New Gmail android app on phone - remove social and promotions

jo69 · Jul 8, 2013

On the Gmail android app I want to remove social and promotions. Have done it on my nexus 7 no problem
But there doesn't seem to be an option on my nexus 4 phone

Petrah · Jul 8, 2013

Can you be a bit more specific? I've looked all over Gmail on my phone and cannot see what it is you're referring to.

I'm running version 4.5.2

nightfishing · Jul 8, 2013

check that.

if you switch from priority to default inbox it should allow you to deselect the categories.

jo69 · Jul 9, 2013

nightfishing said:
check that.

if you switch from priority to default inbox it should allow you to deselect the categories.

Its in the gmail app. It has been updated and now has social and promotions folders
I was able to remove them in the desktop version but not in the gmail app.

Found this but it doesn't seem to apply to the gmail app
Google Groups

Petrah · Jul 9, 2013

Odd. I don't have those folders. I have all of the ones I personally set, but no "Social" or "Promotions" folders.

womb raider · Jul 9, 2013

Strange, I removed them using the desktop GMail and it automatically updated the app as well.

Clementine_3 · Jul 17, 2013

I just was updated to the new Gmail, both online and phone. I was able to remove them online with no trouble but they refuse to budge on my phone. No matter how many times I unclick them they just come right back. I don't want them, I want them gone.

Hadron · Jul 18, 2013

I'm with Petrah - can't see any sign of these folders. 4.2 and latest GMail app.

I have never signed up/into G+, so maybe that's relevant.

myandroid101 · Jul 18, 2013

I don't have that folder either

Clementine_3 · Jul 18, 2013

Gmail updated automatically on both. This is what it looks like and, even though I unselect them in settings they come right back. I have 2 Gmail accounts and only one has updated.
The annoying part is that it has sorted all the mail that was in my inbox for me. I have to go hunt for stuff now. Like my bills...they are in promotions now. UGH.

Mayhem · Jul 18, 2013

Mine looks nothing like that. I'm running 4.5.2-714156.

My menu goes

Inbox
Priority Inbox

All Labels
_______________________
Starred
Important
Chats
Sent
Outbox
All Mail
Spam
Trash

And then some custom labels I've had set up for years are listed....

Edit: I've done nothing to GMail to customize it. In fact, I can't stand the new GMail. I want the old one back.

Clementine_3 · Jul 18, 2013

Actually, mine is the same version. I didn't update it though, it was not an update through Play, I opened it yesterday and was greeted with "Welcome to your new inbox" or something similar.

Clementine_3 · Jul 19, 2013

Dammit. My other Gmail just updated. This totally sucks, there is no way to not use it on the phone and it's so stupid. Really.
I use filters and labels to get my emails where I want them, I don't need Google to decide what should go to pre-determined, uneditable inboxes that make no friggin' sense.
Let me friggin' remove this crap from phone please. NOW.

edit: Oh and, since nothing seems to be going into the real inbox I don't get notifications now. I'm not going to set up notifications for inboxes that I won't use. I really hate this. /rant

Clementine_3 · Jul 22, 2013

Well, this may explain why you can't get rid of the new inboxes in the GMail app: Google starts placing ads directly in Gmail inboxes | Internet & Media - CNET News

Hadron · Jul 22, 2013

Well I don't use a browser, or actually the GMail app to read my GMail, so if they get round to me then with any luck I'll never see them.

And if they find a way past that, I'll just stop using GMail.

Petrah · Jul 22, 2013

They did manage to get around to updating mine. I hate it. Disabling them in the phone app did no good.

How I fixed it:

On the web (PC Browser):

Go to your Gmail settings (little gear icon on the top right side) and click on it.
Then click on Configure Inbox.
Disable the tabs you don't want (I disabled Social, Promotions, Updates, and Forums).

On the web (PC Browser):

Go into your Labels (left side of the screen) and completely hide Social, Promotions, Updates, and Forums.

They'll more than likely still be showing up in the Gmail app.

Go into your phones settings and view all of the Applications.
Locate Gmail and clear the data. This sets the phone up like you have it on the web.
Those extra labels are now hidden.
You'll need to go in and add your personal settings again (notification tone, signature etc. etc. etc.)

All done.

Clementine_3 · Jul 22, 2013

Ah! I didn't go as far as clearing data! Toddling off now to, hopefully, get rid of that stupidity.

Edit: Yay!! I'm a happy girl now. Petrah saves the day, rock on Petrah, rock on... :thrasher::rock:

zuben el genub · Jul 22, 2013

Use POP3 and another mail client. I have Chrome, phone's email, and Gmail disabled. I use Thunderbird on the PC, and Aquamail on Android.

BTW - I rarely get spam in the POP3 Google account on Thunderbird, but there were a couple today.

peacay · Jul 23, 2013

Oh man this thing has been driving me up the wall. I'd fixed the browser version the day it hit but somehow I've now just found - on my nexus 7 and nexus 4 devices - a bunch of missed messages. Glad they were relatively trivial. As above, I have a whole big bunch of my own labels. Google's doing everything they can now to drive me away, what with gReader being killed and now this flustercluck.

Petra, you wrote:
--Go into your phones settings and view all of the Applications. Locate Gmail and clear the data. This sets the phone up like you have it on the web.--

I don't get it. In settings I go into Google (under accounts) and get a small list: my email addi, privacy, search, location g+ & ads. I go through the email a/c and get a whole big list starting with app data. I untick that then retick the app data and alls it does is resynch the device.

So are you saying to leave that "app data" selection unticked???? And how does keeping that not synched with my web and other mobi device, make these stupid labels automagically disappear???

I even went into one of these social emails (from tumblr). You can change its label but it won't let you put it in the inbox (or should I say "primary" .. I guess that PLUS "social" PLUS "promotions" constitute 'inbox' now?); it only lets you choose spam, trash or one of your own labels.

So yeah, if you could elaborate a little about what you *actually did* in relation to clearing the data and the outcome, I'd appreciate it. Meantime I might see if can't rustle up some further commentary in google's forums.

AndreyT · Jul 27, 2013

At this point the GMail app for Android is officially broken. It is not possible to remove the Social and Promotions categories from the Inbox the "normal" way, i.e. through settings, even though they are intended to be removable.

Trying to clear the Social and Promotions checkboxes in GMail app account settings simply makes them reappear immediately.

Until Google developers fix this bug, the workaround (suggested by Petrah) is to go to Android app list and clear all data for GMail app. This will reset all GMaill app settings and incidentally remove the Social and Promotions categories.

(In more detail: Go to Android "Settings". Select "Apps". Switch to "All" tab. Scroll down to "GMail" app. Hit it. In the page that opens hit the "Clear data" button. Confirm that you want to clear the data, if the phone asks you to.)

psionandy · Jul 27, 2013

I just removed all of them from the gmail connection via the web page.. and then they vanished in the android app...
I'm much happier that way as i just didn't like them

zuben el genub · Jul 27, 2013

Don't know whether or not you can access from phone - but on computer go to Google's dashboard and disable what you can and set other preferences.

Petrah · Jul 27, 2013

Petrah said:
They did manage to get around to updating mine. I hate it. Disabling them in the phone app did no good.

How I fixed it:

On the web (PC Browser):

Go to your Gmail settings (little gear icon on the top right side) and click on it.

Then click on Configure Inbox.

Disable the tabs you don't want (I disabled Social, Promotions, Updates, and Forums).

On the web (PC Browser):

Go into your Labels (left side of the screen) and completely hide Social, Promotions, Updates, and Forums.

They'll more than likely still be showing up in the Gmail app.

Go into your phones settings and view all of the Applications.

Locate Gmail and clear the data. This sets the phone up like you have it on the web.

Those extra labels are now hidden.

You'll need to go in and add your personal settings again (notification tone, signature etc. etc. etc.)

All done.

peacay said:
I don't get it. In settings I go into Google (under accounts) and get a small list: my email addi, privacy, search, location g+ & ads. I go through the email a/c and get a whole big list starting with app data. I untick that then retick the app data and alls it does is resynch the device.

So yeah, if you could elaborate a little about what you *actually did* in relation to clearing the data and the outcome, I'd appreciate it. Meantime I might see if can't rustle up some further commentary in google's forums.

I've edited my quote and separated the sentences. What exactly is it in my instructions that's confusing you?

EggheadDash · Jul 29, 2013

Another Solution (Confirmed with 4.1.1) : Go to Applications > Settings > All > Gmail > Uninstall Updates

Your Gmail will now be reset to the factory version that doesn't include the tabs. You can also go to Gmail in Google Play > Menu Key > Uncheck Auto-Update if it's checked. This will prevent it from updating you back to the new version.

gingersnapgirl · Jul 29, 2013

Clementine_3 said:
Well, this may explain why you can't get rid of the new inboxes in the GMail app: Google starts placing ads directly in Gmail inboxes | Internet & Media - CNET News

I am NOT happy about this at all. The ads are made to look like actual messages, except they don't have checkboxes on the left - there are X's on the right to remove them, but more come back the next time you log in.

Between the changes to gmail and the Talk app switching over to Hangouts with reduced functionality, I'm not a happy user. The only change they've made recently that I'm happy with is the Maps update, but I know some aren't happy about that. They seem to be making changes just for the sake of change without regard for their users' wants and needs, and it's frustrating.

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