When one yellow star is not enough
Marking urgent emails, important emails, and "read later" emails all with the same yellow star makes them impossible to tell apart later. Using several colors and shapes of stars lets you sort mail into much finer categories without opening a single message.
Combine stars with search for faster triage
Once you have stars in use, you can search for just the ones marked with a specific star to pull up only that category β it works alongside filters and labels rather than replacing them, giving you one more lightweight way to triage a busy inbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search for emails with a specific star?
Yes β typing something like "has:yellow-star" in the search bar filters your inbox down to only emails with that star.
Can I reorder which stars appear first when cycling?
Yes β in the "Stars" section of Settings, drag the icons within the "in use" list to rearrange the cycling order.