Google has quietly rolled out two small but notable usability updates across Workspace apps: a new unread-dot indicator in Gmail on Android, and a deadline field in Google Tasks that accepts dates but — for now — not times. Both changes are rolling out server-side and illustrate Google’s incremental approach to improving everyday productivity tools.
A dot for unread messages: Gmail’s subtle visual cue
On Android, Gmail is beginning to show a small, themed unread dot to the right of an email’s date/time in the message list. The circular indicator uses Google’s Dynamic Color theming and sits in a prominent corner position next to the timestamp, complementing existing bold text treatments for senders, subject lines and sent times.
The change follows broader Material 3 “Expressive” updates that have placed messages in larger containers to improve scannability. According to reports, the unread dot is being enabled via a server-side rollout, so not every user will see it immediately.
Why it matters:
- The dot is a lightweight, familiar visual affordance that makes unread messages easier to pick out at a glance, especially in dense inboxes.
- Because it’s themable with Dynamic Color, it will blend with users’ Android wallpapers and system settings.
- It’s a small change, but one that continues Google’s pattern of iterative UI refinements rather than sweeping redesigns.
- Deadlines are date-only (all-day style); you cannot set a due time alongside the deadline.
- Tasks still support notification times separately, but that requires manual coordination: you must set a reminder time that approximates the deadline.
- Some users expected deeper Calendar integration; at present, deadlines do not consistently appear in Google Calendar, though tasks can be created from Calendar and some web surfaces show the new field.
- Todoist and TickTick allow due dates and exact times, multiple reminders, and sophisticated natural-language entry.
- Microsoft To Do supports due dates and reminder times and syncs with Outlook in business environments.
- Pair a deadline date with a manual notification time that reflects when you actually need to be alerted (for example, set a reminder two hours before your intended cutoff).
- Add explicit time markers in task titles — e.g., "Submit report (by 5:00 PM)" — to reduce ambiguity.
- Continue using third-party task apps when exact times, multiple reminders or project-level features are essential.
- Time support for deadlines (the most-requested follow-up).
- Better Calendar integration so deadlines show up as due items or sync with calendar views.
- File-attachment and Drive integrations in Tasks continuing to expand, which would make Tasks more viable for collaborative workflows.
Deadlines arrive in Google Tasks — date-only for now
Google Tasks has gained a new "Add deadline" option that lets users assign a due date to tasks. The control appears above the existing "Add date/time" field on task detail pages and is visible in both the Android app and the web interface. Early sightings also show deadlines appearing on tasks.google.com, indicating partial parity across Google’s surfaces.
Artem Russakovskii, the founder of Android Police, was among the first to spot the change. Subsequent reporting and hands-on checks show that the deadline field currently accepts a date but not a specific time.
Developers and power users have been waiting for deadline support for years. The new feature addresses a core need — distinguishing tasks that must be completed on a particular day from those that are simply reminders — but its current implementation leaves gaps:
How this compares to rival to-do apps
Many competing task managers already support time-specific deadlines and more advanced scheduling features:
Google’s Tasks has historically favored minimalism and tight integration with Gmail and Calendar over feature depth. Adding deadlines brings Tasks closer to parity for basic workflows but the lack of deadline times keeps power users tethered to more fully featured apps.
User reactions and practical workarounds
Early reactions blend relief and disappointment: users welcome the overdue addition of true deadline semantics, but many call the implementation "half-baked" without time support. Android Authority noted the barebones rollout, while FindArticles and Android Police highlighted helpful usability changes — like creating a task with a deadline from the outset — but emphasized the missing time field.
Practical workarounds until Google adds times:
Rollout details and what to watch next
Both updates appear to be rolling out server-side; that means you may need the latest app versions but might still wait for Google’s phased enablement. The deadline field is visible on Android and the web for many users, and tasks.google.com has shown the new control in some instances. Gmail’s unread dot is likewise arriving on Android devices but is not yet universal.
What to watch for next:
Bottom line
These updates are small but meaningful: Gmail’s unread dot improves at-a-glance inbox scanning, and Google Tasks’ new deadline field gives users a clearer way to mark must-do dates. Yet the Tasks deadline is incomplete without a time component and deeper Calendar ties. For everyday users who value simplicity, Tasks just got more useful; for people and teams who rely on precise scheduling, the change is a welcome step — but not the finish line.