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Contributor I
Nov 9, 2026 9:11 AM UTC
Solved

Declining Gmail Open Rates 2026

I’ve noticed a decline in Gmail open rates throughout 2026, does anyone have any advise as to why this is or how to improve it? We currently follow best practices for segmentation, with engagement tracks and excluding apple MPP opens. 

ArpitBanjara
Principal User II
Nov 9, 2026 2:41 PM UTC

hey ​@Chloe 

Are you sending from your own domain yet, called a branded sending domain? If not, Klaviyo tells everyone to set one up instead of using Klaviyo’s shared one. And have your Gmail clicks dropped too, or just opens?

If clicks dropped too, more of your emails might be going to spam. Gmail doesn’t pass complaints to Klaviyo, so Klaviyo points you to Google Postmaster Tools to see how often Gmail users mark you as spam. Keep that under 0.1% and never let it hit 0.3%, which are Google’s own limits. Are you already sending less to people who haven’t opened or clicked in a while? If you’re near those limits, I’d cut back on them even more, since sending to them too often hurts how much inboxes trust you.

Cheers
Arpit.

Arpit Banjara - Lead Email Marketing Specialist at Flowium

1 reply

ArpitBanjara
Principal User II
Principal User II
Nov 9, 2026 2:41 PM UTC

hey ​@Chloe 

Are you sending from your own domain yet, called a branded sending domain? If not, Klaviyo tells everyone to set one up instead of using Klaviyo’s shared one. And have your Gmail clicks dropped too, or just opens?

If clicks dropped too, more of your emails might be going to spam. Gmail doesn’t pass complaints to Klaviyo, so Klaviyo points you to Google Postmaster Tools to see how often Gmail users mark you as spam. Keep that under 0.1% and never let it hit 0.3%, which are Google’s own limits. Are you already sending less to people who haven’t opened or clicked in a while? If you’re near those limits, I’d cut back on them even more, since sending to them too often hurts how much inboxes trust you.

Cheers
Arpit.

Arpit Banjara - Lead Email Marketing Specialist at Flowium