This article explains how to make Gmail take you to the next message automatically. Instructions apply to the browser version of Gmail on any desktop.

What to Know

  • Go to Settings > See all settings. Select Advanced tab. Next to Auto-advance, select Enable.Again, select Settings > See all settings. Under General, go to Auto-advance > select option and save.

How to Enable and Configure Auto-Advance in Gmail

Here’s how to adjust Gmail settings to get Auto-Advance working exactly how you want it to.

  • Select the Settings gear from your Gmail Inbox.
  • Select See all settings.
  • Select the Advanced tab.
  • Next to Auto-advance, select Enable.
  • Select Save Changes. You’re taken back to the Gmail inbox screen.
  • Select Settings > See all settings again. Then, under the General tab, scroll down to the Auto-advance heading.
  • The Auto-advance section only appears under the General tab after you’ve enabled Auto-advance.
  • You have three options:
  • Go to the next (newer) conversation: When you delete or archive an email, you’ll go to the next newest thread.Go to the previous (older) conversation: Instead of the newer message appearing, you’ll see the next earliest thread.Go back to the threadlist: You’ll return to the inbox. This is effectively the same as turning Auto-advance off.
  • Click the option you want, and then scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes.
  • Auto-advance is now on and ready to use.

Select the Settings gear from your Gmail Inbox.

Select See all settings.

Select the Advanced tab.

Next to Auto-advance, select Enable.

Select Save Changes. You’re taken back to the Gmail inbox screen.

Select Settings > See all settings again. Then, under the General tab, scroll down to the Auto-advance heading.

The Auto-advance section only appears under the General tab after you’ve enabled Auto-advance.

You have three options:

  • Go to the next (newer) conversation: When you delete or archive an email, you’ll go to the next newest thread.Go to the previous (older) conversation: Instead of the newer message appearing, you’ll see the next earliest thread.Go back to the threadlist: You’ll return to the inbox. This is effectively the same as turning Auto-advance off.

Click the option you want, and then scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes.

Auto-advance is now on and ready to use.

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