Try one of these so you don't have to use straight gmail on mac: https://www.lifewire.com/best-free-email-clients-for-mac-8773550
I finally found out how to do this with a helpful YouTube video. now I have gmail on the old apple format like my old MacBook and iPhone. thank you all!
My CFO drives a Mac and we both use Gmail - so I figured it could be done - I also figured that more than a few folks in PC knew how to do so. I'm (forced against my will) to use Outlook and Windows while I somewhat earn my humble living......AND I use Safari on the phone.
Gmail on Mac mail (however it works) is so much cleaner than straight gmail on the Mac. No annoying pop up’s, or thousands of distracting icons that enlarge as the cursor goes over them