How to Open a Gmail Message in Its Own Window

Eliminate distractions and make your messages easier to see

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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated September 06, 2019

If you want to view a Gmail message without the surrounding elements in the Gmail interface, you can do it by opening the message in its own window. You can open as many messages in new windows or tabs as your browser allows, and you can continue to read the emails even after you delete them from or archive them in your inbox.

If you have a pop-up blocker enabled, you may have to disable it for this Gmail feature to work properly.

Open an Email in Its Own Gmail Window

To open a Gmail message in a separate browser window, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard while clicking the message. You can arrange the windows and view them simultaneously.

If you're using Conversation View, you'll see the entire conversation in the new window. If you only want to see one message and not an entire conversation, use the instructions below for disabling Conversation View or using Print View.

Multiple emails in their own windows in Gmail

Disable Conversation View

To open individual messages in separate windows instead of conversations, disable Conversation View. Here's how:

  1. In the upper-right corner of Gmail, select the Settings (gear) icon.

    Turn off Gmail conversation view

  2. From the dropdown menu, choose Settings.

    Turn off Gmail Conversation View

  3. Select the General tab. Scroll down to the Conversation View section and select Conversation view off.

    Turn off Gmail Conversation View

  4. At the bottom of the screen, select Save Changes.

Use Print View to Open Individual Emails from Conversations

If you want to view individual messages without disabling Conversation View, you can use Print View to open individual emails in separate browser windows or tabs.

  1. Open the conversation that contains the message. At the bottom of the conversation, select the Show trimmed content (ellipsis) icon to display all the messages in the conversation.

    A Gmail conversation with the

  2. Select the email you want to expand, then, to the right of the Reply arrow, select the More (three vertically stacked dots) icon.

    Don't select the Print All button in the conversation window, as doing so will print the whole thread.

    A conversation in Gmail with the More button highlighted

  3. From the dropdown menu, choose Print.

    A conversation in Gmail with the Print option highlighted

  4. When the browser's print dialog appears, cancel it. The email should remain in the separate window or tab.