How to Check if Your Gmail Is Working

Check the Google Workspace Status Dashboard and access the Gmail Help Center

by
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Heinz Tschabitscher
Updated on June 23, 2021
reviewed by
Jon Fisher headshot
Jon Fisher
Lifewire Technology Review Board Member
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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Article reviewed on Feb 14, 2020
Jon Fisher

What to Know

  • Google Workspace Status Dashboard: See Gmail's current status: Green=no issues; orange=service disruption; red=service outage.
  • Gmail Help Center: Select Fix a problem, and then choose the Gmail issue you're having to read possible solutions.
  • To report the issue to Google: In Gmail, select Support (question mark) > Send Feedback, and describe your issue.

This article explains how to check the Google Workspace Status Dashboard to determine if Gmail is down, plus how to access the Gmail Help Center for solutions to frequently occurring issues. These instructions apply to the desktop version of Gmail.com.

Check the Google Workspace Status Dashboard

If you have trouble with your Gmail account, the service may be disrupted or down completely. However, it could be just you. Before you take any other action, check Gmail's current status.

Person checking Gmail status on a computer
Miguel Co / Lifewire

  1. Go to the Google Workspace Status Dashboard.

  2. Go to the listing for Gmail and look at the Current status column. A green button next to Gmail indicates there are no known issues, an orange button indicates a service disruption, and a red button indicates a service outage.

  3. Go to the current date for Gmail to read comments. If the button is green, you are the only one having a problem and should contact Gmail support for help.

    Google Workspace Status board showing Gmail with green dot and no problems

  4. If the button is orange or red, Google knows about it, and there's nothing to do until Google resolves the problem. Usually, when the button is red or orange, there's an indication of what is going on or when it might be fixed.

Subscribe to the Workspace Status Dashboard RSS feed in an RSS feed reader to receive up-to-date status reports.

Go to the Gmail Help Center

Before you contact Google for help, look at the Gmail Help Center to see solutions to frequently occurring problems with Gmail.

Gmail Help Center

Scroll down and select Fix a problem and choose the category that matches the trouble you're having. Categories include:

  • Gmail messages are missing
  • Unwanted or suspicious emails
  • Loading & display
  • Account
  • Can't sign in to your Google account
  • Sync & import
  • Rejected messages
  • Switching to Gmail from Microsoft Outlook

You may find a solution at the Help Center. If not, contact Google.

How to Report an Issue to Google

If you encounter a problem that's not on the Gmail Help Center list, report it to Google.

  1. In Gmail, select Support (question mark). 

    In Gmail, select Support (question mark).

  2. Select Send Feedback.

    Select Send Feedback from the Support list

  3. In the Send feedback window, describe your issue. 

  4. Include a screenshot of the problem, if you have one, then select Send. 

    Send Feedback window in Gmail with Send highlighted

    Use the provided tools to hide and highlight things in your screenshot.

  5. A technician will respond and assist you with the problem.

If your Gmail is part of a paid Google Workspace subscription, you have access to additional Google Workspace Support options, including phone, chat, and email support.

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