How to Use Labels in Gmail

Use Gmail labels to organize your emails into categories so you can find them quickly.

Steps

1
Open Gmail and look at the left sidebar.
Labels appear below the Inbox and Sent folders you already see.
2
Click "Create new label"
at the bottom of the label list. Type a name for your new label.
3
Choose where to nest the label
if you want it under an existing label. You can skip this for top-level labels.
4
Select emails
by checking the box next to each one. You can apply a label to multiple emails at once.
5
Click the label icon
in the top toolbar and choose your label. The label appears next to the email subject.

What is the difference between a label and a folder?Show

A folder holds one copy of an email. A label lets you put one email in multiple categories at the same time.

How do I remove a label from an email?Show

Open the email and click the label icon at the top. Uncheck the label you want to remove from the email.

Can I search for emails with a specific label?Show

Yes, click the label name in the left sidebar to see all emails that have that label applied.

Written by the HowToDoStuff.online editorial team. Last updated May 18, 2026.