Any user of Gmail can attest to how fast your inbox can be clogged with dozens or even hundreds of mail. All the work emails, promotions, personal notes, and newsletters are in one place and it becomes hard to follow up on vital messages. Gmail is the best platform where you can move emails to folders to deal with your inbox.
In Gmail, the labels are referred to as folders. They are similar to the folders in other email systems except that they are more flexible in that you can give several labels to one mail. This manual will show you how to transfer emails to folders in Gmail on desktop and mobile, how to use filters to organize them automatically, and some rules of thumb that will ensure your inbox is clean.
The reason why to move emails to folders in Gmail?
One of the most effective ways of organizing communication is by moving emails to folders (labels). Here’s why it’s important:
- Invents significant messages which are easily accessed.
- Differentiates personal, work and promotional emails.
- Reduces clutter in the inbox.
- Conserves time in searching up old messages.
- Helps are better in project and client management.
You do not need to scroll through hundreds of messages before you find what you need as you can access it directly in the folder (label).
Learning about Gmail Folders (Labels).
Labels of Gmail serve as folders, but with an added flexibility. Gmail also gives an email multiple labels at a time as opposed to a traditional folder where the email could only exist in a single location.
For example:
- An order on a project issued by your boss can be termed as Work and Project A
- A receipt email can be termed as Finance and Personal.
This turns labels into more powerful than usual folders and Gmail offers you tools to move emails to them in no time.
Move the Emails to the folders in Gmail on the Desktop.
The following is how to drag emails (labels) on your computer to folders:
- Log in to the browser, Open Gmail.
- Browse to your inbox or search the email that you wish to relocate.
- Raise the checkbox beside the email (or open the email itself).
- In the upper menu, there is the Label icon (in the form of a tag).
- Select the label (folder) you desire. You have the option of multiple selections.
- To get the email totally out of the inbox, click the Move to icon (a folder with an arrow).
The email will be listed as a selected folder (label). It is available every time by clicking on that label in the left-hand menu.
How to make a new folder (label) in Gmail.
Unless you already have a label set up, it is easy to create one.
- Open Gmail.
- At the bottom of the left sidebar, press More.
- Click Create new label.
- Name your folder (e.g. Clients or Bills).
- Click Create.
The new label has now been added to your sidebar and you can drag mails to it.
How to drag more than one email to a Folder.
To sort a bunch of emails, you can relocate a large number of emails:
- Open Gmail on your desktop.
- Check the emails of several emails.
- Click the icon Click the Label and choose the folder.
- Or press the Move to icon and move them to get them out of the inbox.
This is time saving in case you have to tidy up your inbox.
Move emails to folders in Gmail App (Mobile) How to.
Through the Gmail mobile application, you are also able to organize emails into folders using your phone.
- open Gmail Android or iOS.
- Click and drag the email of your choice (or choose several emails).
- Select the three dots menu on the upper right.
- Select Move to.
- Select the folder (label) in which you would like to transfer the email.
Alternatively, you have the option of tapping the Label option and tagging one or more labels without clearing it out of the inbox.
How to Automatically Move Mails to Folders using Filters.
Rather than manually going through your emails each time, Gmail enables you to develop filters that will automatically sort your inbox.
Here’s how to set up a filter:
- Open Gmail on the desktop.
- In the top right search box, press on the downward arrow (advanced search).
- Input values of the filter. For example:
- From: [email protected]
- Subject: Invoice
- Click Create filter.
- Check the box Apply the label.
- Select the folder (label) you desire, or make a new one.
- Click Create filter again.
In the future, emails such that will be in this state will automatically be transferred to the selected folder. It comes in handy particularly with newsletters, bills or client emails.
Deleting an email out of a Folder.
- You can delete the label: if you move an email to the wrong folder.
- Open the email.
- On the top, please select the Label icon.
- Unselect a folder you are not interested in.
- The email will not be under that label any longer.
- Provided that you used the label, the next time you can move the emails back to the inbox by opening the email and clicking the Move to Inbox.
Secrets to Organizing Gmail in Folders.
In order to optimize the usage of Gmail labels and folders, it is recommended to:
- Make folders of certain categories such as Work, Personal, Finance, Travel, or Projects.
- Sub-labels can be used to go further. An example is that, under Work, you can make sub-labels such as Clients, Reports and Meetings.
- Do not make too many folders and you will lose your direction. Stick to the most useful ones.
- Filter with labels: It will save you time by combining filters with labels.
- Move old messages to folders then archive them so that the inbox can be clean.
FAQs
Does it allow me to make folders within folders in Gmail?
Yes, it is possible to make the sub-labels that are like folders in folders.
Does dragging email to a folder eliminate it in the inbox?
Only in the case you apply the Move to option. And, even when you simply label it, it will be in the inbox.
What is the number of folders (labels) I can make in Gmail?
Gmail permits 5000 labels, and sub-labels.
Will transfer of emails to folders have any impact on storage?
No. Gmail storage is shared throughout your account and relocating emails to folders do not alter storage usage.
How to remove a folder in Gmail?
Yes, delete the folder under Gmail settings under Labels. The emails will not be erased, they will simply lose the tag.
One of the simplest methods of ensuring that your inbox box is clean and organized is to learn how to move the emails into folders in Gmail. Gmail does not rely on folders, but rather labels, but the idea is the same, and even more potent since a single email can be part of more than one label at a time.
You may also forward emails yourself with the label or move icons or alternatively, you may also create filters to do this automatically. With the Gmail app, it is made easy to do on mobile and requires a few taps.
Messages will be found quicker and there will be less stress in the inbox because you can create a folder of various categories, work, personal, or finance. Add labels and filters, and you will have a complete system of Gmail organization that will save time and help to keep your online life organized.