How to stop gmail from grouping emails

Common causes

• Conversation view is enabled: Gmail groups emails with the same subject into a single thread when Conversation view is on.
• You changed the setting on one device only: If you use the Gmail app and Gmail on the web, you must change the setting in each app.
• Multiple accounts in the Gmail app: Conversation view can be toggled per account, so one account may still group while another does not.
• Another mail app is still threading: Apple Mail, Outlook, and other clients have their own conversation/thread settings that are separate from Gmail.

Step-by-step fixes

1. 1. Quick checks (takes 1 minute)

   • Confirm you are using Gmail (web or the Gmail app), not another mail client.
   • Open one grouped thread and check whether it shows multiple messages in a single stack — that confirms Conversation view.
   • If you use more than one Gmail account, note which account is affected.

2. 2. Turn off Gmail grouping on the web (desktop or mobile browser)

   • Open Gmail in a browser and sign in.
   • Click the gear icon (Settings), then choose “See all settings.”
   • In the “General” tab, find “Conversation View.”
   • Select “Conversation view off.”
   • Scroll to the bottom and click “Save Changes.”
   • Refresh the page. New emails should appear as individual messages, not grouped.

3. 3. Turn off Gmail grouping in the Gmail app on Android

   • Open the Gmail app.
   • Tap the menu icon (three lines), then scroll and tap “Settings.”
   • Tap the Gmail account you want to change.
   • Under the “General” section, turn off “Conversation view.”
   • Go back to the inbox. Emails should no longer be grouped.
   • Repeat for any other Gmail accounts in the app.

4. 4. Turn off Gmail grouping in the Gmail app on iOS (iPhone/iPad)

   • Open the Gmail app.
   • Tap the menu icon (three lines), then scroll and tap “Settings.”
   • Tap the Gmail account you want to change.
   • Under the “General” section, turn off “Conversation view.”
   • Return to the inbox to apply the change.
   • Repeat for any other Gmail accounts you have added.

5. 5. If emails are still grouped, confirm the setting actually saved

   • On the web, re-open Settings > See all settings > General and make sure “Conversation view off” is selected.
   • In the Gmail app, return to Settings for the same account and confirm the toggle is off.
   • If it keeps turning back on, force-close and reopen the Gmail app, then check again.

6. 6. If you read Gmail in another app, disable threading there too

   • Apple Mail (iOS): Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Threading and turn off “Organize by Thread.”
   • Apple Mail (macOS): Open Mail > Settings (or Preferences) > Viewing, then uncheck “Organize by conversation.”
   • Microsoft Outlook (Windows): Open Outlook > View tab > uncheck “Show as Conversations.”
   • Outlook on the web: Settings (gear) > Mail > Layout, then turn off “Conversation view.”
   • Other apps: look for “Conversation view,” “Threading,” or “Grouped by conversation” in their settings.

7. 7. Clear confusion caused by subjects that are identical

   • Even with Conversation view off, you may still see similar subjects in a row, which can look grouped.
   • Open any message and confirm each email has its own timestamp and separate header.
   • If you want clearer separation, use filters or labels to categorize repeated subjects.