Why does Gmail's 'View entire message' feature break my HTML email layout?

Other Questions Gmail
1

Hey everyone, I’m having a tough time with HTML emails. My company wants a new newsletter template, and I’m struggling with the Gmail app.

The email looks okay in the main view, but when I hit ‘View entire message’ for longer emails, everything falls apart. It’s like the app ignores all my responsive design work.

Has anyone run into this before? Does Gmail strip out responsive code in this mode? I’m pulling my hair out trying to figure out why it’s happening.

I’ve tested it on other platforms and it’s fine, but this Gmail issue is driving me crazy. Any tips or tricks would be super helpful!

<table width='100%' cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0'>
  <tr>
    <td class='responsive-cell' style='padding: 10px;'>
      <h2>Newsletter Content</h2>
      <p>Some text here...</p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

This is a simplified version of what I’m working with. Any ideas on how to make it play nice with Gmail’s ‘View entire message’ feature?

2

I’ve faced similar challenges with Gmail’s ‘View entire message’ feature. One effective strategy I’ve found is to use a hybrid approach that combines fixed-width outer tables with fluid inner elements. This tends to maintain layout integrity better across different viewing modes.

Additionally, keeping your CSS inline and avoiding complex selectors can help. Gmail’s CSS support is limited, so simpler is often better. For responsive design, consider using a mobile-first approach and then enhance for larger screens.

Thorough testing across various devices and Gmail versions is crucial. Tools like Litmus or Email on Acid can be invaluable for catching these quirks before sending. It takes extra effort, but it’s worth it to ensure your newsletter looks great for all recipients.

3

I’ve encountered this frustrating issue with Gmail too. One workaround I’ve found effective is using a ‘hybrid’ approach, combining fixed-width tables with percentage-based widths for inner elements. This seems to maintain layout integrity better when the ‘View entire message’ feature is triggered.

Also, I’ve had success by keeping my CSS inline and avoiding complex selectors. Gmail tends to strip out or ignore certain styles, so keeping things simple helps. For responsive design, I use ‘mobile-first’ principles and then progressively enhance for larger screens.

Lastly, thorough testing across different devices and Gmail versions is crucial. I use tools like Litmus or Email on Acid to catch these quirks before sending. It’s a bit of extra work, but it saves headaches down the line. Hope this helps with your newsletter template!

4

ugh, gmail can be such a pain! i’ve dealt with this too. have u tried using media queries? they usually work for me. also, make sure ur using table-based layouts instead of divs. gmail’s weird about css support. good luck with ur newsletter, hope this helps!