German email provider web.de got rid of plain text mail.

Technology, computers, networking, software, trashing your phone, and so on.
Post Reply
TechLord
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2026 10:07 pm

German email provider web.de got rid of plain text mail.

Post by TechLord »

mocheryl wrote: Tue Jul 21, 2026 4:21 pm
TechLord wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2026 10:08 am Of course, the "web app" includes useless bloat that doesn't add value, like skeleton screens and loading animations that themselves add delays.
Count yourself lucky if that’s all there is. Wait until they start plastering the UI with those “ask AI” buttons.
Like Google Mail did.

Also, web.de recently took away the option to compose plain text mail, leaving HTML mail as the only option. For simple text communication, HTML is "overkill". It takes more resources and storage than necessary.

I am not opposed to HTML mail, I am opposed to having choice taken away.

See also: https://useplaintext.email/
All of my text contributions are in the public domain under CC0 1.0.
mocheryl
Posts: 25
Joined: Sat May 30, 2026 9:02 am
Location: Nova Gorica, Slovenia
Contact:

Re: web.de got rid of plain text mail

Post by mocheryl »

TechLord wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2026 8:21 pm Also, web.de recently took away the option to compose plain text mail, leaving HTML mail as the only option.
That’s terrible. Does it at least send the plain-text version along with it? If it’s HTML-only, there’s a good chance it will end up in the spam folder or remain unread by the recipient if his e-mail client doesn’t support HTML formatting. You should check that just in case to avoid any further surprises.
TechLord
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2026 10:07 pm

Re: web.de got rid of plain text mail

Post by TechLord »

mocheryl wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2026 9:24 pm Does it at least send the plain-text version along with it?
Unfortunately not.
If it’s HTML-only, there’s a good chance it will end up in the spam folder or remain unread by the recipient if his e-mail client doesn’t support HTML formatting. You should check that just in case to avoid any further surprises.
Indeed. On this archived version of their help article from August 2025, they actually listed some benefits of plain text mail. Sadly, it seems they have forgotten it.
All of my text contributions are in the public domain under CC0 1.0.
mocheryl
Posts: 25
Joined: Sat May 30, 2026 9:02 am
Location: Nova Gorica, Slovenia
Contact:

Re: web.de got rid of plain text mail

Post by mocheryl »

TechLord wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2026 11:53 pm
mocheryl wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2026 9:24 pm Does it at least send the plain-text version along with it?
Unfortunately not.
If it’s HTML-only, there’s a good chance it will end up in the spam folder or remain unread by the recipient if his e-mail client doesn’t support HTML formatting. You should check that just in case to avoid any further surprises.
Indeed. On this archived version of their help article from August 2025, they actually listed some benefits of plain text mail. Sadly, it seems they have forgotten it.
Well that sucks. Bloated UI is one thing, but I definitely wouldn’t use a service that consciously decides to make their product harmful by removing such a fundamental feature of the standard.
Post Reply