How to set up email tracking in Gmail
Gmail tracking installs via a Chrome extension that adds an invisible pixel to outbound emails. End-to-end install takes about 2 minutes including Google OAuth.
This guide covers Outsolvi for the install, the same pattern applies broadly to Gmail Chrome extensions for tracking.
Before you start
- Gmail account (personal or Workspace)
- Chrome or Chromium-based browser (Edge, Brave, Arc)
- Outsolvi account (14-day free trial, no credit card)
Step-by-step
- 1
Install the Chrome extension
Open the Chrome Web Store, search 'Outsolvi', click 'Add to Chrome'. Confirm the permission prompt (Gmail read, send, modify scopes for tracking).
- 2
Sign in via Google OAuth
Open Gmail. The Outsolvi sidebar appears. Click 'Sign in with Google' and complete the OAuth grant for your Gmail account.
- 3
Open Compose and enable tracking
Click Compose. The Outsolvi sidebar shows a 'Tracking' toggle. Turn it on. Compose your email.
- 4
Send and watch the dashboard
Send the email. Open outsolvi.com/dashboard in another tab. Within seconds of the recipient rendering the message, the open event appears with its confidence tier.
- 5
Configure default tracking preference
In Outsolvi Settings, set tracking to 'on by default' so every Compose session starts with tracking enabled. You can still toggle off per send when needed.
Set up tracking in 2 minutes instead of 20.
Outsolvi installs as a native Outlook add-in or Gmail Chrome extension. Confidence-scored opens, AI follow-up alerts, native Outlook and Gmail tracking. From $7/mo, 14-day free trial.
Troubleshooting
OAuth grant fails
Make sure you're signed into the correct Gmail account in Chrome. If using multiple Google accounts, the OAuth flow needs to match the active account in Gmail.
Tracking toggle not visible
Refresh Gmail (F5). If still missing, disable other Gmail extensions that might be conflicting with the sidebar.
Test email shows zero opens
If sending to your own address, Gmail's image proxy may delay or filter the pixel. Send to a colleague or use a separate test account for verification.
Frequently asked
Does Outsolvi work on Workspace (Google Workspace)?
Yes. Personal Gmail and Workspace accounts both work. Workspace admin policies can block new extensions; if so, forward the Outsolvi listing to your admin.
What permissions does the extension need?
Gmail read (to read message metadata for tracking), send (to insert tracking pixels), and modify (to wrap tracked links). No access to other Google products.
Can I disable tracking on specific sends?
Yes. Per-send toggle in the Compose sidebar. Useful for sensitive recipients or compliance-driven contexts.
More on email tracking
Glossary terms, comparisons, and feature deep-dives related to this guide.
Nate built Outsolvi after watching every email-tracking tool he had ever used lie to him about opens. Outsolvi runs Tier 1 to 5 confidence scoring on every open, native in Outlook and Gmail, so the number on the dashboard is one a rep can actually act on.
We update these pages when the underlying mechanics change. new mailbox-provider rules, new tracker behavior, new measurement gaps. The dates above are real revisions, not auto-touches.