Did you know you can use Gmail without an internet connection? Using the Gmail offline feature, you can search, read, label, delete, and respond to your emails entirely in your web browser.
The feature works without an internet connection just as if you were in a tunnel, plane, or some place that has no cell phone service.
As long as your computer is connected to a working network, any new emails will be downloaded, while any emails queued to send will be sent, or changed according to your request.
How to Enable and Access Gmail Offline In Your Browser
The feature is only available through Google Chrome browser, and it’s simple to configure. Chrome browser works with Windows, Linux, Mac, and Chromebooks, but you just can’t open Gmail when offline and expect that it’ll work.
Set it up when you’re on an active internet connection, and when the connection is lost, you’ll be assured that Gmail will work. To do this:
- Install Google Offline for Google Chrome extension
- Go to the extension page
- Click Visit Website
- Authorize the extension in the new window to access your mail
- Choose Allow offline mail button
- Click Continue to open in offline mode
In offline mode, Gmail looks a little bit different. However the functions are basically the same as you’d find in the regular Gmail you’re used to.
To open it, go to Chrome apps via chrome://apps/ URL and select Gmail icon. And when you don’t need it anymore, uninstall it. It can also be used for your domain.
Get Offline Access without Chrome
You can use an email client to get offline access to Gmail without Google Chrome. When the proper SMTP, IMAP or POP3 server settings are used to install an email program, and configured well, all your messages will be downloaded to your computer.
Therefore, you can read, queue, or search new Gmail messages while offline as they’re no longer pulled from Gmail servers.
Offline Data and Cache
Gmail keeps a week’s worth of email for use offline by default so without an internet connection. To change this setting:
- Click Settings
- Choose a different option from Download Mail From Past (1 week, 2 weeks, or 1 month)
- Click Apply and save changes
If you’re on a shared or public computer, you can delete the offline Gmail cache once you finish using it so that no one else can access your Gmail account if you’re not using the computer.
Elsie is a tech writer with 8+ years professional experience. For Tech News Watch, she brings rich experience contributing to topics such as Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS among others. In her spare time, she loves checking out the latest tech trends, gadgets, and news, listening to music and cars.
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