Gmail’s right side panel lets you consult Calendar, Keep, Tasks, and other supported Google products without leaving the message view. Opening a panel does not automatically copy the email into that product.
Show and select the side-panel product
On desktop Gmail, use Show side panel at the bottom right if the icons are hidden. Choose Calendar to inspect a schedule, Keep to create a note or list, or Tasks to manage to-dos.
The panel is different from the left navigation for Gmail, Chat, and Meet. If you close the product panel or hide the side panel, the underlying Calendar event, note, or task is not deleted.
Create only the information you intend to save
In Calendar, choose a time and review event details before saving. In Keep, start a note or list and finish it with Done. In Tasks, add a task and review its list, details, and deadline.
If you want an email-associated task, use Gmail’s supported Add to Tasks action or drag the message into the Tasks panel. A plain new task or note does not necessarily retain a link to the email you happened to be reading.
Check account and service availability
Confirm which account owns the saved item, especially when switching between personal and work contexts. For managed accounts, an administrator can control access to Calendar, Keep, Tasks, and other services. A hidden or unavailable feature may therefore need an access check rather than a browser reset.
Additional Marketplace add-ons are optional and can request separate permissions. Do not install one merely to reveal Google’s built-in panel. When using a narrow window or high zoom, close an unused panel to give the message more space. Test with harmless content and verify the saved item in its own product before assuming a side-panel entry was synchronized successfully.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
References
- Use Google products side by side
- Turn a service on or off for Google Workspace users | Set up & manage services | Google Workspace Help
Reviewed against the linked product guidance, standards, and identified vendor or public-authority guidance on October 29, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.