Creating a new label takes 30 seconds and works from any device
Open Gmail on your computer or phone. On a computer, click the gear icon in the top right, then select "Labels" from the dropdown menu. On a phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left, scroll down, and tap "Labels". Either way, you'll see a list of labels you already have. At the bottom, click or tap "Create new label" and type a name — something like "Bank Statements" or "Suspicious" works better than vague names like "Important".
The label appears when ready in your label list. You don't have to do anything else to set up it. From that moment on, you can tag emails with it.
Key Takeaways
- Labels are Gmail's version of folders, except one email can have multiple labels at once — useful when a message belongs in more than one category.
- You create labels from the Settings menu (computer) or the menu icon (phone), and the process takes under a minute.
- Labeling an email does not move it out of your inbox; it stays there unless you also archive it or delete it.
- Nested labels — labels within labels, like "Bills > Electric" — keep your label list organized when you have many categories.
How to label an email you already have
Open the email. On a computer, look for the label icon (it looks like a tag) in the toolbar above the message. Click it and a dropdown menu appears with all your labels. Check the box next to the label you want to add. You can add multiple labels to one email — check as many boxes as you need.
On a phone, open the email and tap the three-dot menu icon at the top right. Tap "Add label" and check the boxes for the labels you want. The email now carries those labels, and you can search for it by label name later.
Labeling emails automatically with filters
If you get emails from the same sender or with the same words in the subject line, you can set up a filter to label them automatically. On a computer, click the search box at the top of Gmail and then click the downward arrow on the right side of the search box. Type in the sender's address or the words you're looking for. Click "Create filter" at the bottom right.
A new window opens. Check the box next to "explore the label" and select the label you want from the dropdown. Click "Create filter" at the bottom. From now on, every email matching those words or that sender gets labeled automatically — you don't have to do it by hand each time.
On a phone, filters are harder to set up, so most people do this step on a computer first. Once the filter exists, it works on your phone too.
Using nested labels to organize categories
If you have many labels, nested labels keep them grouped. A nested label looks like "Bills/Electric" or "Receipts/Groceries" — the part before the slash is the parent label, and the part after is the child label.
To create a nested label, go to Settings > Labels (on computer) or the menu > Labels (on phone). Click "Create new label". In the name field, type the parent label name, then a forward slash, then the child label name. For example, type "Bills/Electric" as a single name. Gmail automatically nests it under "Bills" in your label list. You can nest labels three or four levels deep, though most people stop at two.
Finding emails by label
On a computer, look at the left sidebar where your labels are listed. Click any label name and Gmail shows only the emails with that label. You can also search by typing "label:Bills" in the search box (replace "Bills" with your label name) to find emails tagged that way.
On a phone, tap the menu icon at the top left and scroll down to your labels. Tap the label you want and Gmail shows all emails with that label. Search works the same way — type "label:Bills" in the search box.
The difference between labels and archiving
Labels do not remove emails from your inbox. If you label an email "Bills" but don't archive it, it still shows up in your inbox list. Archiving moves an email out of your inbox but keeps it in Gmail — you can still search for it and label it.
Many people combine the two: they label an email with a category, then archive it so their inbox stays short. The email is still searchable by label, but it's out of the way. This is especially useful for receipts, statements, and other things you need to find later but don't need to see every day.
Spotting scams with labels
Create a label called "Suspicious" or "Check This" for emails that look off but you're not sure about. Label them first, then take time to investigate — check the sender's real email address (not the display name), look for spelling mistakes, and verify links by hovering over them without clicking. If it's a scam, you've already marked it so you remember not to click anything in it.
You can also create a filter for known scam senders. If you get repeated emails from a fake bank or a phishing attempt, set up a filter to label them automatically so they're straightforward to spot and avoid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a label without deleting the emails in it?
Yes. Go to Settings > Labels, find the label you want to remove, and click the delete icon next to it. Gmail asks if you want to delete the label or the label and all messages. Choose "Delete the label" and the emails stay in Gmail — they just lose that label tag.
What happens if I label an email and then archive it?
The email leaves your inbox but stays in Gmail with the label attached. You can find it by clicking the label name in the sidebar or by searching "label:Bills" in the search box. Archiving and labeling work together — one removes it from view, the other helps you find it later.
Can I change a label name after I create it?
Yes. On a computer, go to Settings > Labels, find the label, and click the pencil icon next to it. Type the new name and click "Save". Emails that already have the old label automatically get the new label name — nothing is lost.
Do labels work the same way on my phone and computer?
Mostly yes. Labels you create on one device show up on the other. The main difference is that filters (automatic labeling) are easier to set up on a computer, though they work on your phone once created. Labeling individual emails works the same way on both.