How to access Google’s Inbox service on Safari

Google Inbox 1.0 for iOS (iPhone screenshot 002)

A month ago, Google launched a new iPhone app called Inbox, a different take on email which uses Sparrow-like gestures to help you achieve Inbox Zero nirvana and surface the most relevant items that tend to get lost in an avalanche of unwanted emails users get bombarded with.

Available on iOS, Android and Chrome, Inbox leaves fans of Apple’s Safari browser in the dark. It’s fortunate that there’s a quick workaround to that, let me show you how.

Inbox is available free in the App Store.

Like many online services, Inbox checks your browser’s user agent ID to determine whether you should be allowed to proceed. Therefore, the trick is in fooling Inbox that you’re using Chrome, here’s how.

How to run Inbox on Safari

Step 1: Open Safari on your Mac and visit the Advanced tab in Preferences.

Step 2: Tick the checkbox next to “Show Develop menu in menu bar” as shown below.

OS X Yosemite (Safari, Preferences, Advanced, Develop menu)

Step 3: Visit inbox.google.com in Safari and log in with your account. You’ll get a message saying that Inbox only works in Google Chrome.

Step 4: Choose “Google Chrome — Mac” in Develop under Safari’s menu bar. Once selected, it will automatically reload the page and you’ll be taken straight to your Google Inbox account.

Tip: Keep in mind that Inbox is currently provided on an invite-only basis so best thing you email inbox@google.com to request an invitation or ask a friend for one.

Google Inbox running on Safari for Mac

You can use this workaround on other browsers, too, including Mozilla’s Firefox and Opera.

That’s it, you can now enjoy Inbox on Safari.

Key Inbox features include:

  • Bundles — Similar messages are bundled together so you can deal with them all at once. And get rid of them with one tap.
  • Highlights — Get the most important information without even opening the message. Check-in for flights, see shipping information for purchases, and view photos from friends right up front.
  • Reminders — More than mail, you can add Reminders so your inbox contains all the things you need to get back to.
  • Snooze — Snooze emails and Reminders to come back when you are ready to deal with them: next week, when you get home, or whenever you choose.
  • Search — Inbox helps you find exactly what you’re looking for— from your upcoming flight to a friend’s address— without having to dig through messages.
  • Works with Gmail — Inbox is built by the Gmail team, so all your messages from Gmail are here, along with the reliability and spam protection of Gmail. All of your messages are still in Gmail and always will be.

Have you tried Inbox yet?

The app is free in the App Store.

I wholeheartedly suggest giving it a whirl, especially if you’re a fan of gesture-laden email apps like Dropbox-owned Mailbox.

Inbox works with Gmail and Google Apps accounts but interestingly doesn’t support Chromebooks yet.

Thanks Rishi from Zinx Magazine for the tip!