How to Preview Emails in Gmail with the Reading Pane

Gmail's Reading pane lets you select a message and read it beside or below the inbox list. This split view reduces back-and-forth navigation when you need to scan several messages on a computer.

The feature was previously called Preview Pane and was once located in Gmail Labs. In the current interface, it is called Reading pane and appears in the Inbox settings.

Enable the Reading pane in Gmail

Step 1: Open Gmail in a desktop web browser and sign in to the account you want to change.

Step 2: Select the gear-shaped Settings icon, then choose See all settings.

Step 3: Open the Inbox tab and scroll to the Reading pane section. Select Enable reading pane.

Step 4: Choose one of the available layouts:

• No split keeps the standard inbox view.
• Right of inbox places the message list on the left and the selected message on the right.
• Below inbox places the message list above the selected message.

Step 5: Scroll to the bottom of the settings page and select Save changes. Gmail reloads the inbox with the selected layout.

Choose the best preview layout

Right of inbox works well on a wide monitor because it keeps the message list visible while providing a tall reading area.

Below inbox gives the message more horizontal space and can be easier to read on a narrower browser window.

You can drag the divider between the list and the message to adjust their sizes. If the pane feels cramped, maximize the browser window or hide Gmail's side panel.

Turn off the Reading pane

Return to Settings > See all settings > Inbox, clear Enable reading pane, and save the change. Selecting No split changes the current layout without disabling the feature entirely.

If the Reading pane option is missing

• Confirm that you are using Gmail in a desktop browser; the mobile app uses a different layout.
• Look under the Inbox tab, not the old Labs or Advanced sections shown in older tutorials.
• Refresh Gmail after saving the setting, and try a current version of the browser if the layout does not appear.
• On a work or school account, some settings may be controlled by the organization's administrator.

Google maintains the current controls in its Gmail Reading pane instructions. New Gmail users can also review how to create a Gmail account, while readers looking for other inbox tools can compare AI extensions for Gmail.