Gmail Purchases launches…
tab The festive shopping season is just around the corner, and e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart have already started teasing their biggest sales of the year. The Amazon Great Indian Festival and Flipkart Big Billion Days are both set to begin on September 23, promising massive discounts across categories. To make the shopping experience smoother and more organized, Google has introduced a brand-new ‘Purchases’ tab in Gmail, aiming to help users keep track of their orders and deliveries with ease.
What is the New Gmail Purchases Tab?
The Purchases tab brings all your order confirmations, receipts, and delivery updates into one neatly organized space. Instead of scrolling endlessly through your inbox, users can now find all shopping-related emails in a single dedicated section. What makes it even more helpful is Gmail’s new feature that places packages arriving within the next 24 hours at the top of your Primary inbox. This means you’ll know exactly what’s coming and when, without losing important updates in the clutter of promotional emails.
Additionally, Gmail will display a summary card within purchase emails, offering a quick snapshot of the order status, items bought, and expected delivery. With festive shopping often leading to multiple parallel orders, this feature ensures that shoppers stay calm, informed, and in control of their purchases.
When Will You See It?
The good news is that the new tab has already started rolling out globally for both mobile and web users from September 11. There’s no need for a special activation—users simply need to update Gmail to the latest version to access the feature. Given the timing, it seems Google deliberately launched this update just before the festive sales rush to ensure smoother shopping management.
Promotions Tab Gets Smarter
Alongside the Purchases tab, Gmail’s Promotions category is also receiving an upgrade. Instead of showing promotional messages strictly by date, Gmail will soon let you sort them by “Most Relevant.” This smart sorting will prioritize messages from brands and services you engage with most often, saving you from wading through endless newsletters and irrelevant ads.
For instance, if you frequently shop from a particular app, Gmail will ensure its sale alerts appear at the top. This way, instead of missing out on time-sensitive deals, you’ll see the most important offers right away.
Smart Nudges for Smarter Shopping
To further improve the experience, Google is also adding “nudges” in the Promotions tab. These are subtle reminders highlighting timely offers, limited-time deals, and upcoming discounts. If there’s a flash sale ending tonight or a heavy discount going live in a few hours, Gmail will gently push it to your attention—helping you act fast before missing out.
Control Stays in Your Hands
For users who prefer the classic layout, Gmail has ensured that you’re not forced into the new system. You’ll still be able to switch back to sorting promotional emails chronologically by “Most Recent.” The goal here is flexibility—allowing users to choose whether they want a smarter, AI-driven inbox or the traditional time-based view.
Why This Matters Now
The timing of this update is key. With both Amazon and Flipkart gearing up for their blockbuster sales from September 23, millions of Indians are already adding items to their wishlists. Multiple purchases, overlapping shipping schedules, and endless promotional alerts can easily overwhelm inboxes. By introducing the Purchases tab and smarter Promotions management, Gmail is positioning itself as the ultimate shopping assistant for the festive season.
Whether you’re buying gadgets, fashion, or festive essentials, these updates aim to reduce inbox chaos and help shoppers focus on what matters most: grabbing the best deals at the right time.