Gmail launches a tab dedicated to "Purchases" which brings together, in a single space, all messages related to online orders: confirmations, tracking numbers, and expected dates. The idea is to simplify the day-to-day life of those who shop online, so that key information is available. by hand and without searching among scattered emails.
At the same time, the "Promotions" category is renewed with a order by relevance and with reminders that highlight offers about to expire. These new features come to personal accounts both in the web version and in mobile applications, with a progressive deployment.
What's changing with the new "Purchases" tab?
The new section concentrates all order and shipping emails in an ordered view. On mobile it appears in the side menu (the one with the three lines), identified with a bag icon, while on desktop it is integrated into the sidebar, along with the rest of Gmail's categories.
Although emails now have their own section, Gmail will still display them in the main inbox. cards highlighting packages planned for the next 24 hoursFrom these cards you can review the order or track shipment with one tap, without opening the original email.
Within messages, Gmail incorporates a summary card which groups updates related to each purchase: order status, delivery changes, or new notifications from the store. This way, the conversation about each purchase is organized and easy to follow.
The "Purchases" tab is especially useful for those who receive many confirmations and notifications from online stores, as avoid mixing invoices, promotions and communications from other services in the main inbox.
- Order confirmations and payment details.
- Tracking numbers and links to the carrier's website.
- Estimated dates of delivery and status changes.
- History of recent and previous purchases, gathered in one place.
Availability and how to access
The "Purchases" tab is already in global deployment For users with personal Google accounts, both on the mobile app and the web version. Activation is gradual, so it may take a while to appear on all devices.
No need to install anything: just use Gmail updated. On mobile, you can access it from the side menu; on the web, the new tab appears in the navigation panel. If it doesn't appear yet, it's a matter of wait for it to spread the update.
Promotions: relevance and reminders
The "Promotions" category incorporates a filter that shows the best deals first. most relevant for each person, prioritizing senders and brands with which they interact most frequently. This way, potentially useful offers are no longer lost in chronological order.
Additionally, Gmail will add reminders that highlight discounts and campaigns about to expire, making it easier to take advantage of them in time. If you prefer, you can always return to the classic view and sort by "most recent".
Google indicates that these improvements in Promotions will be implemented in the coming weeks on mobile devices for personal accounts, with a staggered arrival.
Privacy and user control
Automatic mail classification is based on automated processing that identifies shopping messages and offers. The user remains in control: it is possible to adjust the categories, change filters or disable views if they don't fit your way of working.
With this approach, Gmail seeks to find the important thing is faster and that promotional noise weighs less on the inbox. Even so, those who wish can continue managing their messages as before, maintaining the traditional view and the familiar sorting options.
The result is a more practical tray for e-commerce: all your orders in one tab, helpful notifications when something needs attention, and a Promotions section that prioritizes what's really interesting, without losing the ability to return to your usual view.
