Did you know Gmail has these new hidden features?

Google has recently launched a brand new look for its email app, Gmail. With the new features available in this UI update, users can now customise and navigate between other Google apps when using Gmail as well as reply to chat notification bubbles in either full windows or pop-ups. 

Here's how you can use the new features in the latest Gmail UI update.

Access Mail, Chat, Spaces and Meet in one app

Google has integrated its Mail, Chat, Spaces and Meet apps into the main menu of Gmail. Users can now find each of these features displayed in a collapsible panel in the Gmail app.

If you want to hide or show the collapsible panel, click the Show or Hide main menu option on the top left.  

If you want to customise apps in the main menu, click Settings in the upper right corner. From there, you will see a new menu with an 'Apps in Gmail' section. Click 'Customise' from there and select which apps you want to use in Gmail. At the time of writing, only Mail, Chat, Spaces and Meet are available to be used in the Gmail app's new UI.

New chat options

The Chat tab will give the user access to private or group chats. You can open any individual chat screen in a smaller window by clicking the 'Open in a pop-up' option at the upper right side of the chat window.

Notifications for new chat messages appear in the bottom left corner. Pointing to the notification bubble that pops up will allow the user to preview what the message entails. To reply to the message, click the bubble.

You can also turn on notifications for these chat message bubbles. You can find the option at the top right of the Gmail window. Click on the Status Indicator and then 'Chat notification settings'. Check 'Allow chat notifications' and 'Open chat bubbles for new messages' to allow the chat messages pop-up features.

You can turn the feature off in the same way by unchecking the 'Open chat bubbles for new messages' instead. 

The new options in the latest Gmail update. Image: Google

How to switch to the new UI

Google has specified instructions on how you can use the new layout. However, to get access to the new UI, 'Chat in Gmail' option must be turned on and set to the left-hand panel. 

You can set the 'Chat in Gmail' option by going to the Settings option in the main Gmail app menu and clicking on 'See all settings'. From there, go to 'Chat and Meet'. Check either 'Google Chat' or 'Off' in the 'Chat' option there. In the 'Chat position' option, keep 'Left side of the inbox' checked.

Now that you have activated 'Chat in Gmail', go back to the main Settings option in the main Gmail app menu. Under 'Quick settings', you will find 'Try out the new Gmail view'. Reload the app to launch the new view!

If you want to switch back to the older UI, follow the same steps but under 'Quick settings', click the option that says 'Go back to the original Gmail view'.