Gmail on Android uses labels instead of folders, and you create them the same way on your phone as you would on a computer
Gmail does not have traditional folders. Instead, it uses labels — tags you attach to messages so you can find them later and organize your inbox by topic, sender, or urgency. On Android, you create labels directly in the Gmail app, and they work across all your devices. A single message can have multiple labels, so an email from your landlord about a lease renewal can be labeled both "Landlord" and "Legal Documents" at the same time.
The process takes about 30 seconds. You do not need to read anything extra or switch to a different app.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Gmail app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll down, and tap "Create new label" to make a new folder-like category.
- Once you create a label, you can assign it to any email by opening the message, tapping the three-dot menu, and selecting "Add label."
- Labels appear in your Gmail sidebar on Android, so you can tap one to see all messages with that label grouped together.
- You can rename or delete labels anytime from the same menu where you created them, and deleting a label does not delete the messages inside it.
- Labels sync when ready across your phone, tablet, and computer, so organizing on your Android phone updates Gmail everywhere.
How to create a new label on your Android phone
Open the Gmail app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top left corner. Scroll down past your existing labels until you see "Create new label" at the bottom. Tap it.
Type the name you want for your label — for example, "Utilities," "Bank Statements," or "Suspicious Emails." Keep the name short and clear so you recognize it quickly when you are scanning your inbox. Tap "Create" when you are done. The label now appears in your sidebar and is ready to use.
How to add a label to an email you already received
Open the message you want to organize. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the email. Select "Add label" from the menu that appears.
A list of all your labels will pop up. Tap the checkbox next to any label you want to attach to this message. You can select multiple labels for a single email — for instance, an email from your insurance company could get both "Insurance" and "Financial Documents" labels. Tap the back arrow or tap outside the list when you are finished. The labels are now attached to that message.
How to view all emails with a specific label
In the Gmail app, tap the three horizontal lines to open your sidebar. You will see all your labels listed there. Tap any label name to see every message tagged with that label, grouped in one place.
This is useful when you need to find something quickly — for example, tapping "Utilities" shows every electric bill, water bill, and internet invoice you have labeled, without having to search through your entire inbox. You can also search within a label by using the search bar at the top of the screen.
How to remove a label from a message
Open the email and tap the three-dot menu. Select "Add label" again. The list of labels will appear with checkmarks next to the ones already on that message. Uncheck any label you want to remove. The label is now detached from that email, but the email itself stays in your inbox.
Removing a label from one message does not affect the label or any other messages with that label. The label still exists and is still attached to all your other emails that have it.
How to rename or delete a label
Open the Gmail menu (three horizontal lines) and find the label you want to change. Press and hold the label name for a few seconds until a menu appears with options to rename or delete it.
If you rename a label, all messages with that label automatically update to show the new name. If you delete a label, the messages themselves stay in your inbox — only the label is removed. You can always create a new label later and re-label those messages if you change your mind.
Why labels help you spot scams and stay organized
Labels make it easier to find important documents when you need them — a lease, a bank statement, a medical record — without scrolling through months of email. They also help you spot patterns. If you label all emails from a particular sender and then notice a sudden change in tone or a request for information that seems odd, you can review the entire conversation history by tapping that label.
You might create a label called "Verify This" for emails that seem suspicious but you are not sure about yet. Later, when you have time, you can tap that label and review them all at once. This is safer than deleting them when ready and then wondering later if you made a mistake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a label for emails from one specific person?
Yes. Create a label with that person's name or relationship to you — "Mom," "Landlord," "Bank" — and then add it to every email from that sender. You can also use Gmail's search feature to find all emails from one address and label them in bulk by selecting multiple messages at once.
What happens to my labels if I switch phones?
Your labels stay in Gmail and sync automatically to any new phone where you sign into the same Gmail account. When you open the Gmail app on a new Android phone and log in, all your labels and the messages tagged with them appear exactly as they were.
Can I color-code my labels on Android?
The Android app does not have a built-in color option like the computer version does. However, you can use emoji in your label names — for example, "🚨 Verify This" or "📄 Legal Documents" — to make labels stand out visually in your sidebar.
If I label an email, does it stay in my inbox too?
Yes. A label is just a tag; it does not move the email anywhere. The message stays in your inbox and also appears when you tap that label. You can have the same email in your inbox and in multiple labels at the same time.
How many labels can I create?
Gmail allows you to create hundreds of labels. However, most people find that 10 to 20 well-named labels work better than too many. Too many labels become hard to remember and harder to scan through when you are looking for something.