Is Gmail shutting down? Yes and no, but here’s the full story from Google

Spring isn't here yet, but the rumors are getting wilder and wilder. First, the OnePlus-Oppo partnership with Hasselblad was supposed to end (the vivo/Zeiss collaboration is also said to be over), which sparked a lot of discussion on the topic.

Now someone on X/Twitter is claiming that Gmail, among other things, is shutting down (via Android Center).

There is a viral post that shows a message stating that Google will remove Gmail later in 2024: “As of August 1, 2024, Gmail will be officially removed, marking the end of its service. This means that Gmail will no longer support sending, receiving, or storing emails,” the message said.

Many are taking the bait, and it's no wonder: just a few hours ago, Google announced that it was adding another app to its own graveyard: Google Pay would be shutting down in June.

Google has a long history of removing and rebranding apps, services and hardware: 293 in total so far. There is a dedicated “killed by google.com“website that lists them. The monochrome virtual obituary exudes a sense of solemnity and humility, providing a respectful backdrop for remembering loved ones.

But back to the Gmail story: of course, it's not real.

Here is the answer for the Gmail team:

However, there is some truth to the satirical post that claims Google is shutting down Gmail. Google is removing basic HTML display from Gmail this year, according to a 2023 email. support page informs users as much and even includes a transition guide for some.