Managing daily email notifications can be overwhelming, especially for Android users. However, Google is testing a new feature that could simplify this process. The update to Gmail for Android adds a “mark as read” button directly in the notification shade, a small yet impactful change. This feature is expected to speed up email triage, allowing users to handle incoming messages more efficiently.
The new button was first reported by a user on X, who mentioned seeing it for one of their Gmail accounts after updating to version 2025.06.15. However, other users with the same version have yet to see the feature, indicating a gradual rollout or limited testing. Additional reports from users suggest that this is likely an A/B test, which Google frequently employs to gauge user response before a full release. Presently, Android users can only reply to emails or archive/delete them through notifications, which can be inconvenient.
The introduction of a “mark as read” option would align Gmail for Android with its iOS counterpart and other email applications that already offer similar functionality. Currently, users have to either open the app or set up a swipe action to mark emails as read, which can disrupt their workflow. For many users, the ability to mark an email as read without opening the app can streamline inbox management, especially for less significant emails. Often, the subject line and preview text in the notification provide enough information to decide whether to engage further with the message.
This small but meaningful change would help users maintain their productivity and manage their inboxes more effectively. Overall, while significant updates often focus on AI and productivity enhancements, quality-of-life improvements like this can dramatically enhance the user experience. There is hope that Google will roll out this feature more broadly and continue to implement practical tools for Gmail on Android.