Create Gmail labels on computers, Android phones and iPhones to organise emails efficiently.
Move messages, create nested labels and group important emails into relevant categories.
Set up automatic filters to sort incoming emails and keep your inbox organised.
Gmail allows you to categorize your emails with labels, which act as folders. For example, you can create separate labels for work-related emails, personal emails, bill payments, newsletters, and other projects you're involved in.
Gmail labels differ from folders because a single email can be categorized under several labels at once without duplicating the message. Whether you use Gmail on your PC, Android device, or iPhone, you can add labels and filter your emails.
Follow these steps to create your first folder-like label in Gmail:
Open Gmail in your web browser and sign in to your account.
Locate the Labels section in the left sidebar.
Click the plus (+) icon or the Create new label option.
Enter a name for the label, such as ‘Work’ or ‘Personal’.
Click Create to save the label.
Your new label will appear in the sidebar. You can repeat the process to create separate categories for different types of emails.
You can also create labels directly through the Gmail app on an Android phone.
Open the Gmail app.
Tap the three-line menu in the top-left corner.
Find the All labels section.
Tap Create label.
Enter your preferred label name and tap Save.
You can then use the new label to organize messages on your phone without switching to a computer.
The process is similar for iPhone and iPad users. Follow these steps:
Open the Gmail app on your device.
Tap the menu icon in the top-left corner.
Scroll to the Labels section.
Select Create new.
Enter the label name and tap Save.
Once created, the label can help you organize personal correspondence, professional messages, and other emails into separate categories.
After creating a label, you can use it to organize existing emails.
Open your Gmail inbox.
Select the email you want to organize.
Click the Move to icon at the top.
Choose the appropriate label from the list.
Open the Gmail app.
Press and hold the email you want to move.
Tap the three-dot menu.
Select Move to.
Choose the desired label.
This helps keep related messages together instead of leaving everything in the main inbox.
Also Read: How to Create a Gmail Account Without a Phone Number
Gmail supports nested labels, which work like subfolders and help organize related emails into smaller categories.
To create one on a computer:
Click Create new label.
Enter the name of the sublabel.
Select Nest label under.
Choose an existing parent label.
Complete the process to save your changes.
For example, you can create a main label called ‘Work’ and add sublabels such as ‘Projects’, ‘Meetings’, and ‘Reports’. This structure helps you organize correspondence by category and purpose.
Also Read: Gmail Privacy Update: How Google May Use Your Data for Ads
Gmail filters can automatically organize incoming messages based on criteria such as a sender's email address.
To create a filter:
Open Gmail and access the search options.
Enter the criteria you want to use, such as a sender's address.
Click Create filter.
Select Apply the label.
Choose the label you want to apply.
Select Skip the Inbox if you want matching messages to stay out of your main inbox.
Save the filter.
Once configured, the filter can help organize recurring emails without requiring you to sort each message manually.
Keep labels systematic by naming them clearly, nesting related categories under certain labels, and coloring them in the desktop view.
To rename or remove a label, click the three dots next to the label name and choose the option.
It should be noted that the deletion of a label does not mean the deletion of the messages that have been labeled.
The combination of all these methods will help you design an organizational system for Gmail.
1. Can You Create Folders In Gmail?
Yes, Gmail allows you to create labels that work like folders, helping organise emails into categories such as work, personal and bills.
2. How do You Create Folders in Gmail on Mobile?
Open the Gmail app, tap the menu, select Create label, enter a name and tap Save to organise your emails.
3. Can You Create Subfolders in Gmail?
Yes, Gmail supports nested labels. On a computer, select Nest label under when creating a label and choose an existing parent label.
4. How Can You Automatically Sort Emails into Gmail Folders?
Create a Gmail filter using search criteria, select Apply the label, choose your preferred label and save the filter for automatic organisation.
5. Does Deleting Gmail Label Delete its Emails?
No, deleting a label does not delete associated emails. However, deleting an email removes it from its labels and inbox.