Since many users travel these days and want to use their down time in the airport or on the plane to read and manage their messages, one of the most requested questions I hear is, How do I setup Gmail for offline use? To resolve this request and to kick off our weekly tips and tricks blog post, here is the quickest way to setup and use offline Gmail.
INSTALL GMAIL OFFLINE – Chrome App
Be sure you are using the Chrome browser with all Google Apps Tools.
- Go to the app’s page in the Chrome Web Store.
- Click the add to Chrome button
- Click Add
INSTALL OPTIMIZER – Chrome extension to improve performance
The Gmail Offline Sync Optimizer helps you sync messages faster, improve battery life, and keep Chrome fast.
- Go to the extension’s page in the Chrome Web Store.
- Click the add to Chrome button
- Click Add
- Refresh any open Gmail Offline pages you may have open.
Using Gmail Offline – Open Gmail Offline
- Open a new tab in Chrome
- Click Apps in the bookmarks bar near the top of the page
- Click the Gmail Offline icon
Allow offline mail
When you first use Gmail Offline, you will be prompted to allow offline mail storage
- Choose Allow offline mail, unless you’re using a shared or public computer.
- If you choose Don’t allow offline mail, you won’t be able to access messages while you’re offline.
Navigate the app
- Access your labels with the Menu icon, 3 bars in top left corner of browser window
- Flip back to messages by clicking on any label
- While reading messages, find more actions via the under the arrow icon just left of the gear icon
- Change your settings and vacation responder with the gear icon
- Add, switch or sign out of your accounts by clicking your account name in the lower left
- Check if you’re offline with the connection status message in the lower left
Send messages
Click Red Pencil in top left to start writing messages. Your messages will be sent automatically when you’re back online. If you have a custom signature, it will be added to your messages when they’re sent.
You can add attachments, but the maximum size for a single attachment is 5 MB and the total size limit for all attachments in the message is 25 MB.
I’ve long been wanting a “Google Offline” ability in a USB memory stick. So that I can stick my personal Gmail account into any computer & work within it, offline.
I’d actually pay Google hundreds of dollars to send me my e-mail in a non-cloud form such as in USB sticks. Or I’d just pay more for USB sticks that come loaded with the software to manipulate Gmail.
Cyle Moore, please comment on the hardware side of this article. It could help me figure out what device, or combinations of devices, to buy for myself & my community.
(That most phones & tablets do not have any or many USB ports yet, makes me think that key decision-makers at major manufacturers are out of tune with the market. And that key decision-makers at struggling manufacturers of storage & devices (Memorex? BlackBerry?) should wake up to the potential — how well-positioned they actually are for better combinations of hardware & software.)