Recent Unread

A compact, local-only list of recent unread messages at the top of Gmail.

Gmail already includes an “Unread first” inbox option, but I never liked how clunky it felt. It can reorganize the entire inbox and surface unread messages from months or even years ago. I wanted something simpler: a small, focused section showing only the unread emails that are still recent and relevant. That idea became Recent Unread. Recent Unread adds a compact, customizable list above your normal Gmail inbox. It gives you quick access to recently received unread messages without changing Gmail’s familiar layout or forcing every unread email to the top of your inbox. HOW IT WORKS Once enabled, Recent Unread places a separate section directly above your regular Gmail messages. The section displays unread emails that fall within your selected time range. Each message shown in Recent Unread corresponds to the original email in your inbox. You can use the list as a shortcut to open the original message without searching through your inbox. When an email is marked as read, the section updates to reflect its current status. Your regular Gmail inbox remains underneath, in its normal chronological order. Recent Unread does not replace your inbox or permanently rearrange your messages. It simply adds a focused view of the unread emails you are most likely to care about. CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS Recent Unread includes several settings so you can adjust the feature to match how you use Gmail: • Show or hide the Recent Unread section at any time • Select how far back the extension should look for unread messages • Choose the maximum number of messages displayed • Keep the section expanded or collapsed by default • Select an appearance that fits your Gmail theme The section remains in a consistent location, making it easy to check without disrupting the rest of your inbox. If no unread messages match your selected time range, the extension lets you know instead of leaving an unexplained empty space. BUILT TO FEEL LIKE PART OF GMAIL The interface was designed to stay simple and unobtrusive. It follows Gmail’s existing spacing, colours and dark or light appearance so it feels like a natural addition rather than a completely separate application. Unread emails retain clear visual styling, while read messages remain easy to distinguish in the normal inbox. The goal is to make important unread messages easier to find without adding another complicated productivity system. PRIVACY Recent Unread processes visible Gmail interface information locally within your browser. Nothing from your inbox is collected, stored on an external server, sold or transmitted by the extension. The extension does not require you to create an additional account. Your messages remain within Gmail and your browser. FIRST PROJECT AND AI DISCLOSURE Recent Unread is my first published development project. I created it because I wanted this functionality for my own inbox and thought other Gmail users might find it useful too. AI tools assisted me with general development guidance, debugging and resolving certain technical issues. The concept, feature decisions, stringing, testing and continued maintenance are handled by me. As this is my first project, there may still be bugs, display issues or unexpected behaviour on certain devices, Gmail layouts or browser configurations. I plan to continue improving the extension as I receive feedback and gain more development experience. FUTURE PLANS Recent Unread currently works only with Gmail. In the future, I would like to explore support for other email services, including Outlook and Proton Mail. I also plan to add more customization options and useful inbox features over time while keeping the extension lightweight and easy to understand. Any future additions will be designed around the same goal: making unread email management more convenient without taking over the inbox. SUPPORT AND BUG REPORTS If you encounter a bug, notice incorrect behaviour or have an idea for a future feature, please contact me at: kennethdmacaulay@gmail.com When reporting an issue, it helps to include what happened, what you expected to happen and the steps needed to reproduce it. Screenshots are also useful, but please hide any personal or sensitive email information before sending them. I will review reports and work to fix confirmed issues as quickly as I can. An optional “Support development” button is available for anyone who wants to support continued work on the project. Supporting development is completely optional and does not unlock or restrict any features lol. Recent Unread is independently developed and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Google.