The fastest way to clear your inbox
Gmail does not have a single "delete everything" button, but you can select and delete all your emails in a few steps. The process depends on how many emails you have and whether you want to keep some.
If your inbox has fewer than 100 emails, you can select them all on one screen and delete them. If you have thousands, Gmail will ask whether you want to delete only what is visible or all matching emails — choose the second option to clear everything at once. The entire process takes about two minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Click the checkbox at the top left of your email list to select all visible emails, then choose "Select all conversations that match this search" to include emails not shown on the current page.
- Once selected, click the delete button (trash icon) to move emails to Trash, where they stay for 30 days before Gmail permanently removes them.
- If you want to keep certain emails, use Gmail's search box to find and delete only specific senders, subjects, or date ranges instead of everything.
- Permanently deleting emails from Trash cannot be undone, so review what you are about to remove before confirming the final step.
How to select all emails in your inbox
Open Gmail and go to your Inbox. At the top left of your email list, you will see a small checkbox next to the search bar. Click it once.
Gmail will select all emails visible on that page — usually 20 to 50 emails depending on your screen size. If you have more than that, a message will appear saying "All 1 conversation selected" (or however many are on the page). Below that message, you will see a link that says "Select all conversations that match this search." Click that link.
Now Gmail has selected every email in your inbox, even the ones you cannot see on the screen. The number at the top will show the total count.
Delete the selected emails
With all emails selected, look for the delete button in the toolbar above your email list. It looks like a trash can icon. Click it once.
Your emails will move to the Trash folder. Gmail keeps deleted emails in Trash for 30 days. During that time, you can recover them if you change your mind — open the Trash folder, select the emails you want to keep, and click "Move to Inbox."
After 30 days, Gmail automatically and permanently deletes everything in Trash. You cannot recover emails after that point.
Permanently delete emails from Trash
If you want to delete emails when ready instead of waiting 30 days, open your Trash folder. Click the checkbox at the top left to select all emails in Trash, then click "Delete permanently." Gmail will ask you to confirm. Click "Delete permanently" again.
This action cannot be undone. Once you confirm, those emails are gone for good.
Delete only certain emails instead of everything
If you want to keep some emails and delete only others, use Gmail's search box instead of selecting your entire inbox. This is useful if you want to remove emails from a specific sender, with a certain subject line, or from a particular date range.
Click the search box at the top of Gmail and type what you are looking for. For example, type from:sender@example.com to find all emails from one person, or subject:newsletter to find emails with that word in the subject line. You can also search by date: before:2020/01/01 will find all emails sent before January 1, 2020.
Once your search results appear, click the checkbox at the top left, then click "Select all conversations that match this search." Delete these results the same way you would delete your entire inbox. The rest of your emails will stay in place.
What happens if you delete emails by mistake
If you delete emails and realize you need them back, open your Trash folder right away. You have 30 days to recover them. Click the checkbox next to the emails you want to keep, then click the move button (arrow icon) and select "Inbox" or another folder.
If your Trash folder is already empty, or if more than 30 days have passed, the emails cannot be recovered. This is why it is a good idea to search for specific emails before deleting your entire inbox — you are less likely to remove something important by accident.
Why you might want to delete emails in batches instead
Deleting your entire inbox at once can feel risky, especially if you have years of email stored. A safer approach is to delete emails in smaller groups — for example, all emails from 2020, then all emails from 2021, and so on.
This gives you a chance to stop and think between each batch. It also makes it easier to spot if you are about to delete something you actually need. Use the search box to find emails by year: before:2021/01/01 after:2020/01/01 will show you all emails from 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a permanent delete?
No. Once you click "Delete permanently" from Trash, Gmail removes the emails for good. If you deleted emails by mistake and they are still in Trash, you can recover them by moving them back to your Inbox. After 30 days, or after you empty Trash, recovery is not possible.
Will deleting emails free up storage space?
Yes, but only after they are permanently deleted. Emails in Trash still count toward your Gmail storage limit. To free up space, you must either wait 30 days for Gmail to auto-delete Trash, or click "Delete permanently" yourself. Once they are gone, the storage space becomes available again.
What if I have more than 100,000 emails?
Gmail can handle large deletions, but the process may take longer. Select all conversations that match your search, click delete, and let it run. If Gmail seems stuck, refresh the page — the deletion usually continues in the background. You can also delete in smaller batches by year or sender to speed things up.
Does deleting emails delete them from my phone too?
Yes. If you use Gmail on your phone or tablet, deletions sync across all devices. When you delete emails on your computer, they disappear from your phone within a few minutes. The same is true in reverse — deleting on your phone removes them from your computer.