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Full Lightning for Gmail entry
How-to guide

Turn on the Gmail Integration (modern Lightning for Gmail)

Turning on the Gmail Integration is the modern equivalent of enabling what older docs called Lightning for Gmail. The toggle lives in Salesforce Setup, then reps add the browser extension. You must be a Salesforce admin and the org must be on Lightning Experience.

By Dipojjal Chakrabarti · Founder & Editor, Salesforce DictionaryLast updated Jun 16, 2026

Turning on the Gmail Integration is the modern equivalent of enabling what older docs called Lightning for Gmail. The toggle lives in Salesforce Setup, then reps add the browser extension. You must be a Salesforce admin and the org must be on Lightning Experience.

  1. Open the Setup node

    In Salesforce Setup, type Gmail in the Quick Find box and select Gmail Integration and Sync. This single node holds every toggle for the panel and its sync options.

  2. Turn on the Gmail Integration

    Enable the Gmail Integration setting. This is the switch that makes the Salesforce panel available inside Gmail for users who have the extension installed.

  3. Confirm Enhanced Email and Email to Salesforce

    Make sure Enhanced Email is on so logged messages are stored as standard EmailMessage records, and that Email to Salesforce is active so reps can attach emails to records.

  4. Deploy the extension and decide on capture

    Have reps install the Chrome extension or Google Workspace add-on, then choose whether to enable Einstein Activity Capture for automatic logging instead of relying only on the manual log button.

Key options
Gmail Integration toggleremember

The master switch under Gmail Integration and Sync that exposes the Salesforce panel inside Gmail.

Enhanced Emailremember

Stores logged emails as standard message records so they behave like other Salesforce activities and report cleanly.

Einstein Activity Captureremember

Optional background sync that captures emails and events automatically and adds them to the activity timeline.

Email application paneremember

The Lightning App Builder layout that controls which components and actions appear in the Gmail panel.

Gotchas
  • Salesforce Classic orgs cannot enable the integration, because it requires Lightning Experience.
  • The panel will not appear until each rep installs the Chrome extension or Google Workspace add-on, even if the org-level toggle is on.
  • Einstein Activity Capture stores captured activity differently from standard records, which changes how that activity reports.
  • Send-later and email open tracking are Salesforce Inbox features and need a separate license, not just the base Gmail Integration.

See the full Lightning for Gmail entry

Lightning for Gmail includes the definition, worked example, deep dive, related terms, and a quiz.