Got too many unread emails cluttering up your inbox? Want to clear them out all at once or in bulk? We’ve got your back.
Having a bunch of unread emails sitting around can really slow down your productivity, making it hard to spot the important stuff. Gmail has a handy feature to tackle this: the option to delete all unread emails at once. With just a click, you can sweep away those unread messages and keep your inbox tidy and streamlined.
Below are a few steps to follow, with a few complimentary tips. Read on.
Why Is Clearing Unread Emails Essential?
- Information Overload: The average American reportedly has around 500 unread emails, according to The Good Planet. That constant visual clutter can be overwhelming and make it harder to focus on the truly important messages.
- Missed Opportunities: When your inbox is flooded with unread emails, important messages can easily get buried and missed. Many opine that this could pave way to missed deadlines, and even neglected opportunities.
- Productivity Boost: Studies have shown that a clean and organized workspace can lead to increased productivity. The same applies to your digital workspace – a clutter-free inbox can help you focus better and get more done.
- Environmental Impact: You might not realize it, but storing emails uses energy. Data centers that house all this information require a significant amount of electricity to run, and some of that electricity comes from fossil fuels. When you delete emails you don’t need, you can contribute to a smaller carbon footprint.
How To Delete All Unread Emails In Gmail At Once
You can easily delete all the unread emails in Gmail using the Gmail website. Just open Gmail in any web browser on your computer, phone, or tablet. But remember, you can’t delete all unread emails using the mobile app. Take a look at the process below.
1. Search For Unread Emails
- Open your Gmail inbox.
- In the search bar at the top of the page, type is:unread. This search query specifically looks for emails marked as unread.
2. Select All Unread Emails (Be Cautious)
- By default, Gmail only displays a limited number of emails on the first page.
- Important: Before selecting all emails, be absolutely sure you want to delete everything unread. There’s no undo button for this action!
- Locate the checkbox at the top left corner of the inbox, just above the list of emails. This checkbox allows you to select all emails currently displayed.
- Double-check: Make sure the search bar still shows is:unread to confirm you’re only selecting unread emails.
- Here’s the critical part: There will be a small line of text displayed below the number of selected emails. This will usually say something like “Select all X conversations in Inbox.”
- Click on that text. This will prompt Gmail to select all unread emails across all pages, not just the first one displayed.
3. Delete The Unread Emails
- Once you’ve confirmed you want to select all unread emails, click on the trash can icon in the toolbar at the top of the inbox. This will move all selected emails to the trash folder.
4. Emptying The Trash (Optional)
- By default, deleted emails stay in the trash for 30 days before being permanently removed.
- If you want to permanently delete the unread emails immediately, you can empty the trash.
- Click on the “Trash” or “Bin” folder on the left sidebar of your Gmail inbox.
- Click on the “Empty trash” icon at the top of the trash folder.
Important Cautions
- Remember, this process permanently deletes unread emails. There is no way to recover them once they’re gone from the trash.
- Double-check the search query (is:unread) to ensure you’re only selecting the intended emails.
- Use labels or folders to organize your emails and avoid accidentally deleting important unread messages.
How To Delete All Unread Emails – FAQs
Ans: Yes, deleting unread emails will also remove any attachments associated with them. Once the emails are in the trash and eventually deleted permanently, the attachments are gone too.
Ans: There’s a chance! Gmail keeps deleted emails in the trash for 30 days. During this period, you can access the trash folder and recover any emails you mistakenly deleted. However, after 30 days, they are permanently removed and cannot be retrieved.
Ans: Gmail allows you to filter emails by labels. To target unread emails within a specific label:
* Click the label you want to manage in the sidebar.
* In the search bar, type is:unread and press Enter.
* This will show only unread emails within that particular label. You can then select and delete them as described earlier.
Ans: Unfortunately, there isn’t a dedicated keyboard shortcut to directly delete all unread emails in Gmail. However, you can use shortcuts to speed up the process:
* Select All: Press “Ctrl+A” (Windows) or “Command+A” (Mac) to select all displayed emails after filtering unread messages.
* Delete: Press the “Delete” key to send them to the trash.
