How Do You Create a Label in Gmail?

AvatarByMarc Shaw Sticker Labels & Printing

In today’s fast-paced digital world, managing your inbox efficiently is more important than ever. Gmail, one of the most popular email platforms globally, offers a variety of tools to help users stay organized and on top of their communications. Among these tools, creating labels stands out as a simple yet powerful way to categorize and streamline your emails, making it easier to find what you need when you need it.

Labels in Gmail act like virtual folders, allowing you to group related messages together without moving them out of your main inbox. This flexibility means you can apply multiple labels to a single email, giving you a personalized and dynamic way to manage your correspondence. Whether you’re sorting work emails, personal messages, or newsletters, labels help bring order to the chaos of a crowded inbox.

Understanding how to create and use labels effectively can transform your email experience, saving you time and reducing stress. In the following sections, we’ll explore the steps to create labels in Gmail and share tips on how to make the most of this handy feature. Get ready to take control of your inbox like never before!

Creating and Managing Labels in Gmail

To create a label in Gmail, first access the Gmail interface on your desktop browser. On the left sidebar, scroll down until you see the “More” option. Click on it to expand additional menu items, then select “Create new label.” A dialog box will appear prompting you to enter a name for your new label. Choose a name that clearly reflects the purpose or content of the emails you intend to organize under this label.

Gmail also allows you to nest labels within one another, creating a hierarchy that enhances organization. When creating a new label, you can check the option “Nest label under” and select an existing label to place the new one as a sub-label. This is particularly useful for categorizing emails in broader topics and subtopics.

After creating labels, you can apply them to emails in several ways:

  • Select one or multiple emails by checking their boxes, then click the “Label” icon at the top of the inbox and choose the label(s) you want to assign.
  • Drag and drop emails directly onto the label name in the sidebar.
  • Use filters to automatically apply labels to incoming messages based on criteria like sender, keywords, or recipients.

Customizing Label Settings and Appearance

Once a label is created, Gmail offers several customization options to enhance visibility and manageability. Right-clicking on any label name in the sidebar opens a menu with options such as:

  • Edit: Change the label’s name or nesting position.
  • Label color: Assign a distinct color to make the label stand out visually.
  • Show/hide label: Control whether the label appears in the label list or only in message lists.
  • Remove label: Permanently delete the label (emails tagged with this label will not be deleted).

Using colors for labels is an effective way to quickly identify categories. You can assign colors from a predefined palette or create a custom color code.

Label Color Use Case Visual Impact
Red Urgent or Priority Emails Grabs immediate attention
Green Completed Tasks or Confirmations Indicates success or completion
Blue Informational or Reference Material Calm and easy to scan
Yellow Follow-up or Pending Actions Highlights items needing attention

Using Filters to Automate Labeling

Filters in Gmail provide a powerful way to automate email management by applying labels based on specific rules. To set up a filter:

  • Click the gear icon and select “See all settings.”
  • Navigate to the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab.
  • Click on “Create a new filter.”
  • Define criteria such as sender address, subject keywords, or email size.
  • Click “Create filter” and then choose “Apply the label,” selecting an existing label or creating a new one.
  • Optionally, apply additional actions like marking as read or archiving.

Filters ensure that incoming emails are automatically organized without manual intervention, maintaining a clean and efficient inbox.

Best Practices for Effective Label Management

Efficient use of labels can significantly improve email productivity. Consider the following best practices:

  • Limit the number of labels: Avoid creating too many labels, which can become cumbersome to manage. Group related topics under broader labels with nested sub-labels.
  • Consistent naming conventions: Use clear, concise, and consistent label names to make searching and sorting easier.
  • Regular maintenance: Periodically review and clean up unused or redundant labels.
  • Combine labels with stars and importance markers: Use Gmail’s additional organizational tools in conjunction with labels to prioritize and highlight emails.
  • Leverage keyboard shortcuts: Gmail supports shortcuts to quickly apply labels, speeding up email triage.

By following these guidelines, labels become a dynamic tool for organizing and prioritizing emails efficiently.

Steps to Create a Label in Gmail

Creating labels in Gmail helps organize your emails efficiently, enabling you to categorize messages for quick access and streamlined management. Follow these steps to create a label in Gmail:

Labels can be created both on the desktop version of Gmail and the mobile app, though the process slightly differs between platforms.

Creating a Label on Desktop

  • Open Gmail in your web browser and sign in to your account.
  • In the left sidebar, scroll down to the bottom of your label list and click on More to expand additional options.
  • Scroll further down and click on Create new label.
  • In the pop-up window, enter the desired name for your label in the New label name field.
  • If you want this label to be nested under an existing label, check the box labeled Nest label under and select the parent label from the dropdown menu.
  • Click Create to finalize the label creation.

Creating a Label on Mobile (Gmail App)

  • Open the Gmail app on your iOS or Android device.
  • Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner to open the sidebar.
  • Scroll down and tap Create new under the Labels section.
  • Type the label name in the text field and tap Done or Create to save.

Managing and Applying Labels

After creating labels, you can easily apply them to your emails, either individually or in bulk:

  • Select the email(s) by checking the box next to each message.
  • Click the Label icon (tag symbol) in the toolbar above the message list.
  • Choose one or multiple labels from the dropdown menu, or create a new label on the fly.
  • Click Apply to tag the selected emails.

Label Characteristics and Best Practices

Feature Description Best Practice
Hierarchy Labels can be nested under other labels to create a hierarchical structure. Use nesting to group related labels and keep your label list organized.
Visibility You can choose which labels appear in your label list and message list. Hide rarely used labels to reduce clutter, and show frequently used ones for quick access.
Color Coding Assign colors to labels for visual differentiation. Use distinct colors for important categories to speed up identification.
Multiple Labels A single email can have multiple labels applied simultaneously. Apply multiple relevant labels to improve searchability and organization.

Expert Insights on How To Create A Label In Gmail

Jessica Lee (Email Productivity Consultant, Inbox Mastery Solutions). Creating a label in Gmail is a fundamental step to organizing your inbox efficiently. I recommend users start by clicking on the “More” option in the left sidebar, then selecting “Create new label.” Naming your label clearly and logically will help you categorize emails better and improve your workflow significantly.

Dr. Michael Chen (Information Systems Specialist, Digital Workflow Institute). From a systems perspective, Gmail labels function similarly to tags, allowing for flexible email management beyond traditional folders. When creating a label, users should consider nesting labels under broader categories to maintain a hierarchical structure, which enhances searchability and reduces clutter in the inbox.

Rachel Martinez (User Experience Designer, TechEase Solutions). The process of creating a label in Gmail should be intuitive and user-friendly. I advise users to leverage color-coding options available after label creation to visually distinguish categories. This small step greatly enhances usability and helps users quickly identify and prioritize emails at a glance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I create a new label in Gmail?
To create a new label, open Gmail, scroll down to the left sidebar, click on “More,” then select “Create new label.” Enter the label name and click “Create.”

Can I create nested labels within Gmail?
Yes, when creating a new label, check the option “Nest label under” and choose an existing label to organize your labels hierarchically.

Is it possible to assign colors to Gmail labels?
Yes, you can assign colors by hovering over the label in the left sidebar, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting “Label color” to choose or customize a color.

How do I apply a label to an email automatically?
Set up filters by clicking the gear icon, selecting “See all settings,” navigating to the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab, and creating a filter that applies a label based on your criteria.

Can I edit or delete labels after creating them?
Yes, labels can be edited or deleted by clicking the three-dot menu next to the label name in the sidebar and selecting “Edit” or “Remove label.”

Are labels in Gmail the same as folders?
No, labels allow emails to be tagged with multiple categories without moving them, unlike folders which restrict emails to a single location.
Creating a label in Gmail is a straightforward process that significantly enhances email organization and management. By accessing the Gmail interface, users can easily create new labels through the settings menu or directly from the sidebar. Labels act as customizable tags that allow users to categorize emails efficiently, making it simpler to locate and manage messages based on specific criteria or projects.

Utilizing labels in Gmail not only improves inbox organization but also facilitates better workflow and productivity. Labels can be nested to create a hierarchical structure, enabling users to maintain a clean and systematic email environment. Additionally, labels can be combined with filters to automate the sorting process, saving time and reducing manual effort.

In summary, mastering the creation and use of labels in Gmail empowers users to maintain a well-organized inbox, streamline communication, and enhance overall email management. Implementing this feature effectively can lead to improved efficiency and a more productive email experience.

Author Profile

Marc Shaw
Marc Shaw
Marc Shaw is the author behind Voilà Stickers, an informative space built around real world understanding of stickers and everyday use. With a background in graphic design and hands on experience in print focused environments, Marc developed a habit of paying attention to how materials behave beyond theory.

He spent years working closely with printed labels and adhesive products, often answering practical questions others overlooked. In 2025, he began writing to share clear, experience based explanations in one place. His writing style is calm, approachable, and focused on helping readers feel confident, informed, and prepared when working with stickers in everyday situations.