Over the past few days, several iPhone users have noticed a frustrating issue: Gmail notifications no longer display message previews. Instead of showing who the email is from or what it’s about, the notification simply reads, “You have a new message,” accompanied by the Gmail icon. This forces users to open the Gmail app each time just to check the sender or subject—an inconvenience that has sparked widespread complaints online.
Initially, it seemed like an isolated glitch. But after some digging, it turns out the issue is more common than expected. iPhone users on Reddit have reported the same experience, including someone using an iPhone 13 mini who first noticed the issue after updating to iOS 17. Another user reported the problem immediately after installing iOS 17.2.1. Others with iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro devices have also shared similar stories over the past few days.
Interestingly, while some users blamed the issue on the iOS update, others—like the author of the original report—had already been running iOS 17.2.1 for weeks before the Gmail previews disappeared. This suggests the bug may not be directly tied to the latest software update, but rather a possible glitch within the Gmail app or how it interacts with iOS notifications.
The Fix That Works
Fortunately, there’s a simple workaround that can restore Gmail preview notifications on your iPhone. Here’s a step-by-step guide to fix the issue:
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Open the Gmail App on your iPhone.
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Tap the three-line menu icon (also known as the hamburger icon) located on the left side of the search bar at the top.
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Scroll down and tap on Settings.
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Select Email notifications.
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A pop-up will appear with three options:
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All new mail
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High priority only
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None
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Choose None, then tap Done in the upper right corner.
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Restart your iPhone by turning it off and waiting for a minute or two before turning it back on.
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Reopen the Gmail app, and return to Email notifications in the Settings menu.
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This time, select either All new mail or High priority only.
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Tap Done again in the top-right corner.
After following these steps, your Gmail notifications should start showing previews again. In the case of the original user who reported the issue, the previews returned immediately after applying the fix. The change was noticeable—before using the workaround, notifications were just blank banners. After the fix, they once again included email previews as expected.
Final Thoughts
If your Gmail notifications on iOS have suddenly stopped showing previews, you’re not alone. This minor but annoying issue has affected users across various iPhone models and iOS versions. While the exact cause remains unclear, this workaround has proven effective for many.
Give it a try and see if it resolves the problem on your device. It’s a quick fix that doesn’t require deleting the app or resetting your settings—just a few taps and a simple restart. If it works for you, it might save you the daily hassle of opening the app every time a new email comes in.