Why does Gmail automatically add im class wrapper to email HTML content

Other Questions Gmail
1

I’ve been working on HTML email templates and noticed something odd happening in Gmail. When I send test emails and open them in Gmail, I see that some parts of my email are getting wrapped in a div with class="im" that I never added to my code.

<span class="im">
    <!-- my email content here -->
</span>

This is causing styling issues because some of my text appears in purple color while other parts look normal. I checked my original HTML multiple times and this class is definitely not in my source code.

Has anyone else run into this problem? What causes Gmail to inject these wrapper elements and how can I prevent the purple text styling from showing up?

2

yeah, gmail’s spam detection is super sensitive! I try mixing up my HTML when sendin, like adding some random comments or changing the div structure a bit. it usually helps avoid the im class issue!

3

This happens because of Gmail’s conversation threading, not spam filters. Gmail scans incoming emails and checks if parts match previous messages in the thread. It adds the im class server-side during this process - after your email hits Gmail’s servers but before anyone sees it. I’ve debugged tons of email templates, and the purple color shows up because Gmail treats those elements as ‘quoted’ content with default styling. CSS overrides help, but changing your HTML structure between sends works way better. Try different wrapper elements, reorder sections, or switch between table and div layouts. This breaks the pattern matching that causes the issue. What worked best for me was randomizing content at the template level - not just comments or whitespace, but actually changing how you structure the same info each time.

4

Gmail’s wrapping issue is such a pain, especially with email campaigns. Their pattern recognition triggers even when content’s just slightly similar.

I dealt with this for our marketing automation by building a system that dynamically changes email content. Instead of tweaking templates manually every time, I automated content variation - it changes small stuff like whitespace, comment tags, or invisible characters.

The real game changer? Automating the whole testing process. When we detect Gmail’s im class in test emails, the system automatically generates variations until it finds versions that don’t trigger the wrapper.

This scales way better than manually fixing CSS overrides or coding unique elements each time. You can automate detection, variation generation, and A/B testing to see which versions perform best without styling issues.

Latenode makes setting up this kind of email automation workflow really straightforward.

5

yep, gmail does that. it adds the im class when it thinks ur email is part of an existing convo. it’s annoying! just make sure ur content is different enough from past emails, and it shouldn’t do that.

6

Gmail’s algorithm identifies what it perceives as duplicate content in email threads and applies the im class to it. This is the reason for the purple styling you are observing; it’s Gmail’s method of indicating quoted or repeated text. In addition to the CSS override already suggested, you might want to vary your email’s structure between sends or incorporate unique IDs in your HTML elements. Some developers have found success in altering minor details like spacing or adding timestamp comments to their code to mislead Gmail’s detection.

7

The Problem: Your custom HTML email is displaying unexpected purple text in Gmail due to the im class being automatically added by Gmail’s server-side processing. This class is wrapping parts of your email content, causing styling conflicts. The im class is not present in your original HTML code.

:thinking: Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):

Gmail’s automatic addition of the im class is a result of its conversation threading and duplicate content detection. Gmail’s servers analyze incoming emails and identify sections that resemble previously sent emails within the same conversation thread. If Gmail’s algorithm detects similarities, it flags these repeated parts with the im class. This class, by default, is associated with a purple or gray styling, leading to visual inconsistencies in your email. This process happens server-side, after your email has been sent but before the recipient sees it. It’s not a result of your HTML, but rather a response by Gmail’s algorithms.

:gear: Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Override the im Class Styling:

The simplest solution is to add a CSS rule to your email template that specifically targets the im class and overrides its default styling. Include the following CSS within your <style> tag (remember that Gmail handles inline styles most reliably, so adding this within <style> tags might not always work reliably. It’s best to use inline styles):

<span class="im" style="color: inherit !important;">
    <!-- your email content here -->
</span>

The !important flag ensures that your styling takes precedence over Gmail’s default styling. If you prefer to use a separate <style> tag, you would include the following:

.im {
  color: inherit !important;
}

Step 2: Vary Your Email Structure (Advanced Technique):

If overriding the style doesn’t completely resolve the issue, or if you want a more robust solution, consider slightly altering the structure of your email between sends. Gmail’s algorithm relies on identifying duplicate content, so introducing minor variations in your HTML can help prevent the im class from being applied.

Here are some strategies:

  • Add random comments: Insert non-functional comments (<!-- Comment -->) in different places in your HTML.
  • Change whitespace: Add or remove extra spaces or line breaks in non-critical sections of the HTML.
  • Reorder elements: Restructure the order of elements in your HTML without altering the overall content.
  • Utilize unique IDs: Add unique IDs to HTML elements to help prevent similar content from being incorrectly identified as duplicates by Gmail’s algorithm.

Step 3: Test Thoroughly:

After implementing either the CSS override or structural changes (or both), test your email in Gmail to see if the im class and its associated purple styling are still being applied. You might need to send several test emails with different variations of your HTML until you find a version that Gmail does not flag with the im class.

:mag: Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

  • CSS Specificity: Make sure your CSS rule for .im is specific enough to override Gmail’s default style. If other styles are conflicting, you may need to adjust your selector.
  • Content Similarity: If the issue persists even with CSS overrides, examine your email content for excessively similar sections. Gmail’s algorithm is quite sensitive to duplicated or near-duplicate content.
  • Gmail’s Rendering Engine: Remember that Gmail’s rendering engine can be unpredictable. Testing various versions of your HTML might be needed to resolve the problem completely.

:speech_balloon: Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) HTML code, the specific content sections affected, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!

8

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