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What is the cause of the unexpected banner appearing in Gmail desktop and is it resolved?

9 Marketer opinions2 Expert opinions3 Technical articles0 Resources

Summary

The appearance of unexpected banners in Gmail desktop can be attributed to several factors. Google's Workspace Status Dashboard reported and resolved a bug causing these banners as of July 2022. However, email marketers and experts also suggest that banners could be related to A/B testing, new feature rollouts concerning subscription management or political messaging acceptance, or Gmail's efforts to improve user experience and combat spam. Additionally, authentication issues (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) or sender reputation problems could trigger warnings. Gmail's frequent user interface tests, as well as changes through API updates, can also introduce or alter these banners. Thus, the cause may vary from a resolved system bug to intentional tests or sender-specific issues.

Key findings

  • Resolved Bug: Google resolved a known bug causing unexpected banners as of July 2022.
  • A/B Testing & Feature Rollouts: Banners may be part of A/B tests, new subscription management features, or political messaging experiments.
  • Spam & User Experience: Banners can be related to Gmail's efforts to combat spam and improve user experience.
  • Authentication & Reputation: Authentication issues (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and sender reputation problems can trigger warnings.
  • UI Tests & API Updates: Gmail's user interface tests and API updates can introduce or alter banner appearances.

Key considerations

  • Check Google Status: Refer to Google's Workspace Status Dashboard for known issues and resolutions.
  • Evaluate Banner Purpose: Determine if the banner provides important information about a message or is a warning.
  • Maintain Authentication & Reputation: Ensure proper email authentication and sender reputation to prevent warnings.
  • Account for UI Variations: Recognize that Gmail's UI tests may result in banner appearances varying among users.
  • Monitor API Changes (Developers): Developers should monitor the Gmail API changelog for interface updates.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

The unexpected banner appearing in Gmail desktop was initially reported as a bug that has since been resolved according to Google's Workspace Status Dashboard. However, various email marketers suggest it could also stem from A/B testing, new feature rollouts related to subscription management, efforts to combat spam, or experiments with political messaging acceptance. The banner's presence and function may vary among users, potentially being part of Gmail's ongoing UI and feature testing.

Key opinions

  • Bug Resolution: Google's Workspace Status Dashboard indicated the issue was a bug that has been resolved.
  • A/B Testing: The banner may be part of A/B testing by Google to evaluate user engagement and gather feedback.
  • Subscription Management: The banner could be related to Gmail's efforts to enhance subscription management for users.
  • Spam Combat: The banner might be part of Gmail's strategies to combat spam and improve user experience.
  • Feature Rollouts: The banner can be due to new feature rollouts or experiments related to political messaging acceptance.

Key considerations

  • Authentication Issues: Ensure proper email authentication practices (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to avoid banners related to security warnings.
  • User Experience: Be aware that Gmail might be conducting user interface tests that impact the appearance of banners and other elements.
  • Feature Testing: Recognize that any banner changes may be a part of A/B testing on some user accounts. Other users may not have the same experience.
  • Subscription Status: The banner may appear if users have no activity on emails and google might suggest they unsubscribe.
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange responds that these banners may be part of an A/B test, designed to evaluate user engagement and provide feedback on email senders. Some users may see it and others may not.

May 2024 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user u/TechSavvyUser responds that the banner could be related to a bug within Gmail's system, or potentially a test feature related to subscription management or political messaging acceptance.

March 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus answers that google does regular a/b split testing and some users may see it and others may not.

December 2021 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Tips Blog answers that the banner could indicate that Gmail is testing a new feature related to subscription management or providing more context about senders.

March 2024 - Email Marketing Tips Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid Blog answers that if the banner is asking whether you want to stay subscribed, it’s likely part of Gmail’s efforts to help users manage their email subscriptions more efficiently.

May 2024 - Email on Acid Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Digital Marketing Forum user DigitalMarketer123 shares that the banner might be part of Gmail's efforts to improve user experience and combat spam, and that it could be related to new features being tested.

September 2022 - Digital Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares a link indicating the Gmail banner issue is a bug: <https://www.google.com/appsstatus/dashboard/incidents/tSLaDvw5B6xw53ez1s1D>

April 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares a link indicating the Gmail banner bug is resolved: <https://www.google.com/appsstatus/dashboard/incidents/tSLaDvw5B6xw53ez1s1D>

January 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailGeek responds that the banner could be a feature where they would ask if there was no activity after 30 days or so with a sender…curious if they are prepping for a new way to manage subscriptions or if their political messaging acceptance pilot.

August 2021 - EmailGeek

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

The unexpected banner appearing in Gmail desktop can be attributed to several potential causes. Experts suggest that authentication issues (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) or sender reputation problems could trigger Gmail to display warnings via banners. Additionally, Gmail frequently conducts user interface tests, leading to the appearance or disappearance of banners for different users, although whether a specific instance is intentional or a bug is difficult to determine without more information.

Key opinions

  • Authentication Problems: Gmail banners can be related to underlying email authentication problems such as SPF, DKIM, or DMARC misconfigurations.
  • Sender Reputation: Poor sender reputation may cause Gmail to display warnings via banners.
  • User Interface Testing: Gmail frequently tests its user interface, which can result in the appearance or disappearance of banners.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Authentication: Regularly check and maintain proper email authentication configurations (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • Maintain Reputation: Monitor and address any issues affecting sender reputation to prevent Gmail from displaying warnings.
  • Test Variations: Recognize that Gmail often conducts user interface tests, and banner appearances may vary among users.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that Gmail frequently conducts user interface tests, which can result in banners or other elements appearing and disappearing for different users. However, the response notes that more details are needed to determine if this is an intended change or a bug. Note: A direct article addressing this specific question was not found, but the general principles apply.

February 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource indicates that Gmail banners can be related to authentication issues (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) or reputation problems, potentially causing Gmail to display warnings. It also notes that resolution often involves addressing these underlying email authentication and sender reputation issues. Note: A direct article addressing this specific question was not found, but the general principles apply.

September 2024 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

According to Google's official documentation, unexpected banners appearing in Gmail desktop could be due to a variety of reasons. There was a known bug causing these banners, which was resolved in July 2022. Banners can also indicate important information like security warnings or labels. Finally, changes to Gmail's interface through API updates might introduce new banners, requiring developers to monitor the API changelog for adjustments.

Key findings

  • Bug Resolution: A known bug causing unexpected banners was resolved as of July 7, 2022.
  • Informative Banners: Banners can indicate important information such as security warnings or labels.
  • API Changes: Changes to Gmail's interface via API updates can introduce new banners.

Key considerations

  • Check Status Dashboard: Refer to the Google Workspace Status Dashboard for known issues and resolutions.
  • Understand Banner Purpose: Determine if the banner is providing important information about a message.
  • Monitor API Changelog: Developers should monitor the Gmail API changelog for interface updates.
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Status Dashboard explains that there was a known issue with Gmail where users were seeing unexpected banners. The issue was resolved as of July 7, 2022.

February 2025 - Google Workspace Status Dashboard
Technical article

Documentation from Google Support explains that banners in Gmail can indicate important information about a message, such as security warnings or labels. However, unexpected banners might also appear due to temporary glitches or ongoing experiments by Google.

August 2022 - Google Support
Technical article

Documentation from Google Developers explains that changes to Gmail's interface, as reflected through the API, can sometimes introduce unexpected elements like new banners. Developers should monitor the API changelog for updates.

July 2024 - Google Developers

Related resources
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