How to Manage Labels in Gmail: Create, Delete, & Edit

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Create and organize Gmail labels

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: July 15, 2025 Fact Checked

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Using Android

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Using iPhone or iPad

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Using Desktop

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Q&A

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Tips

"Labels" are Gmail's version of folders, and can be used to organize your emails. You can even make emails go to a specific folder by assigning and editing a label. While you can't create or delete labels on Android, you can still do so on a browser or iOS. Here's how to manage labels in Gmail using your iPhone, iPad, Android, or computer.

Quick Steps

Open the Gmail app.
Tap the sender's profile icon.
Tap ⋮ in the top-right corner.
Tap Change labels.
Select the label.
Tap OK.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Android

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1
Open the Gmail app. This looks like a multicolored M icon. If you aren't already logged into your Gmail account, do so now.
- You can't create, edit, or delete labels in the Gmail app for Android. You can only do so on desktop or on the iOS version.
This is in the top-left corner of the screen. A pop-out menu will appear.

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You'll find this section about halfway down the pop-out menu. This is where all of your custom labels are stored.
4
Add a label to emails. To add a label to a single or multiple emails, do the following:
- Tap the sender's profile image next to the email(s).
- Tap ⋮ in the top-right corner.
- Tap Change labels.
- Select the label.
- Tap OK.
5
Change the label of an email. If you want to move a labeled email to another label, do the following:
- Open the labeled email.
- Tap ⋮ in the top-right corner.
- Tap Change labels.
- Deselect the current label.
- Select the new label.
- Tap OK.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using iPhone or iPad

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This looks like a multicolored M icon. If you aren't already logged into your Gmail account, do so now.
This is in the top-left corner of the screen. A pop-out menu will appear.
You'll find this section about halfway down the pop-out menu. This is where all of your custom labels are stored.
If you want to create a label, scroll down and tap Create new. Enter a name and tap Save.
5
Delete a label. This will remove the label from your inbox, though it won't delete the label's emails:
- Tap ☰ in the top-left corner.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Inbox customizations.
- Tap Labels.
- Tap the label.
- Tap Delete [label].
- Tap Delete.
6
Add a label to emails. To add a label to a single or multiple emails, do the following:
- Open your Gmail inbox.
- Tap a sender's profile picture or initial next to an email.
- To label multiple emails at once, tap additional profile pictures.
- Tap ••• in the top-right corner.
- Tap Label.
- Select the label.
- Tap Done.
7
Change the label of an email. If you want to move a labeled email to another label, do the following:
- Open the labeled email.
- Tap ••• in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Tap Label.
- Deselect the current label(s).
- Select a new label(s).
- Tap Done.
8
Label emails automatically. You can add labels to certain incoming emails. Do the following:
- Tap ☰ in the top-left corner.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Inbox customizations.
- Tap Labels.
- Tap a label.
- Tap Add.
- Enter a name or email address in the From field.
- Tap And to add more search criteria.
- Tap Save.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Desktop

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1
Open Gmail in a web browser. This will open your Gmail inbox if you're logged in.
- If you aren't logged in, enter your email address and password when prompted.^{[1]
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It's in the upper-right side of the page. Doing so prompts a sidebar.
You'll see this at the top of the sidebar.
It's a tab at the top of the Settings page.
This is where all of your custom labels are listed.
6
Add a label. If you want to create a new label, do the following:
- Click the grey Create new label button.
- Enter a name for the label.
- Check the "Nest label under" box and select a label if you want to place your new label inside of another label.
- Click Create.
7
Remove a label. If you want to delete a label, click Remove to the far-right side of the label, then click Delete when prompted.
- Unlike deleting a folder on a computer, removing a label will not remove the emails inside of it.
8
Add a label to an email. Adding emails to a label is similar to placing emails in a folder. Do the following:
- Click Inbox on the left side of the page to return to your inbox.
- Click the checkbox on the left of each email you want to add to a label.
- Click ⋮ at the top toolbar.
- Click Label as.
- Click the label you want to use.
9
Change the label of an email. If you want to move a labeled email to another label, do the following:
- Click Inbox on the left side of the page to return to your inbox.
- Click the checkbox on the left of each email you want to add to a label.
- Click ⋮ at the top toolbar.
- Click Label as.
- Uncheck the current label.
- Select a new label.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I delete labels in gmail?

Community Answer

Open Gmail in a browser (you can't edit labels from the Gmail app). On the left side of the page, hover your cursor over your label's name. Click the Down arrow. Click Remove label.

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Question

Why do emails under my labels disappear when I delete in the section "all mail?"

Community Answer

Because doing that deletes them.

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Question

How do I remove an unwanted label at the top of a Gmail email?

Community Answer

Look at the label and you'll see an x on the right side. Click the x, and that should do it.

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Tips

You can also select and then click and drag emails onto a label on the left side of the page and drop them there to add them to the label and remove them from your inbox.

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