Switch from Microsoft Outlook to Gmail 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. 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 . Expand all | Collapse all 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. 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 Important first Multiple inboxes Tip : The settings are also available in the Quick settings sidebar. Learn more at the Gmail Help Centre 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. Change your background On your computer, open Gmail . In 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. 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 . To make the corners darker, click Vignette . To blur background theme, click Blur . 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. Turn on preview pane On your computer, go to Gmail . In the top right, click Settings See all settings . At the top, select the Inbox tab scroll to Reading pane. Tick the 'Enable reading pane' box. Select your split pane mode: No split Right of inbox Below inbox At the bottom, click Save changes . Learn more at the Gmail Help Centre 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. Turn Chat and Meet on or off On your computer, open Gmail . At the top right, click Settings See all settings . Go to Gmail settings Go to Gmail settings At the top, click Chat and Meet . To turn Chat on or off in Gmail, next to 'Chat', select Google Chat or Off . Click Save changes . Show or hide apps in the sidebar 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 : 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. To close the app panel, on the right, click Close . Learn more at the Gmail Help Centre Customize keyboard shortcuts In Outlook : Customize settings on the ribbon. In Gmail : Add custom keyboard shortcuts for things you do frequently. Learn more at the Gmail Help Centre Google, Google Workspace and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. All other company and product names are trademarks of the companies with which they are associated. Need more help? Try these next steps: