Accessing new Gmail features with a screen reader

Gmail is getting a new look and feel when accessing it through the web, including additional new features. This article will highlight the most significant changes if you are using a screen reader.

If you have not enabled the new Gmail, navigate to the Settings pop-up button, and use the down arrow to navigate to “Try the new Toronto Metropolitan University Mail” menu option. If you choose to, you can revert to the old Gmail through the same menu.

Changing display density

Gmail’s new default layout includes a preview of email attachments right from your inbox. However, if there are many attachments, the page may appear cluttered and impact your navigation experience. To change the inbox display density, go to Settings > Display density and select Comfortable or Compact.  

View Calendar, Tasks, & Keep from Gmail side panel

You can now use Google Calendar, Keep, and Tasks in a side panel while using Gmail. The side panel is a complementary landmark labeled “Side panel navigation”, and functions as a tab panel for each respective tool. The tools in the side panel are collapsed, by default. To go to the side panel and expand one of the tools, follow these steps:

1. To go to the side panel, you can use these shortcuts:
   • Windows: Ctrl + Alt + . (period) or Ctrl + Alt + , (comma)
   • Chromebook: Alt + Shift + . (period) or Alt + Shift + , (comma)
   • Mac: ⌘ + Option + . (period) or ⌘ + Option + , (comma)
      
2. In the side panel, press the up or down arrow to move through the list of tools: Calendar, Keep, and Tasks.
   
   
3. Press Enter to expand the tool that you want to use.
   
   
4. In the side panel, you can now do the following actions, without leaving Gmail:
   • Calendar: View your daily schedule, click events to edit them, create new events, and jump to upcoming events.
   • Keep: Create checklists and take notes.
   • Tasks: Add to-do's and deadlines.
     
     
5. To move back to Gmail while the side panel is open, use these shortcuts:
   • Windows: Ctrl + Alt + . (period) or Ctrl + Alt + , (comma)
   • Chromebook: Alt + Shift + . (period) or Alt + Shift + , (comma)
   • Mac: ⌘ + Option + . (period) or ⌘ + Option + , (comma)
     
     
6. To close the side panel, press Shift + Tab until you reach Close, then press Enter.

Snooze emails until later

You can temporarily remove an email from your inbox and have it reappear at a time that's most convenient for you, right back at the top of your inbox. To snooze an email, open an email and navigate to the Snooze button. The Snooze button is located before the main content area, along the same area that contains the Delete, Mark as Unread, and Move to buttons. If you are in the main content area, use Shift + Tab to move back and find the Snooze button.

Activating the Snooze button will activate a pop up menu with 4 options. The first three options are suggested default times for Later Today, Tomorrow and Next. The last button is Pick Date & Time, which will prompt a date picker modal.

If you need to access the email you snoozed, you can find it in the Labels navigation menu, below the Inbox and Starred labels.

Use suggested replies & follow-ups

You can quickly reply to emails using phrases that'll show up based on the message you've received. Suggested replies are listed at the end of a conversation in an email, in the form of buttons. The button will be labeled as “Suggested reply” followed by the phrase.

For example, “button, Suggested reply, Thanks, I'll check them out.”

Activating the button will insert the suggested reply phrase in the message body of your reply. The cursor is placed at the end of the phrase if you would like to continue writing a reply.

More

For more information and help with Gmail, please read Use Gmail with a screen reader. (external link)