A flickering display in Gmail is making some Android users struggle with one of the app’s most basic tasks: reading email. The issue has drawn attention because it appears to affect devices that are often used for work, including tablets and foldables with larger screens.
Reports have linked the problem to Gmail opening with a flashing screen on Android tablets and foldable phones. On affected devices, the flicker can make message text uncomfortable to read and, in some cases, nearly impossible to see clearly.
The complaints have been especially visible on larger-screen devices. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab A11+, and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold models are among those most frequently mentioned by users who say they have encountered the problem.
The bug surfaced through Google’s support forum, where one user described Gmail starting to flicker every time the app was opened. The result was an email view that was difficult to read comfortably.
That user also tried a series of basic fixes. Force stopping the app, clearing the cache, restarting the tablet, and updating Gmail to the latest version all failed to solve the issue.
In the same discussion, Kimiya Kitani said the problem had been escalated to Google. Kitani also said Google was already aware of the flickering bug in Gmail, and noted that the issue appears most often on Samsung tablets.
Kitani connected the behavior to Android System WebView, a system component that Android apps often use to display certain types of content. Even so, there has been no official explanation from Google about the exact cause of the bug.
Google has also not said when a fix will be released. That leaves affected users without a confirmed timeline for resolution, even as the problem continues to interfere with daily email access.
For foldable phone users, one temporary workaround has been shared. Gmail is opened in portrait mode first, then the device is switched to landscape and back to portrait again.
That method has reportedly helped restore the display in some cases, although it is not guaranteed to work on every device or for every user. Updating Android System WebView has also been suggested as another step worth trying.
Clearing the app’s cache and storage remains another basic action that users can test while waiting for an official fix. However, the usual measures have not always helped, and some users say the flickering continues even after force stopping the app, restarting the device, and updating Gmail.
The issue stands out because Gmail is one of the world’s largest email services, with more than 10 billion downloads on Google Play Store. A visual bug affecting the core reading screen can therefore have a wide impact across Android users, especially those relying on tablets and foldables for productivity.