This guide helps you switch from Outlook to Gmail on computer. If you're switching to Gmail on mobile, or need detailed instructions for troubleshooting, visit these Gmail topics instead.
In Gmail, you can personalize the look and feel of your inbox to match your style. You can also customize how messages and other apps are displayed.
On this page
- Change your inbox type
- Change your background
- Add a reading pane
- View Chat and Meet in Gmail
- Customize keyboard shortcuts
Note: The instructions in this guide are primarily web only. Get switching information for mobile devices.
Change your inbox type
- In Outlook: Choose view options in the ribbon or choose detailed options under File > Options.
- In Gmail: Choose your inbox type, density, and more in Settings or the Quick settings sidebar.
Learn how
Choose your inbox type
- On your computer, go to Gmail.
- Click Settings
.
- Under "Inbox type," select:
- Default
- Important first
- Unread first
- Starred first
- Priority Inbox
- Multiple Inboxes
Tip: The settings are also available in the Quick settings sidebar.
Change your background
- In Outlook: Choose a theme under File > Options.
- In Gmail: Choose a theme or background in Settings or the Quick settings sidebar.
Learn how
Change your background
- On your computer, open Gmail.
- At the top right, click Settings
.
- In the “Quick settings” menu, go to the “Theme” section.
- Next to "Theme," click View all.
- In the theme window, select a theme.
- For the default theme, select Default.
- For Dark theme, select Dark.
- For a pre-uploaded theme, select any theme.
- Optional: If available, at the bottom of the theme window, you can change the theme.
- To change the text background, click Text background
.
- To make the corners darker, click Vignette
.
- To blur background theme, click Blur
.
- To change the text background, click Text background
- Click Save.
Tip: The settings are also available in the Quick settings sidebar.
Add a reading pane
- In Outlook: Select reading pane options in the View ribbon.
- In Gmail: Turn on preview pane in Settings or the Quick settings sidebar.
Learn how
Turn on preview pane
- On your computer, go to Gmail
.
- At the top right, click Settings
See all settings.
- On the top, select the Inbox tab
scroll to Reading pane.
- Check the "Enable reading pane" box.
- Select your split pane mode:
- No split
- Right of inbox
- Below inbox
- At the bottom, click Save changes.
Tip: The settings are also available in the Quick settings sidebar.
View Chat, Meet, and other apps
- In Outlook: Choose options for Calendar and Tasks and People.
- In Gmail: Turn Chat and Meet on or off in Settings or Quick settings. You can also show or hide apps like Google Calendar in the sidebar.
Learn how
Turn Chat and Meet on or off
- On your computer, open Gmail.
- At the top right, click Settings
See all settings.
- At the top, click Chat and Meet.
- Next to “Chat,” to turn Chat on or off in Gmail, select Google Chat or Off.
- Click Save Changes.
Show or hide apps in the sidebar
- Open Gmail.
- At the bottom right, click Show side panel
.
- On the right, choose the product you want to open:
- Calendar
: Check your schedule and add or edit events.
- Keep
: Create a note or list.
- Tasks
: Add to-do items and deadlines.
- Contacts
: Access your contacts.
- Voice
: Make a Google Voice call.
- Maps
: Search Google Maps.
- Calendar
- To close the app panel, on the right, click Close
.
Customize keyboard shortcuts
- In Outlook: Customize settings on the ribbon.
- In Gmail: Add custom keyboard shortcuts for things you do frequently.
Learn how
Step 1: Turn on custom keyboard shortcuts
- On your computer, go to Gmail.
- At the top right, click Settings
Settings.
- Click Advanced.
- Next to “Custom keyboard shortcuts,” click Enable.
- At the bottom, click Save Changes.
Step 2: Change your keyboard shortcuts
- On your computer, go to Gmail.
- At the top right, click Settings
- At the top, click Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Next to the action, type the keyboard key to make a new shortcut.
- At the bottom, click Save Changes.
Note: One key can refer to only one action.
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