What you should know
– Google is testing an unsubscribe feature in the latest Android Gmail app
– The unsubscribe button has been available on the web version of Gmail for some time
– The feature is not yet widely rolled out and requires a hidden flag to be enabled
– Google has set guidelines for commercial emails to have a one-click unsubscribe button within two days of request
Full Story
Google is currently testing out a new feature on the Android Gmail app that allows users to easily unsubscribe from promotional bulk email senders. This feature has been available on the web version for some time and is now being tested on the mobile app. The lack of this easy-to-access button forces users of the Android mobile app to scroll down through the email itself to find the unsubscribe link to click on. This requires more time and effort from the user, as these links are usually inconveniently placed in a very small font.
The new feature was spotted by AssembleDebug from TheSpAndroid in version 2023.11.12 of the Gmail app, which is currently not live for all users. Even on this newer version of Gmail, a hidden flag had to be enabled in order to make the feature work, indicating that it may not be ready for prime time yet. It seems that Google is taking steps to make unsubscribing from email lists easier and more convenient for users.
Google has set new guidelines earlier this year that require commercial emails to have a one-click unsubscribe button that’s clearly visible in the message, and the process to unsubscribe must be completed within two days. The introduction of this feature on the Gmail Android app, whenever it gets widely rolled out, is likely the result of Google’s efforts to force bulk email senders to give users an easy way to unsubscribe. This new feature is expected to be a time-saver for users who want to efficiently manage their email feed.
