Gmail can show toolbar actions as icons or text, and its simple toolbar can place additional commands under More. If familiar buttons seem to have vanished, first select a message and inspect the toolbar mode. The available actions also depend on whether you are in the inbox list or inside a message.
Switch button labels to text or icons
- Open Gmail on a computer.
- Go to Settings, then See all settings.
- In General, find Button labels.
- Choose Text or Icons, then save changes.
Text can make Archive, Delete, and Report spam easier to distinguish. It changes labels, not what those commands do. Verify the selection before testing any action on real mail.
Find the advanced toolbar
With a message selected or open, check More for Switch to advanced toolbar. Google’s current guidance also describes switching back to the simple toolbar from that menu. This changes which actions are readily visible, rather than enabling a new permission to manage messages.
Some commands are contextual. Forward all requires an open conversation, while Forward as attachment can be available from the message list. A command absent in one view may be present in the relevant other view.
Keep hover actions separate
Icons that appear when the pointer rests over a message row are hover actions, not the selected-message toolbar. If accidental clicks are a problem, review Hover actions in General settings and disable them if that suits your workflow.
After changing a preference, test with a harmless message and confirm that the visible labels are clear at your normal window size. If the entire layout is compressed, also inspect browser zoom and window width. Do not install a toolbar-restoration extension or weaken browser protections simply because an action moved under More. Mobile Gmail has different controls; the computer’s Button labels preference should not be presented as a guaranteed way to change every phone icon.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
References
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.