Unread emails can make your Gmail feel overwhelming. The bold subject lines, the unread counts — it can feel like clutter even when it’s just notifications or newsletters you’ve already seen elsewhere. But clearing that clutter doesn’t have to take hours.
Mark as read in Gmail is giving you productivity in clearing your inbox, freeing you from that pesky red unread badge, and shipshape. Computer, Android, or iPhone, this 2025 guide’s got all the hows — from one-click hotkeys to marking thousands at a time.
Why Marking Emails as Read Matters So Much
Marking as read isn’t superficial — it frees:
Be in front of what is left to be done with a sense of what is left to be seen.
Don’t be under a pile of unread mail.
Don’t spend time reading piles of mail.
Do more by doing what actually is new.
Gmail no longer makes an email bold once you’ve marked it “read,” as if you’d ever read it. The mail’s in your inbox or your labeled folder now.
Mark one Email as Read (Desktop)
This is fastest way to mark a single or double message read.
Steps:
Open Gmail.com.
Click box next to the message to mark as read.
Click envelope icon (📩) top left of page.
Title of the message is now normal from being bold — it’s read now.
Tip: Gmail marks the email as read as soon as you open one.
Mark all Emails as Read (Desktop)
You can actually mark them all as read at once.
Steps:
In Gmail, click top left box (above your messages).
This will check mark all of the emails on the page (typically 50).
Another message will appear at the top: “Select all conversations in Inbox.”
Click on that link to mark them all.
Click envelope icon (📩) in top toolbar.
All the messages that are in bold are being read now.
Pro Tip: This can be reversed after the change has been made by hitting the Undo button.
Mark all unread emails as read using search
You can see only unread emails by using a search filter and mark them all at once.
Steps:
In the Gmail search box, type:
is:unread
Press Enter. Gmail will show all the unread messages.
Find the Select All checkbox at the top which is hidden.
Click “Select all conversations that match this search.”
Envelope icon (📩) to mark as read.
All unread mail on your account — say, other tabs like Promotions or Social — will become read.
Warning: This can’t be reversed for all emails, so click OK carefully.
Automatically Mark Emails as Read with Filters
If you get unwanted mail (e.g., receipt or newsletter), Gmail will automatically read them out to you.
Steps:
Go to the Gmail Settings cog (⚙️) → See all settings in Gmail.
Click on the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.
Click on Create a new filter.
Put criteria — e.g., “from:@newsletter.com” or subject.
Click on Create filter.
Tick the box Mark as read.
Click Create filter again to save.
Future match emails are automatically read now.
Pro Tip: Use in combination with “Skip the Inbox (Archive it)” so newsletters get removed and out of your hair.
Mark Gmail as Read from the Mobile App (Android & iPhone)
Even mark as read from inside Gmail app.
Android Steps:
Open Gmail app.
Long touch on whatever message you’d like to mark as read.
Choose some messages if needed.
Tap the top row envelope icon.
The bold are disabled — they’re read now.
iPhone Steps:
Launch Gmail.
Wait on a message and tap to flag it.
Tap more if needed.
Tap the open envelope icon.
The messages are marked as read.
Optional:
To auto-mark as read when opening from Gmail, go to Settings → General → Auto-mark as read (in some versions of apps).
Mark all messages in a label as read
Maybe you need to remove one label only — like Promotions, Social, or one folder.
Steps:
Type in your computer’s Gmail.
Open left menu and click on label (i.e., Promotions).
In search box, type this:
label:promotions is:unread
Press Enter.
Click on Select All checkbox.
Click on “Select all conversations that match this search.”
Click on Mark as read (📩) button.
All unread messages of this label are marked as read.
Mark as Read Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts will be useful if you are dealing with Gmail on a daily basis on computer.
Steps:
Gmail Settings → See all settings → General.
Search for ‘Keyboard shortcuts’ → Turn them on.
Click Save Changes.
Now you can use:
Shift + I → Mark as read.
Shift + U → Mark as unread.
Tip: If you’re in Gmail, press ? to show all the shortcuts.
Mark Gmail as Read in Google Workspace (Work Accounts)
It’s pretty much the same if you’re in work or school Gmail.
But bulk actions may have been turned off by your administrator. If so:
You can still mark mail read one by one manually individually.
Or use the search and filter tool (is:unread) for small sets.
If disabled, get your Workspace administrator to turn on full inbox management.
Google’s Mobile Web Version (Last Resort If App Provides No Options)
Last resort, if “Mark as read” will not allow use of the Gmail app, use Gmail through the phone’s mobile browser.
Steps:
Access mail.google.com using the browser.
Tap Desktop site from the browser settings.
Use above desktop steps to mark mails as read.
It’s a temporary fix when app updates alter appearances temporarily.
How to Mark Gmail as Read Without Opening It
When you’re muffling notifications but don’t necessarily have to read them all the time:
Steps:
In Gmail, check the box next to unread messages.
Tap More (⋮) → Mark as read.
It’ll decrease the unread number without deleting the emails from your inbox.
Shortcut:
Shift + I after reading them — even faster.
Troubleshooting: When Emails Won’t Mark as Read
If Gmail will not mark you as read:
Reload page or app.
Ensure keyboard shortcuts on if utilizing those.
Ensure not in Offline Mode (read changes will catch up later).
Clear cache or cookies if still not a problem.
Also Read: How to Unblock Someone on Gmail: The 2025 Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Reconnect
Organization Tips After Marking as Read
After reading your emails and marking them as read, organize.
Tips:
Archive messages you’ve already responded to.
Label emails one day you might need (Work, Travel, Family).
Mark star important messages you’d like to respond to.
Set filters on newsletters and mark automatically read.
Clean Gmail inbox = stress less, productivity more.
Quick Summary
How to mark Gmail as read:
One email: Check → Click 📩 icon.
All emails: Search is:unread → Select all → Mark as read.
Automatically: Use filters with “Mark as read.”
Mobile: Long press → Tap 📩
Keyboard: Shift + I.
Two taps and your inbox is neat zen.
FAQs
Does it mark and read the email as deleted?
No. It simply flips the display flag. The email remains on your inbox or label.
Can all Gmail emails be bulk-read?
Yes. Search:unread, then “Select all conversations that match this search” → 📩
Can emails be automatically read?
Yes, with filters (Settings → Filters → Mark as read).
Is there a Mark as read app in Gmail?
Yes. Long press messages → Tap the envelope icon.
Why do all emails not automatically become marked as read when opened?
Your app may have been offline or batch-synced. Refresh or restart Gmail.
