Gmail

Gmail is Google’s official email app for Android phones and tablets and one of the most installed apps on Google Play, with more than 10 billion installs. It handles Gmail accounts as well as accounts from other email providers, and it is part of Google Workspace. The listing was updated in late September 2026, with a version that varies by device.

Recent changes center on reducing inbox clutter and adding Google AI features, some of which require a paid plan. The split is fairly clear: the Gemini tools need a subscription, while core email features work without one. Storage limits, per-account notifications and spam protection affect everyone, and mail that stops syncing after an update can usually be fixed from Android’s own settings.

10 billion installs, device-specific builds

• Updated: September 24, 2026
• Version: varies with device
• Requires Android: varies with device
• Developer: Google LLC
• Installs: 10,000,000,000+

Google Play data as of September 26, 2026

What is new in the Gmail app

Summary cards now appear at the top of some emails to surface the details you need, so you do not have to read an entire message to find them. A dedicated place to unsubscribe from unwanted senders makes it easier to cut down on newsletters and promotions in one pass instead of opening each message and hunting for a link.

Gmail also works on Wear OS watches, where you can add a Gmail complication and tile for a quick overview of your inbox. On the phone, you can switch between multiple accounts, including ones from other providers, from your profile picture. Search remains a core strength: typing a sender, a subject word or a file name finds old messages and attachments quickly.

Gemini features and what they require

Several AI features use Gemini: asking it to find details in your inbox or Google Drive files, the Help me write assistant, contextual Smart Reply, and an Add to Calendar button that creates Google Calendar invites from an email. According to the listing, these require a Google AI Pro or Ultra plan and an internet connection, and availability varies by language and country.

Business and school users can get Gemini through Google Workspace plans, which the listing says include premium AI in Gmail along with the Gemini app and NotebookLM. Workspace also connects Gmail with Google Meet, Chat, Calendar and Tasks. If you only need email, the app without an AI plan still covers sending, receiving, searching and organizing mail.

Storage, security and notifications

Gmail storage is shared with Google Drive and Google Photos under the same Google account, so large attachments can affect space elsewhere. Deleting old messages with big attachments and emptying the trash helps. On the phone itself, clearing the app cache from Android settings frees temporary space without deleting any email, since messages are kept on the server.

Google says Gmail blocks more than 99.9 percent of spam, phishing and malware before it reaches the inbox, but it is still wise to be careful with unexpected links and attachments. For notifications, you can set different rules for each account, such as all new mail, high priority only or none, which helps keep work and personal inboxes separate.

If mail stops syncing after an update

Check that account sync for Gmail is on in Android’s account settings and that the phone has a working connection. Battery optimization can delay new mail notifications, so allow Gmail to run in the background if alerts arrive late. Pulling down on the inbox forces a refresh and shows whether the problem is syncing or only notifications.

If the app still misbehaves, clear its cache, restart the phone and install any pending updates from Google Play. For accounts from other providers, removing and re-adding the account in Gmail’s settings often resolves login or sync errors caused by a password change or a security setting on the provider’s side.

Inbox, summary cards and compose screens

Gemini costs, other accounts and the cache

Which Gmail features need a paid plan?

Only the Gemini tools, which require a Google AI Pro or Ultra plan or a qualifying Workspace plan. The Gmail app itself is free and comes preinstalled on many Android phones.

Can I use Gmail with Outlook or Yahoo accounts?

Yes. The app handles several accounts from different email providers, and you switch between them in the account menu.

Does clearing the Gmail cache delete emails?

No. Your email is stored on the server. Clearing the cache removes only temporary files on the phone, and messages load again the next time you open Gmail.