Do your Gmail labels feel a little out of control? Maybe you created a bunch in the beginning and now they’re just cluttering up your sidebar. Or perhaps you have some old labels that you don’t use anymore. Whatever the reason, getting rid of unused labels will help streamline your Gmail organization.
This blog post will walk you through the simple process of deleting labels in Gmail, both on your computer and on your mobile device (Android & iPhone). So, let’s get your Gmail looking sharp!
Reasons For Deleting Labels In Gmail
Deleting labels in Gmail can be a useful way to manage your email more effectively. Here are some reasons why you might consider deleting labels:
- Delete labels to simplify your email management, making it easier to navigate and organize your emails.
- Remove labels to enhance your ability to quickly find important messages, as fewer categories streamline searches.
- Eliminate old or unused labels to decrease visual clutter and make your email environment less overwhelming.
- Delete outdated labels to better align your organizational system with your current email management needs.
- Remove redundant labels that overlap with other labels or Gmail’s built-in categories to streamline your email management process.
Remember, deleting a label does not delete the emails that were tagged with that label; it only removes the label from those emails. If you have any rules set up that categorize emails into that label, you may want to remove or edit those rules to prevent confusion in the future.
How To Delete Labels In Gmail?
Deleting labels in Gmail is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can do it.
1) Removing A Single Label:
Step 1: Open Gmail and look at the left side for your labels.
Step 2: Move your mouse over the label you want to get rid of. A menu will show up.
Step 3: Click on “More” in that menu.
Step 4: Choose “Remove label.”
Step 5: You’ll see a message asking if you’re sure. Click “Delete” to finish.
2) Removing Multiple Labels
While Gmail doesn’t offer a direct way to mass delete labels, you can still delete them efficiently. Here’s how:
Step 1: Go to your Gmail and open your inbox.
Step 2: Look for the Settings icon (it looks like a gear) in the top right and click it.
Step 3: Click “See all settings.”
Step 4: Go to the “Labels” tab.
Step 5: Here, you’ll find all your labels listed. Next to each, there’s a “Remove” option. Click “Remove” for any label you want to delete.
Note: Deleting a label won’t delete the emails associated with it. The emails will still be in your inbox or any other labels they are assigned to.
How To Delete Labels In Gmail On iPhone?
Deleting labels in the Gmail app on your iPhone is easy. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Open the Gmail app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Tap the menu button. It looks like three horizontal lines in the top left corner.
Step 3: Scroll down and choose “Settings”.
Step 4: In “Settings”, select “Inbox customizations”.
Step 5: Tap on “Labels” to see all your Gmail labels.
Step 6: Find and tap the label you wish to delete.
Step #7: On the label’s page, tap “Delete”.
How To Delete Labels In Gmail On Android?
Deleting labels directly in the Gmail app on Android phone isn’t an option, unlike with the iPhone Gmail app. But, you can still do it with a little workaround using the Gmail web view. Here’s how:
Open Gmail App: Start by opening the Gmail app on your Android device.
Menu: Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) on the top left.
Settings: Scroll down a bit and select “Settings”.
Email Account: Find and tap your email address to see settings for that account.
Labels Section: Look for “General” settings or scroll to find a section called “Labels”.
Now, you have two choices:
Option 1: Using Desktop View for Label Deletion
In your account settings, tap “More settings” (or a similar term depending on your app version).
This action opens Gmail settings in a web view within the app.
In the web view, find “Labels” on the left menu and select “Edit labels”.
You’ll see a list of your labels. Tap “Remove” next to the label you wish to delete.
Option 2: Removing Label from Inbox (For Individual Emails)
If you want to remove a label from specific emails:
- Go back to the main screen of the Gmail app.
- Find and open the inbox with the emails you’re targeting.
- Tap the checkbox beside the email(s).
- On the top toolbar, tap the “Labels” icon (it may look like a folder with a tag).
- A menu with your labels will pop up. Uncheck the label you wish to remove from the selected emails.
How To Remove Inbox Label In Gmail?
In Gmail, the Inbox label doesn’t work like a regular folder. You don’t delete emails but organize them differently.
- Archiving Emails: When you archive an email, it no longer shows under your Inbox. But it’s not gone. It moves to the “All Mail” folder. You can still find it there anytime you need. It’s like putting a paper from your desk into a file cabinet. You’re keeping it tidy but can still get it when needed.
- Adding Labels: Using labels in Gmail helps you sort your emails into categories, like “Work” or “Travel.” When you add a label to an email, it’s like saying it’s not just in your Inbox anymore. This way, your Inbox stays clear, showing only new or important emails. It’s similar to putting a tag on a file in your cabinet to know what category it belongs to.
Alternatives To Deleting Labels In Gmail
If you don’t want to remove a label for good, you can simply hide it. This means it won’t show up on your sidebar, keeping things tidy. Yet, you can still find emails with this label when you need them. Just go to the Settings in your desktop version of Gmail to do this.
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s no built-in “undo” function for deleting labels. However, the emails themselves won’t be deleted, so you can recreate the label and re-assign the emails to it if needed.
Gmail doesn’t have a recycle bin for labels. Once you delete a label, it’s gone for good. Make sure you’re certain about removing a label before proceeding.
Gmail doesn’t have a recycle bin for labels. Once you delete a label, it’s gone for good. Make sure you’re certain about removing a label before proceeding.
No, system labels like Inbox, Sent Mail, and Drafts cannot be deleted. These are essential folders for Gmail’s core functionality.
Conclusion
In short, getting rid of labels in Gmail is easy and you can do it on computers and phones alike. Follow the steps we shared to delete labels you don’t use anymore. This helps keep your email tidy. Did this post help you? If you have more questions on how to handle labels in Gmail, just drop a comment below.
