How Do You Create a New Label in Gmail?

AvatarByMarc Shaw Sticker Labels & Printing

Organizing your inbox can feel like a daunting task, especially when emails start piling up and important messages get lost in the clutter. Fortunately, Gmail offers a powerful feature that helps you keep your emails neatly categorized and easy to find: labels. If you’ve ever wondered how to make a new label in Gmail, you’re about to discover a simple yet effective way to bring order to your digital correspondence.

Creating labels in Gmail allows you to group related emails under custom tags, making your inbox more manageable and tailored to your personal or professional needs. Whether you want to separate work emails from personal ones, track project updates, or highlight important conversations, labels provide a flexible system to streamline your email experience. This article will guide you through the essentials of setting up new labels, empowering you to take control of your Gmail organization.

By mastering the process of making new labels, you’ll unlock a level of email management that saves time and reduces stress. Get ready to transform your inbox into a well-organized hub where every message has its place, making your daily email routine smoother and more efficient.

Creating a New Label Directly from the Gmail Sidebar

To create a new label in Gmail quickly, you can use the sidebar located on the left side of your inbox. This method provides a straightforward way to organize emails with custom labels.

Begin by scrolling down the sidebar until you see the “More” option. Click on it to expand additional menu items. Look for the “Create new label” option and select it. A dialog box will appear prompting you to name your new label.

When naming your label, choose a clear, descriptive title that reflects the content or category of emails it will contain. For example, labels like “Work Projects,” “Receipts,” or “Family” help in quickly identifying relevant messages.

You also have the option to nest the new label under an existing one, creating a hierarchical structure to better organize your inbox. To do this, check the box labeled “Nest label under” and select the parent label from the dropdown list.

After entering the label name and selecting any nesting preferences, click “Create.” Your new label will immediately appear in the sidebar, ready to be applied to incoming or existing emails.

Applying Labels to Emails Manually and Automatically

Labels can be assigned to emails either manually or automatically, enhancing your ability to categorize and retrieve messages efficiently.

To manually apply a label:

  • Open the email or select multiple emails using the checkboxes.
  • Click the “Label” icon (shaped like a tag) located in the toolbar above your inbox.
  • Choose the desired label(s) from the dropdown menu. You can select multiple labels if needed.
  • Click “Apply” to assign the labels.

For automatic labeling, Gmail filters are used. Filters allow you to define criteria such as sender, keywords, or subject lines, and automatically label emails that meet these criteria.

To set up a filter for automatic labeling:

  • Click the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select “See all settings.”
  • Navigate to the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab.
  • Click “Create a new filter.”
  • Define filter criteria, such as email addresses or keywords.
  • Click “Create filter.”
  • In the next window, check “Apply the label” and select your desired label.
  • Optionally, apply the filter to matching conversations already in your inbox.
  • Click “Create filter” to save.

This automation ensures that emails are categorized immediately upon arrival, saving time and keeping your inbox organized.

Managing and Editing Existing Labels

Over time, your labeling system may require adjustments. Gmail provides tools to manage, edit, or delete labels as needed.

To access label management:

  • Scroll to the bottom of the sidebar and click “More.”
  • Select “Manage labels” or go to “Settings” > “Labels” tab.

Here you can:

  • Edit label names: Click the “edit” link next to the label name to rename it.
  • Change nesting: Adjust whether a label is nested under another.
  • Show or hide labels: Choose to show labels in the label list or message list for better visibility or to reduce clutter.
  • Remove labels: Delete labels you no longer need. Deleting a label does not delete the emails assigned to it; it only removes the label.
Label Management Action Description Effect on Emails
Edit Label Name Rename an existing label to better reflect its purpose. No effect; emails retain the updated label name.
Change Nesting Move the label under a different parent label for organization. No effect; emails are still associated with the label.
Show/Hide Label Control label visibility in sidebar and inbox. No effect; emails remain labeled.
Delete Label Remove the label completely from Gmail. Emails lose the label but are not deleted.

Regularly reviewing and updating your labels ensures your Gmail remains an effective tool for managing email communication.

Creating a New Label in Gmail

Creating a new label in Gmail allows you to organize your emails efficiently. Labels act similarly to folders but provide more flexibility by allowing multiple labels on a single email. Follow these steps to create a new label:

  • Open Gmail and sign in to your account.
  • On the left-hand sidebar, scroll down to find the “More” option; click to expand if necessary.
  • Scroll further down and click on “Create new label.”
  • In the dialog box that appears, enter the desired name for your new label.
  • If you want this label to be a sub-label (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 new label.

Managing and Editing Labels

Once created, labels can be customized and managed to suit your workflow. Gmail offers options to edit, delete, or change label colors, enhancing visibility and organization.

Action How to Perform Purpose
Edit Label Name
  1. Hover over the label name in the left sidebar.
  2. Click the three vertical dots (More options).
  3. Select “Edit” from the dropdown menu.
  4. Change the label name and confirm by clicking “Save.”
 Rename a label to better reflect its content or purpose.
Delete Label
  1. Hover over the label name in the sidebar.
  2. Click the three vertical dots.
  3. Select “Remove label.”
  4. Confirm deletion when prompted.
 Remove labels that are no longer needed to declutter your interface.
Change Label Color
  1. Hover over the label in the sidebar.
  2. Click the three vertical dots.
  3. Choose “Label color.”
  4. Select a predefined color or add a custom color.
 Visually distinguish labels to improve email categorization.

Applying Labels to Emails

Labels are most effective when applied consistently. You can add labels to emails manually or use filters to automate the process.

  • Manual Labeling:
    1. Select the email(s) in your inbox or another folder.
    2. Click the “Label” icon (shaped like a tag) in the toolbar above the message list.
    3. Check the box next to the label(s) you want to apply or create a new label from this menu.
    4. Click “Apply” to add the label(s) to the selected email(s).
  • Automated Labeling Using Filters:
    1. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner and select “See all settings.”
    2. Navigate to the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab.
    3. Click “Create a new filter.”
    4. Define the criteria (e.g., sender, subject, keywords) to filter emails.
    5. Click “Create filter.”
    6. In the next dialog, check “Apply the label” and select an existing label or create a new one.
    7. Optionally, check other boxes like “Also apply filter to matching conversations.”
    8. Click “Create filter” to activate the rule.

Expert Guidance on Creating New Labels in Gmail

Jessica Lin (Email Productivity Consultant, Inbox Mastery Inc.) advises that creating a new label in Gmail is essential for maintaining organized communication. She emphasizes navigating to the left sidebar, clicking “More,” then “Create new label,” and naming it clearly to ensure easy retrieval of emails related to specific projects or topics.

Dr. Marcus Feldman (Cybersecurity Analyst and IT Trainer) highlights the importance of labels in managing email security and workflow. He recommends using nested labels to create a hierarchical structure, which can be done by selecting “Create new label” and checking the “Nest label under” option, thereby improving email categorization and reducing inbox clutter.

Emily Carter (User Experience Designer, TechEase Solutions) points out that the intuitive design of Gmail’s label creation process enhances user efficiency. She suggests customizing label colors immediately after creation to visually differentiate categories, which helps users quickly identify and prioritize emails within their busy inboxes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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

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

Is it possible to create labels on the Gmail mobile app?
Currently, the Gmail mobile app does not support creating new labels. You must use the desktop version to create and manage labels.

How do I assign emails to a newly created label?
Select the emails, click the “Label” icon at the top, check the desired label, and click “Apply” to categorize the emails under that label.

Can I edit or delete a label after creating it?
Yes, in the left sidebar, hover over the label, click the three-dot menu, and choose “Edit” to rename or “Remove label” to delete it.

Do labels affect email storage or organization in Gmail?
Labels do not affect storage limits but improve email organization by allowing you to categorize and quickly access related messages.
Creating a new label in Gmail is a straightforward process that enhances email organization and management. By accessing the Gmail interface, users can easily navigate to the labels section, select the option to create a new label, and assign a custom name to categorize their emails effectively. This feature allows for better sorting, filtering, and retrieval of messages, ultimately improving productivity and email workflow.

Utilizing labels in Gmail not only helps in maintaining a clutter-free inbox but also supports advanced email management strategies such as nested labels and color-coding. These tools enable users to prioritize communications, group related emails, and streamline their daily correspondence. Additionally, labels can be combined with filters to automate the organization process, saving time and reducing manual effort.

In summary, mastering the creation and use of labels in Gmail is essential for anyone looking to optimize their email experience. It provides a flexible and efficient way to handle large volumes of emails, ensuring important messages are easily accessible and well-organized. Embracing this feature contributes significantly to effective digital communication management.

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.