Locate the "Load Basic HTML (for slow connections)" link at the bottom of the Gmail "Loading" page. Click the link to switch to Basic HTML view form Standard HTML view.

The Basic HTML function was helpful for people dealing with a slow internet connection but wanted to read their email.

This time the scythe is coming for one of the company’s oldest features—Gmail’s basic HTML view. In January 2024, that simple interface heads for the great beyond.

Google updated a Gmail support article to say that the basic HTML view for Gmail will be discontinued in January 2024.

After the beginning of the year, Gmail will automatically change to its Standard view. Some visually impaired users prefer the Basic view.