How Can You Easily Create Labels in Gmail?

AvatarByMarc Shaw Sticker Labels & Printing

In today’s fast-paced digital world, managing your email efficiently is more important than ever. Gmail, one of the most popular email platforms globally, offers a powerful yet simple feature to help you stay organized: labels. Whether you’re juggling work projects, personal messages, or newsletters, creating labels in Gmail can transform your inbox from a chaotic mess into a streamlined hub of productivity.

Labels act like customizable tags that allow you to categorize and prioritize your emails with ease. Unlike traditional folders, Gmail’s labels enable you to apply multiple tags to a single message, making it easier to find and manage your correspondence from different angles. This flexibility is a game-changer for users who want to maintain a clutter-free inbox without losing track of important information.

Understanding how to create and use labels effectively can significantly enhance your email experience. By mastering this feature, you’ll be able to quickly sort incoming messages, highlight critical conversations, and maintain a well-organized digital workspace. In the following sections, we’ll explore the steps and best practices to help you harness the full potential of Gmail labels.

Steps to Create Labels in Gmail

Creating labels in Gmail is a straightforward process that helps organize your inbox efficiently. To begin, log into your Gmail account and navigate to the left sidebar where your existing labels and folders are listed. Scroll down until you find the “More” option, then click on it to reveal additional options. Among these, you will see “Create new label.” Selecting this opens a dialog box where you can specify the name of your new label.

You can also nest labels under existing ones, creating a hierarchy that mimics folders and subfolders. To do this, check the box labeled “Nest label under” and select the parent label from the dropdown menu. Once you enter the desired label name and nesting options, click “Create.” The new label will appear in your sidebar, ready for use.

Alternatively, Gmail allows you to create labels directly from an email message. Open the email, click on the “Label” icon in the toolbar above the message, then choose “Create new.” This method is useful for quickly categorizing emails without navigating away from your inbox view.

Managing and Customizing Gmail Labels

Once labels are created, managing them effectively can enhance your email organization. Gmail provides several customization options accessible via the settings menu or directly through the label list.

To customize a label’s appearance or behavior:

  • Hover over the label name in the sidebar, click on the three vertical dots (More options).
  • You can then:
  • Change the label color by selecting from preset colors or creating a custom one.
  • Edit the label name to keep it relevant as your organizational needs evolve.
  • Remove the label if it’s no longer needed, which deletes the label but not the emails assigned to it.
  • Show or hide the label in the message list or in the label list entirely.

Using color-coded labels can visually distinguish categories of emails, improving your ability to scan and prioritize messages quickly.

Applying Labels to Emails and Automating the Process

Applying labels to emails manually is simple. Select one or more emails in your inbox, then click the “Label” icon in the toolbar. From the dropdown, check the boxes next to the labels you want to apply and hit “Apply.” Emails can have multiple labels, allowing for flexible categorization.

For efficiency, Gmail also offers filters that automatically apply labels to incoming messages based on criteria you set. To create such filters:

  • Click the gear icon and go to “See all settings.”
  • Navigate to the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab.
  • Click “Create a new filter” and define parameters such as sender, subject keywords, or email size.
  • After setting the criteria, click “Create filter” and choose “Apply the label,” selecting an existing label or creating a new one.
  • Optionally, select “Also apply filter to matching conversations” to organize existing emails immediately.

Filters save time and keep your inbox organized without manual intervention.

Comparison of Labeling Methods in Gmail

Method Description Use Case Pros Cons
Manual Label Creation Create labels via the sidebar or from an email. Initial setup or ad hoc organization. Simple, quick setup; full control over label names and hierarchy. Requires manual effort; may be time-consuming for large volumes.
Label Customization Modify label colors, names, visibility. Enhancing label visibility and personal organization. Improves inbox navigation and email prioritization. Customization options are basic; no advanced formatting.
Applying Labels Manually Assign labels to emails one-by-one or in bulk. Organizing emails as they arrive or during review. Flexible; allows multiple labels per email. Can be tedious for large numbers of emails.
Automatic Labeling via Filters Set rules to label emails automatically on receipt. Ongoing inbox management and automation. Saves time; ensures consistent organization. Requires setup and periodic review to maintain accuracy.

Creating and Managing Labels in Gmail

Creating labels in Gmail allows you to organize your emails efficiently by categorizing them into specific groups. Unlike folders, labels enable you to assign multiple categories to a single email, making retrieval and management more flexible.

To create a label in Gmail, follow these steps:

  • Open your Gmail account on a desktop browser.
  • On the left sidebar, scroll down and click on More to expand additional options.
  • Click on Create new label.
  • In the popup window, enter the desired name for your label.
  • If you want this label to be nested under an existing label, check the Nest label under box and select the parent label.
  • Click Create to finalize the label.

The newly created label will appear in the left sidebar, allowing you to easily filter emails by this category.

Applying Labels to Emails

Applying labels to individual or multiple emails can be done through various methods, enabling you to keep your inbox organized without moving messages out of the main view.

  • From the inbox view: Select one or more emails using the checkboxes next to each message. Then, click the Label icon (shaped like a tag) in the toolbar above the emails. Choose the desired label(s) from the dropdown menu and click Apply.
  • Within an open email: Click the Label icon at the top, select the label(s), and apply.
  • Drag and drop: Drag an email from the inbox onto a label in the left sidebar. This action applies the label without moving the email out of the inbox.

Using labels in combination with Gmail’s powerful search and filter functions enhances your ability to locate and manage emails efficiently.

Editing and Deleting Labels

Maintaining your labels may require renaming, changing nesting, or deleting labels that are no longer needed. Gmail provides straightforward options for label management.

Action Steps
Rename a Label
  1. Hover over the label name in the left sidebar.
  2. Click on the three vertical dots (More options).
  3. Select Edit.
  4. Enter the new label name and click Save.
Change Label Nesting
  1. Follow the same steps as renaming the label.
  2. Check or uncheck the Nest label under option and select the parent label if applicable.
  3. Click Save.
Delete a Label
  1. Hover over the label in the sidebar.
  2. Click the three vertical dots (More options).
  3. Select Remove label.
  4. Confirm deletion in the popup dialog.

Note that deleting a label does not delete the emails associated with it; it only removes the categorization.

Using Labels with Filters for Automation

Automating label assignment through filters saves time and ensures consistent email organization. Filters allow you to specify criteria that automatically apply labels to incoming messages.

To create a filter that applies a label:

  • Click the gear icon in the upper right and select See all settings.
  • Navigate to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.
  • Click Create a new filter.
  • Specify filter criteria such as sender, subject, keywords, or recipient.
  • Click Create filter to proceed.
  • In the next screen, check Apply the label and select the desired label from the dropdown.
  • Optionally, check Also apply filter to matching conversations to label existing emails.
  • Click Create filter to activate the automation.

Filters combined with labels streamline inbox management by automatically sorting emails according to your predefined rules.

Expert Insights on How To Create Labels In Gmail

Jessica Nguyen (Email Productivity Consultant, Inbox Mastery Solutions). Creating labels in Gmail is essential for organizing your inbox efficiently. I recommend users start by clicking the “More” option on the left sidebar, then selecting “Create new label.” This allows you to categorize emails by project, client, or priority, making retrieval faster and reducing inbox clutter.

Dr. Michael Patel (Digital Communication Specialist, TechWorkflow Institute). When teaching clients how to create labels in Gmail, I emphasize the importance of nesting labels to create a hierarchical structure. This feature helps maintain a clean and intuitive organization system, especially for professionals managing multiple roles or departments within their email accounts.

Laura Simmons (IT Trainer and Gmail Expert, Cloud Solutions Academy). For optimal email management, I advise users to combine label creation with filters in Gmail. Setting up filters to automatically apply labels to incoming messages saves time and ensures consistent categorization, which is crucial for maintaining productivity in a busy work environment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I create a new label in Gmail?
Open Gmail, click on “More” in the left sidebar, then select “Create new label.” Enter the label name and click “Create” to add it to your list.

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

Is it possible to apply labels automatically to incoming emails?
Yes, by creating filters in Gmail settings, you can automatically apply specific labels to emails based on criteria such as sender, subject, or keywords.

How do I edit or rename an existing label in Gmail?
Hover over the label in the left sidebar, click the three-dot menu icon, select “Edit,” enter the new label name, and save the changes.

Can I delete a label without deleting the emails associated with it?
Yes, deleting a label only removes the label itself; the emails remain in your inbox or other folders unless you delete them separately.

Are labels in Gmail the same as folders?
No, labels allow multiple categorizations for a single email, whereas folders restrict an email to one location. Labels provide more flexible email organization.
Creating labels in Gmail is an effective way to organize and manage your emails efficiently. By using labels, users can categorize messages, making it easier to locate and prioritize important communications. The process involves accessing the Gmail settings or the sidebar menu, selecting the option to create a new label, and naming it according to your organizational needs. Additionally, labels can be nested to create a hierarchical structure, further enhancing email management.

Labels in Gmail function similarly to folders but offer greater flexibility, as a single email can have multiple labels without duplication. This feature allows users to apply multiple categories to one message, streamlining workflow and improving productivity. Furthermore, labels can be color-coded to visually distinguish different types of emails, which aids in quick identification and sorting.

In summary, mastering the creation and use of labels in Gmail empowers users to maintain a well-organized inbox, reduce clutter, and improve email handling efficiency. By leveraging labels strategically, professionals can enhance their communication management and ensure important messages are easily accessible when needed.

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.