How to opt in to holiday package tracking in Gmail
It’s no secret that the most wonderful time of the year can also be the busiest. From organizing schedules and travel plans to finding the perfect gift, the holidays can clutter even the most organized inboxes. That’s why this season we’re highlighting features to help you simplify the holiday swirl — including this tip on how to avoid email overload and easily keep track of gifts and packages in the mail.
Whether you enable package tracking from your new summary cards or want to opt-in before your packages are on their way, we’ll show you how right from your Gmail account.
Track your holiday packages with one click using summary cards
For years, summary cards in Gmail have put key details about things like events, bills and travel updates right at the top of your emails. Our latest update is tailored for the giving (and shipping) season, offering real-time updates on your holiday purchases and a button to quickly opt in to package tracking — which brings the latest shipment information from most major U.S. shipping carriers right into Gmail — with one click.
To opt in, just click “Allow” on the bottom of the summary card.
Purchase summary cards are interactive and allow you to opt in to package tracking and view the status of an order. The image on the left shows the opt in button; on the right displays what people will see after package tracking is activated when receiving a package from a supported carrier.
We first launched package tracking features in Gmail in 2022, and the updated summary cards make it even simpler to opt in directly from your emails.
Opt in to package tracking in your Gmail settings
Package tracking uses your tracking numbers to automatically follow your purchases’ progress and display updates in your emails. But even if you haven’t found the perfect holiday gift, you can still get prepared for the season by opting-in to package tracking right in your Gmail settings. Here’s how to set it up from your Gmail settings:
- Open the Gmail mobile app on your phone, and tap on the menu button (those three horizontal lines in the top left corner).
- Open Settings by tapping the Settings bar.
- In general settings (or data privacy for iOS users), you’ll find the option to opt in or turn off “Package Tracking.”
You’ll only need to opt in once for package tracking, and you can opt out at any time.
We hope this is helpful as the gifting season kicks off, and we’ll be sharing more tips and tools this month to help you navigate this time of year. With package tracking, you can spend less time worrying about how to intercept gifts at the door, and more time unwrapping the perfect holiday with your loved ones.
