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How to Create a Filter to Automatically Sort Gmail Messages

Tap through each step to set up an automatic Gmail filter.

  1. Click the search options icon

    Click the small dropdown arrow (show search options) on the right side of Gmail's search bar.

  2. Set your filter conditions

    Enter conditions to filter by, such as sender, subject, or keywords.

  3. Click "Create Filter"

    After entering your conditions, click "Create filter."

  4. Choose the action to apply

    Check the actions you want, such as "Apply label," "Archive it," or "Mark as read," then finish creating the filter.

  5. Why it is useful

    If newsletters or promotional emails are cluttering your inbox, automatically sorting them out lets you focus on the messages that actually matter.

Keep only what matters in your inbox

If newsletters, promotions, or automated notifications are flooding your inbox, creating a filter to automatically label or archive them keeps your inbox far cleaner without any manual sorting.

Apply a filter retroactively

When setting up a filter, checking "Also apply filter to matching conversations" at the bottom of the creation screen applies the same rule to messages you have already received, not just new ones going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a filter apply to emails I already received?

Only if you check "Also apply filter to matching conversations" at the bottom of the filter creation screen β€” otherwise it only affects new incoming mail.

Can I edit or delete a filter later?

Yes β€” go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses to see your list of filters, where you can edit or delete any of them at any time.