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Users Miss the Old Stars

Gmail Suddenly Looks Different, and Many Users Are Annoyed

A smartphone is held against a blurred background featuring multiple Google logos. The display shows the multicolored Gmail logo on a white background. At the top of the screen, status symbols, the time "9:25," the "4G LTE" indicator, and a battery level of "100" are visible. The smartphone is slightly tilted and occupies a large portion of the image. In the background, the colorful Google logos in blue, red, yellow, and green repeat.
Google has updated the design in Gmail and adjusted the colors for stars and importance markers. Photo: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
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October 1, 2026, 10:55 am | Read time: 2 minutes

Google has changed the colors of stars and importance markers in Gmail. The adjustment is intended to improve accessibility, but it is causing irritation among many users.

Those using Gmail on a computer might notice an unfamiliar change. Google has adjusted the display of stars and so-called importance markers. Instead of the familiar yellow markings, some now appear in blue. According to the company, the change is meant to improve accessibility and make it easier to navigate the inbox.

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The two symbols serve different purposes. Stars can be manually set to mark emails for later. Gmail assigns importance markers automatically, considering factors such as which messages are frequently opened or replied to. Although the update is supposed to provide more clarity, not all users are responding positively to the change.

Users criticize the display

In online forums and social networks, several users report problems. On Reddit, a user describes how he organizes a mailbox with his wife. Different star colors are used to sort various tasks and topics. Since the change, some markers appear differently on the computer than on the smartphone.

The blue importance markers also face criticism. In the Google Help Forum, a user complains that Gmail marks a large portion of incoming messages as important. The prominent blue symbols stand out more and overshadow other information in the inbox. Some users find the new display less clear than before.

Yellow stars can be reactivated

Those who prefer yellow stars can partially adjust the display themselves. By clicking the gear icon in Gmail, users can open the settings. In the “General” section, there is a “Stars” area where the yellow star can be moved back to the first position of active markers.

Also of interest: Google is shutting down popular Gmail features!

However, there is a limitation: Stars that have already been recolored do not automatically revert. They must be removed and reset. Gmail does not offer a color choice for the blue importance markers; they can only be hidden. To do this, simply select “No markers” in the “Inbox” settings. For those bothered by the new colors, this can make the inbox a bit calmer.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.

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