Switching to Gmail from Microsoft Outlook

2. Make Gmail look like Outlook

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In this section:

2.1 (Optional) List messages separately
2.2 Add a preview pane
2.3 View your calendar in your inbox
2.4 Create task lists
2.5 Create a signature
2.6 Use and change keyboard shortcuts

2.1 (Optional) List messages separately

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Outlook: 
Individual messages

Gmail: 
Conversation view

Messages layout in 2016 version

Outlook 2016
 

Messages layout in 2013 version

Outlook 2013
 

Message layout in 2010 version

Outlook 2010

By default, Gmail groups a message and its replies in a conversation that’s listed as a single inbox entry. Conversation threads are the recommended way to manage your email; they provide a fast, efficient way to see multiple related messages in one view.

However, if you prefer to list messages separately, you can turn Conversation view off. You can switch back at any time.

Note: Certain Gmail features (such as Snooze) are only available if Conversation view is on.

  1. At the top right, click Settings Settingsand thenSee all settings.
  2. In the General tab, scroll to Conversation View and select Conversation view off.
  3. At the bottom, click Save Changes.

Messages get grouped into threads

2.2 Add a preview pane

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Outlook: Reading pane

Gmail: Preview Pane

Preview in 2016 version

Outlook 2016
 

Preview in 2013 version

Outlook 2013
 

Preview in 2010 version

Outlook 2010

Similar to the Reading Pane in Outlook, the Preview Pane lets
you see the first few lines of messages in your inbox.

  1. At the top right, click Settings Settingsand thenSee all settings.
  2. In the Advanced tab, scroll to Preview Pane and select Enable.
  3. At the bottom, click Save Changes.
  4. At the top of your inbox, click the Down arrow  next to Toggle Toggle .
  5. Select Vertical Split.

Open preview pane

2.3 View your calendar in your inbox

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Outlook: Calendar peek

Gmail: Calendar view

Calendar in 2016 version

Outlook 2016
 

Calendar in 2013 version

Outlook 2013
 

2010 calendar layout

Outlook 2010

To the right of your inbox, click Calendar " ".

Open your calendar

 

2.4 Create task lists

" "

Outlook: Tasks

Gmail: Task lists

Create a task in 2016 version

Outlook 2016
 

Create a task in 2013 version

Outlook 2013
 

Task options in 2010 version

Outlook 2010

On the right of your inbox, click Tasks " " to see your task lists.

  • Add a new list—Click the Down arrow and thenCreate new list.
  • Change lists—Click the Down arrow and select a list.
  • Add a new task—Click + Add a task. To add a new task from an email, drag the email into a task list.
  • Edit a task—Point at a task and click Edit .
  • Delete a task—For incomplete tasks, click Edit , then click Delete . For completed tasks, point at a task and click Delete . 

Click on the pencil to add a task

 

2.5 Create a signature

" "

Outlook: Signature

Gmail: Signature

Signature options in 2016 version

Outlook 2016
 

Signature option in 2013 version

Outlook 2013
 

Add a signature in 2010 version

Outlook 2010
  1. Open Gmail.
  2. At the top right, click Settings Settingsand thenSee all settings.
  3. In the General tab, scroll to Signature.
  4. Click Create new. Name your signature, then click Create.

    This name is not your actual signature, but is a name for the signature template.

  5. In the text box at right, add your signature text.
  6. Use the format bar to add text colors, links, and images.
  7. At the bottom, click Save Changes.

Sign and save

2.6 Use and change keyboard shortcuts

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Turn on shortcuts:

  1. At the top right, click Settings Settingsand thenSee all settings.
  2. In the General tab, scroll to the Keyboard shortcuts section and select Keyboard shortcuts on.
  3. At the bottom, click Save changes.
  4. Type Shift + ? when you have Gmail open to see available keyboard shortcuts.

Save keyboard shortcuts

(Optional) Customize your shortcuts to match what you used in Outlook:

  1. At the top right, click Settings Settingsand thenSee all settings.
  2. In the Advanced tab, scroll to Custom keyboard shortcuts and select Enable.
  3. At the bottom, click Save changes.
  4. At the top right, click Settings Settingsand thenSee all settings.
  5. In the new Keyboard shortcuts tab, change the mappings you want.
  6. At the bottom, click Save Changes. 
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