Why does gmail default to all mail on mac
Gmail's default behavior on Mac is to show all emails in the inbox, rather than just unread emails, due to a combination of factors. Here are some possible reasons:
- Historical reason: Gmail's default behavior on Mac was inherited from the early days of Gmail, when the service was first launched. At that time, the default view was set to show all emails, and this behavior has been retained ever since.
- User preference: Many users, especially those who use Gmail for personal or business purposes, prefer to see all their emails in the inbox, rather than just unread ones. This allows them to quickly scan and manage their emails more efficiently.
- Mac-specific behavior: Macs have a different user interface and behavior compared to Windows PCs. On Macs, the default behavior is to show all files and folders in the Finder, rather than just the ones that match a specific filter. This may have influenced Gmail's default behavior on Mac to show all emails.
- Gmail's focus on search: Gmail is designed to be a search-based email service. By default, Gmail shows all emails, allowing users to quickly search and find specific emails using the search bar. This approach is more intuitive on a Mac, where users are accustomed to using Spotlight search to find files and documents.
- Lack of a "Mark all as read" button: Unlike some other email clients, Gmail doesn't have a dedicated "Mark all as read" button. Instead, users can use the "Select all conversations in the current label" option to mark all emails as read. This may have contributed to the default behavior of showing all emails.
To change the default behavior on your Mac, you can follow these steps:
- Log in to your Gmail account on your Mac.
- Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner and select "See all settings."
- Scroll down to the "Inbox" section.
- Select the "Show only unread conversations" option.
- Click "Save Changes."
From then on, Gmail will default to showing only unread emails in your inbox.