NVDA stopped announcing unread msgs in GMAIL
Paul Brush
Snehashish Mahato.
No one will be able to help you if you are this disorganized. You need to calm down and provide your current status along with all the relevant information (screen reader, native client/web app, browser info, etc.).
At a glance, if you are using the web version, this might be happening due to a recent update to the website.
Snehashish.
This is my first msg so pls excuse mistakes. A couple of days ago screen reader stopped announcing number of msgs in the conversation email and number of unread messages which are supposed to be in bold but hard for me to read due to very low vision. Wondering shy and how to fix. Thanks. Paul Brush
--
***
Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor Code of Conduct.
NV Access expects that all community members will read and abide by the rules set out in this document while participating in this group.
https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
You can contact the group owners and moderators via nvda-user...@nvaccess.org.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NVDA Screen Reader Discussion" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/03eb5c38-7326-4742-bb65-e441cc41b71bn%40nvaccess.org.
Paul Brush
Mister Kayne
Hi Snehashish and Paul,
Snehashish,
I believe Paul was very candid in mentioning that this is his first post to our mailing list, and he specifically asked to be excused for any initial mistakes. It is important that we remain patient and welcoming toward new members; otherwise, they may hesitate to reach out to the community for support in the future.
Paul,
Thank you for reaching out to the group. I don't believe Snehashish was trying to be rude, but rather pointing out that we didn't have many facts to work with regarding your specific challenge.
To help us investigate why your screen reader has stopped announcing the message counts and unread status, we would appreciate it if you could provide a bit more context.
Specifically, it would be helpful to know:
• Which Operating System you are using (e.g., Windows 10 or 11).
• Whether you are using a native email client (like Outlook) or a web browser (like Chrome or Firefox).
• Any other details about the specific environment where the bold text or message counts are failing to announce.
Having this information will allow us to provide a more accurate solution or a functional workaround for you. Have a good one!
Warm regards,
Mister Kayne
Author: The Somebody, Nobody, Anybody & Everybody Blog!
Mail: writ...@mister-kayne.com
Sent from Outlook® for Windows 11
Paul Brush
--
***
Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor Code of Conduct.
NV Access expects that all community members will read and abide by the rules set out in this document while participating in this group.
https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
You can contact the group owners and moderators via nvda-user...@nvaccess.org.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NVDA Screen Reader Discussion" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org.
Mister Kayne
Hi Paul,
Thank you for the detailed reply. I truly understand how much effort it might have taken for you to put all that together, and I appreciate you sharing those details with me.
It’s clear now that you are using a Windows 11 machine and Google Mail (Gmail). To help narrow this down, are you accessing your mail through a specific application, or is it the webpage that you open using a browser like Chrome or Edge?
If you are using the browser, have you tried checking your mail on the web using Chrome lately? I know the web interface has become a bit more complicated since they retired the "Basic HTML" view in favor of the "Standard" view. However, you might find it helpful to look into the settings on that page to ensure that keyboard shortcuts are enabled, as that can sometimes restore some of the navigation flow you're used to.
I realize some of this is challenging to navigate, especially when you just want things to work the way they always have. I personally don't use the Google Mail application or the website on my computer; I have everything configured in Outlook for desktop, which fetches mail from all my accounts, including Gmail.
I am sincerely hoping that someone else on the mailing list can step in with more specific advice, as I don't want to misguide you. Please know that the intention here is truly to help, and as I mentioned before, I don't think anyone was trying to be intentionally rude—it was likely just a reaction to having very little information to troubleshoot with initially.
I wish you the very best with getting this sorted. Have a good one!
Snehashish Mahato.
Excuse me too, Paul!
I haven’t been in a very good headspace lately, and I realize that my personal situation should never affect a public domain. Please forgive me this time and continue with your thread.
I am, once again, truly surprised at how I managed to miss your debut and behave so rudely. I sincerely apologize for that!
Snehashish.
Paul Brush
Snehashish Mahato.
Well, so far I can confirm that NVDA (in my case, at least) does read the read/unread status of conversations.
Can you press NVDA + 5 (on the top row) to confirm whether “report dynamic content changes” is turned on for you?
Although I’m not hundred percent sure that toggling this feature will solve your problem, it’s worth a look.
Snehashish.
Gene Asner
I know a little about it. I also don't know how you, meaning you,
yourself, move from message to message. In NVDA,, every time you press
the letter x on a web page, you move to a check box and on the GMail
ssite, these check boxes in the main window, are associated with
different messages, one for each message. If you move through mail with
the letter x, unread is announced every time you move to an unread
message.
Since I don't thread mail, I don't know if there is any way to hear
something like five unread messages in a thread. I also don't know how
you use the information.
Someone who uses the web interface may be able to give you other
information. For example, if you want to move through the message list
as a list and not use the check box method I discussed, there is a way
to do that and hear read and unread as you move in that way.
there are times when it is much more efficient and beneficial to learn
the screen-reader or from the keyboard way to do things than to use
visual ways of doing something if they are inefficient or not well
suited to your degree of vision loss. I am not assuming this is such a
time but I am raising the point for discussion.
If this is a change on the web site itself, it may be time to consider a
different way of doing what you are doing,
Gene
> Thank you for understanding. I don't use Outlook because I find it
> easier to use google mail and I am used to it which is very important to
> me because of low vision. I can start by typing mail.google.com
> hope this helps. thanks again.
>
> Have a nice day,
> Paul C. Brush
> 732-286-5109 res.;732-719-6895 fax;
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 29, 2026 at 8:54 AM Mister Kayne <mister...@outlook.com
>
> Hi Paul,____
>
> __ __
> Thank you for the detailed reply. I truly understand how much effort
> it might have taken for you to put all that together, and I
>
> __ __
> It’s clear now that you are using a Windows 11 machine and Google
> Mail (Gmail). To help narrow this down, are you accessing your mail
> through a specific application, or is it the webpage that you open
> If you are using the browser, have you tried checking your mail on
> the web using Chrome lately? I know the web interface has become a
> bit more complicated since they retired the "Basic HTML" view in
> favor of the "Standard" view. However, you might find it helpful to
> look into the settings on that page to ensure that keyboard
> shortcuts are enabled, as that can sometimes restore some of the
>
> __ __
> I realize some of this is challenging to navigate, especially when
> you just want things to work the way they always have. I personally
> don't use the Google Mail application or the website on my computer;
> I have everything configured in Outlook for desktop, which fetches
>
> __ __
> I am sincerely hoping that someone else on the mailing list can step
> in with more specific advice, as I don't want to misguide you.
> Please know that the intention here is truly to help, and as I
> mentioned before, I don't think anyone was trying to be
> intentionally rude—it was likely just a reaction to having very
>
> __ __
>
> I wish you the very best with getting this sorted. Have a good one!____
>
> __ __
>
> *From:*nvda-...@nvaccess.org <mailto:nvda-...@nvaccess.org>
> <nvda-...@nvaccess.org <mailto:nvda-...@nvaccess.org>> *On
> Behalf Of *Paul Brush
> *Sent:* Sunday, March 29, 2026 6:05 PM
> *To:* nvda-...@nvaccess.org <mailto:nvda-...@nvaccess.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [NVDA] NVDA stopped announcing unread msgs in GMAIL____
>
> __ __
> Thank you for your prompt and courteous reply. I am nearly 84 years
> old and I have been using computers since the days of Visicalc. I am
> a retired cpa due to my near blindness and I am shocked at that
> person's response to my simple question. That said, I use W11 and
> google mail. I have an android cellphone but have limited use,
> usually dictating messages instead of typing them. I mostly use it
>
> __ __
> Until recently, when I opened an email thread, it announced the
> number of emails and how many were unread. I get bout 300 emails
> per day so this feature was very helpful to me but about three days
> ago it stopped announcing and I could not understand what changed.
> Then I remembered I was getting these beta announcement from nvda
> which i opened because i thought it was an update which i always
> install. maybe poking around the beta mail caused the announcements
> to stop?? I did not update anything so I still cant figure it out.
> To someone with low vision, the announcement of how many unread
> messages there are in a thread is very helpful even thought the
> unread are supposed to be bold but it is hard for me to see the
>
> __ __
>
> Sorry this went on so long, but thanks for your concern. Paul Brush ____
>
>
> ____
>
> __ __
>
> __ __
>
> Have a nice day,____
>
> Paul C. Brush____
>
> 732-286-5109 res.;732-719-6895 fax;____
>
> __ __
>
> __ __
> On Sun, Mar 29, 2026 at 8:00 AM Mister Kayne
>
> Hi Snehashish and Paul,____
>
> ____
>
> Snehashish,____
> I believe Paul was very candid in mentioning that this is his
> first post to our mailing list, and he specifically asked to be
> excused for any initial mistakes. It is important that we remain
> patient and welcoming toward new members; otherwise, they may
> hesitate to reach out to the community for support in the
>
> ____
>
> Paul,____
> Thank you for reaching out to the group. I don't believe
> Snehashish was trying to be rude, but rather pointing out that
> we didn't have many facts to work with regarding your specific
>
> ____
> To help us investigate why your screen reader has stopped
> announcing the message counts and unread status, we would
>
> ____
>
> Specifically, it would be helpful to know:____
>
> • Which Operating System you are using (e.g., Windows 10 or 11).____
> • Whether you are using a native email client (like Outlook) or
> • Any other details about the specific environment where the
>
> ____
> Having this information will allow us to provide a more accurate
>
> ____
>
> Warm regards,____
>
> ____
> Mister Kayne
> Author: The Somebody, Nobody, Anybody & Everybody Blog!
>
> Mail: writ...@mister-kayne.com
> <mailto:writ...@mister-kayne.com>____
>
> Sent from Outlook® for Windows 11____
>
> ____
>
> ____
>
> ____
> --
> ***
> Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor Code
> of Conduct.
> NV Access expects that all community members will read and abide
> by the rules set out in this document while participating in
> this group.
> https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
> <https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md>
>
> You can contact the group owners and moderators via
> nvda-user...@nvaccess.org
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the
> Google Groups "NVDA Screen Reader Discussion" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from
> it, send an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org
> https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/TYZPR02MB9171DFF2D5AA091E165B507C9D55A%40TYZPR02MB9171.apcprd02.prod.outlook.com
> --
> ***
> Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor Code of
> Conduct.
> NV Access expects that all community members will read and abide by
> the rules set out in this document while participating in this group.
> https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
> <https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md>
>
> You can contact the group owners and moderators via
> nvda-user...@nvaccess.org
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "NVDA Screen Reader Discussion" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
> send an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org
> <https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/CAEwmh%2B6Kj7vreDRs5mKHgTiZQUN_YSNdM6w2LOqGL8p5U0t5KQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.____
> --
> ***
> Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor Code of
> Conduct.
> NV Access expects that all community members will read and abide by
> the rules set out in this document while participating in this group.
> https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
> <https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md>
>
> You can contact the group owners and moderators via
> nvda-user...@nvaccess.org
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "NVDA Screen Reader Discussion" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
> send an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org
> <https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/TYZPR02MB91717A1518AEDC0B9CED77A29D55A%40TYZPR02MB9171.apcprd02.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
> --
> ***
> Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor Code of Conduct.
> NV Access expects that all community members will read and abide by the
> rules set out in this document while participating in this group.
> https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
> <https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md>
>
> You can contact the group owners and moderators via
> nvda-user...@nvaccess.org.
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "NVDA Screen Reader Discussion" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org
> <https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/CAEwmh%2B4KgcS4P7ETJboizJ4Bbpw%2B%3DjGvfY-8gdk6WNM5a%2Bt1xg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
Gene Asner
I either never or just about never see the dynamic content command making any difference on what is heard on Internet sites. The setting makes no difference here, as far as I can see. When I move from message to message, I hear unread for unread messages regardless of the setting. This is not dynamic content. It is some sort of way in which messages are designated to indicate their status, perhaps an icon or some symbol.
If you want to try the dynamic content command, fine but if you do, and you hear report dynamic content changes off, that means it was on before you changed it. Issue the command again to turn the setting on again, the original setting.
Gene
Mister Kayne
Hi Paul,
This is a good start. From what you shared, it is clear you are using Google Mail on a Chrome browser. Since the basic HTML view has been retired, I am certain you are now on the standard view.
What I believe has happened is that the standard Gmail interface may not be fully set up to work optimally with your screen reader (NVDA). While I’m not sure if you’re up for a bit of a learning curve at this stage, it is definitely worth reading up on how to navigate this specific view using a screen reader.
There is a very helpful guide provided by the good folks at the Google Accessibility Team. It’s designed to get you started and help you manage the transition to the modern interface, though it isn't necessarily an immediate fix for the announcement issue you're facing. This is where I must ask to be excused, as my own setup is quite different, and I wouldn't want to misguide you.
Please click on the title link below to access the guide:
Use Gmail with a screen reader
Thank you for your understanding, Paul. I truly hope this helps you get back to a smoother workflow with your emails.
Benjamin Davies
Sent: 29 March 2026 12:52
To: nvda-...@nvaccess.org <nvda-...@nvaccess.org>
Subject: Re: [NVDA] NVDA stopped announcing unread msgs in GMAIL
Richard Turner
Paul is not alone with the unread not being spoken in Outlook. IN my case, I am using the most recent version of Microsoft 365 on my laptop, not the web, , On Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.8037)
I had used NVDA 25.3 or whatever the stable build was, then I installed the 26.1 beta and the status of messages in Outlook are still not read, this includes, unread, replied, or forwarded.
This has been going on for a long time and no one with NVAccess know why it is this way on my system, but I have done everything I can with Windows system checking that I can and it just simply does not work.
I am not going to reinstall Windows 11 in the hope that would fix it.
Jaws and Narrator work fine and read all the email statuses, so this is not my problem.
But clearly Paul and I are in the minority on this one.
Richard, USA,
he only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."
-- Alan Watts (1915-1973)
My web site: https://www.turner42.com
joseph....@gmail.com
Hi,
Yep, I do remember troubleshooting this issue with Richard a while ago.
If the problem is not resolved after switching to Microsoft 365 Outlook (classic), then I imagine this is something going on with NVDA’s behavior, specifically miscommunication happening between NVDA and Outlook that may require one or more of the following to possibly resole:
- Run COMM registration fixing tool, then restart the computer
- Repair Microsoft 365
- Reinstall NVDA from scratch with or without clearing user data
- Do a repair Windows install (Settings/System/Recover/Windows Update option)
Cheers,
Joseph
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/006301dcbf8b%2472beab90%24583c02b0%24%40comcast.net.
Mister Kayne
Hi Ben, Joseph and Richard,
Thank you all for the support and for stepping in to help.
However, I believe there has been a slight misunderstanding regarding the case in question. Paul is not actually having a challenge with the Outlook desktop client; he specifically needs help with Gmail on the web, which is where he is facing this issue.
It appears the conversation may have shifted toward Outlook troubleshooting, but if you could please refer back to the threads in my communication to Paul, you'll see the context regarding the web interface.
Thanks again for your time and for looking into this!
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/000a01dcbf8e%244efce4d0%24ecf6ae70%24%40gmail.com.
John O'Regan
Welcome to the group! :)
Forgive my stupid question, but are you sure the browser window is
fully maximized? It shouldn't make a difference, except that
sometimes it does.
To check, just press the Windows key + UpArrow when the Gmail window
has focus. Then, press Alt+Space to open the System menu and use
ArrowDown to reach the Maximize option. If Maximize is unavailable,
then the window is maximized.
Next, go back to your Inbox and check if the message count and number
of unread emails have been restored. If not, try pressing the F5 key
to refresh the page.
HTH! :)
John
Paul Brush
--
***
Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor Code of Conduct.
NV Access expects that all community members will read and abide by the rules set out in this document while participating in this group.
https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
You can contact the group owners and moderators via nvda-user...@nvaccess.org.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NVDA Screen Reader Discussion" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org.
Paul Brush
Steve Nutt
He wasn’t trying to be rude, he was rude period. You don’t have to talk to anyone like that.
All the best
Steve
--
Computer Room Services
77 Exeter Close, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 4PW
From: nvda-...@nvaccess.org <nvda-...@nvaccess.org> On Behalf Of Mister Kayne
Sent: 29 March 2026 13:01
To: nvda-...@nvaccess.org
Subject: RE: [NVDA] NVDA stopped announcing unread msgs in GMAIL
Hi Snehashish and Paul,
--
***
Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor Code of Conduct.
NV Access expects that all community members will read and abide by the rules set out in this document while participating in this group.
https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
You can contact the group owners and moderators via nvda-user...@nvaccess.org.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NVDA Screen Reader Discussion" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org.
Steve Nutt
I think Paul is talking about the Gmail web interface though, not Outlook.
All the best
Steve
--
Computer Room Services
77 Exeter Close, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 4PW
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/000a01dcbf8e%244efce4d0%24ecf6ae70%24%40gmail.com.
Steve Nutt
Hi Paul,
Hold down the NVDA key and press the number 5, that’s what that means.
All the best
Steve
--
Computer Room Services
77 Exeter Close, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 4PW
T: +44(0)1438-742286, M: +44(0)7956-334938
E: st...@comproom.co.uk, W: https://www.comproom.co.uk
From: nvda-...@nvaccess.org <nvda-...@nvaccess.org> On Behalf Of Paul Brush
Sent: 30 March 2026 21:20
To: nvda-...@nvaccess.org
Subject: Re: [NVDA] NVDA stopped announcing unread msgs in GMAIL
Thank you all who have contributed. Mr. Kayne is corrrect, I do not use Outlook, I use Gmail and my screen is always full sized, i.e. it is maximized. I subscribe to MS365 but don't use Outlook, I use Gmail. Someone asked if I tap the 5plus at the top line. I wasn't sure what is meant by the top line but when viewing the invox list of emails, it shows the number of emails in the thread, e.g. sender and replier will show the number 2. I then tried tapping the number, btw there was no plus sign after the number, and it still does not announce the number in the thread and the number unread.
Gene Asner
mail read the entire thread before commenting. There is really no point
in resurrecting a thread that has ended and that was unpleasant for
participants. Snehashish apologized later in the thread and the thread
ended amicably.
Gene
On 3/31/2026 9:24 AM, 'Steve Nutt' via NVDA Screen Reader Discussion wrote:
> He wasn’t trying to be rude, he was rude period. You don’t have to
> talk to anyone like that.
>
> All the best
>
>
> Steve
>
> --
>
> Computer Room Services
>
> 77 Exeter Close, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 4PW
>
> T: +44(0)1438-742286, M: +44(0)7956-334938
>
> https://www.comproom.co.uk <https://www.comproom.co.uk/>
>
> *From:*nvda-...@nvaccess.org <nvda-...@nvaccess.org> *On Behalf
> Of *Mister Kayne *Sent:* 29 March 2026 13:01 *To:*
> nvda-...@nvaccess.org *Subject:* RE: [NVDA] NVDA stopped announcing
>
> Mail: writ...@mister-kayne.com <mailto:writ...@mister-kayne.com>
> Sent from Outlook® for Windows 11
>
> -- *** Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor
> Code of Conduct. NV Access expects that all community members will
> read and abide by the rules set out in this document while
> participating in this group.
> https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
> <https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md>
>
> You can contact the group owners and moderators via
> nvda-user...@nvaccess.org. --- You received this message
> because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NVDA Screen Reader
> Discussion" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving
> emails from it, send an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org
> discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/TYZPR02MB9171DFF2D5AA091E165B507C9D55A%40TYZPR02MB9171.apcprd02.prod.outlook.com
>
> <https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/TYZPR02MB9171DFF2D5AA091E165B507C9D55A%40TYZPR02MB9171.apcprd02.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
> -- *** Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor
> Code of Conduct. NV Access expects that all community members will
> read and abide by the rules set out in this document while
> participating in this group.
> https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
> <https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md>
>
> You can contact the group owners and moderators via
> nvda-user...@nvaccess.org. --- You received this message
> because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NVDA Screen Reader
> Discussion" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving
> emails from it, send an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org
> discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/02b301dcc11a%24111791a0%243346b4e0%24%40comproom.co.uk
>
> <https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/02b301dcc11a%24111791a0%243346b4e0%24%40comproom.co.uk?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.