop-up asking why. Told them it made it harder for me to read.
I tried the High Contrast Theme. I’m not really convinced its much better. But its worth trying.
I miss the buttons for deleting and other functions. I had to let my mouse hover over the new Icons to figure out which was delete.
I’m mildly irritated. I’m not heavily invested in how Gmail or YouTube look. I just want it to work when I need it.
I use this for my business mail then I changed companies and they make me use my company mail in advertising so I may use this as an excuse to change everything over.
It’s back! They put Calendar, Documents, etc back at the top
I take it back. It only shows up sometimes, and possibly only in Chrome.