Google says it has fixed a Gmail spam and misclassification issue that disrupted inbox filtering and email delivery for users worldwide over the weekend. The problem began early Saturday morning and affected how Gmail automatically sorted incoming messages.
According to Google, the issue caused emails that usually appear in Promotions, Social or Updates to show up directly in the Primary inbox. At the same time, Gmail displayed unexpected spam warning banners on routine messages, including emails from trusted senders.
What Users Experienced
Many users reported multiple inbox problems during the outage, including:
- Legitimate emails flagged with spam or safety warnings
- Messages appearing as not fully scanned for harmful content
- Delays in receiving time sensitive emails like two factor authentication codes
- Primary inboxes filling with emails normally filtered out
Complaints spread quickly across social media platforms and user forums as inbox behavior became increasingly unpredictable throughout the day.
Google’s Response and Resolution
Google acknowledged the issue on its Workspace Status Dashboard and confirmed it was actively working on a fix. Later Saturday evening, the company announced that the Gmail spam and misclassification issue was fully resolved for all users.
The incident has renewed discussion around how much control users should have over Gmail as inbox behavior becomes increasingly automated. Google has already signaled plans to improve flexibility and trust, including allowing users to change their Gmail.com email address without creating a new account an effort aimed at giving users greater control over identity and inbox management as Gmail continues to evolve.
However, Google noted that spam warnings applied before the fix may still appear on some messages. The company also confirmed it will release a detailed incident analysis after completing its internal review.
