Native Gmail App Returns to App Store - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Native Gmail App Returns to App Store

by

gmailscreenies
As noted by Google, the company's native Gmail app for iOS has returned to the App Store. The app debuted two weeks ago, but was quickly pulled after a bug breaking notifications was discovered as soon as users began installing the app.

Two weeks ago, we introduced our Gmail app for iOS. Unfortunately it contained a bug which broke notifications and displayed an error message, so we removed it from the App Store. We’ve fixed the bug and notifications are now working, and the app is back in the App Store.

Google notes that in addition to the notification bug fix, the company has also improved the handling of image HTML messages and has promised to continue "iterating rapidly" to bring new features to the app.

Top Rated Comments

191 months ago
It's up on the UK store... Just checked for updates and it's there...

Works too! :p

I take it back... It's getting deleted!

when you get an email. You hear tri-tone... but no on screen notification... Nothing in notification centre... only thing that happens is you badge icon changes (in my case from 5 to 6). Not entirely obvious what the notification is for when I've got a few apps that us tritone as a notification - Whatsapp to be specific.

What a crock. Native mail app it is!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
r2shyyou Avatar
191 months ago
Can anyone explain to me why I should use this instead of the native Mail app? Is there any features this app has over the Mail app that is better? Just trying to get some ideas on if or why I should use this when the Mail app seems very sufficient.

Thanks.

I've now downloaded this app twice; once when it was initially released and once just a few moments ago. I've also now deleted this app twice.

The only thing I want that this app has that the native Mail.app doesn't have is the ability to show labels on emails in the Inbox. I have somewhere around 150 filters set up, some to label and archive mail instantly and some to just label mail but not archive it.

When mail comes in, it isn't always from the same email address or from the same "@whatever.whatever" suffix so I don't know if it's been properly labeled (yeah, I'm a bit OCD about labeling and organizing my email).

With this (cr)app, I can see the labels but with the native Mail.app I can't. Whatever though, it ain't nearly good enough to make me switch.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bpaluzzi Avatar
191 months ago
Can anyone explain to me why I should use this instead of the native Mail app? Is there any features this app has over the Mail app that is better? Just trying to get some ideas on if or why I should use this when the Mail app seems very sufficient.

Thanks.

Labels
Push + correct delete, simultaneously

Funnily through this thread, I've found out that one can use Gmail Push via Microsoft Exchange. That was the only reason I wanted Google's own mail app badly. Not anymore. Now that I know about the Microsoft Exchange workaround, I've deleted the Gmail app. First, the icon is butt ugly (the only black icon on my springboard), second, the interface is no different from their web app, which is unacceptable considering all their resources.

Will be patiently waiting for Sparrow's Gmail app, which is due early next year. Those guys (just like people behind Tapbots) have some exceptional design skills.

ActiveSync / Exchange doesn't properly delete your emails with Gmail. It moves them to the All Mail folder. And if you do a bulk delete without reading them, they stay as "unread" in your All Mail folder. Very annoying.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
191 months ago
The "app" has a panes for labels, ability to search, native looking "compose", dropdowns, buttons, pinch to zoom, app icon, badge showing number of unread emails...

With numerous people saying this is just the webpage in app form, can someone enlighten me on what else would be expected in a "true app"? Genuine question, since I'm not sure what else would be expected from an app that simply handles emails.

One could argue that the Facebook and Twitter apps do not give us any additional functionality than their respective mobile sites.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wetrix Avatar
191 months ago
Would have been fine pre-notification centre, but it seems to really miss the mark on iOS5 with no visuals.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
191 months ago
Has anyone figured out how to disable the ads? Advice would be welcome.

Yeah delete the app, setup m.google.com in exchange server...and use the iOS5 push email
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16e usb c feature

Apple Begins Selling a $419 iPhone

Monday July 6, 2026 6:29 am PDT by
Apple recently added the iPhone 16e to its refurbished store, with U.S. pricing starting as low as $419 for a model with 128GB of storage. Originally released in February 2025, the iPhone 16e is a lower-end device with a 6.1-inch OLED display, an A18 chip with 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence support, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a 12-megapixel front camera, a USB-C port, an Action...
Apple TV Thumb 3

Everything Coming in the 2026 Apple TV 4K

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:51 pm PDT by
The Apple TV 4K hasn't been updated since 2022, and it's due for a refresh. An update is planned for 2026, but Apple is likely going to wait to launch it after Siri AI launches in iOS 27. Design Apple TV design updates don't happen often, and that's not changing. The next Apple TV is going to have the same squircle shape as the current model, and it'll continue to be made from a black...
iphone 17 pro black feature

iPhone 18 Pro Battery Capacities Revealed by Regulatory Filings

Monday July 6, 2026 5:41 am PDT by
New Chinese regulatory certification filings appear to confirm the battery capacities of Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. According to new filings in China's C3 database, spotted by the leaker known as "Digital Chat Station" on Weibo, the iPhone 18 Pro is seemingly rated for 4,056mAh in China and 4,288mAh in the U.S., up modestly from the iPhone 17 Pro's 3,988mAh...