Gmail labels: Your secret weapon against inbox chaos
So, you’ve got email, you say? Lots of it? More than you can possibly manage without losing the few metaphorical marbles still sloshing around in that soggy ol’ brain of yours? I hear ya. In fact, I think we all can relate (even those of us whose brains are, erm, slightly less soggy). And I’m here to tell you: It doesn’t have to be so difficult. Gmail has a variety of built-in tools for making…
Gmail's label system can be a powerful tool for managing an overflowing inbox and keeping your messages organized. Unlike traditional folder-based systems used in other email clients, Gmail labels act like stickers that can be applied to a message multiple times. This allows for more flexible categorization and organization of emails.
Firstly, think of labels as super-folders. You can apply multiple labels to a single message, just like attaching various stickers to an email. This enables you to categorize messages in numerous ways, such as labeling incoming emails from Google Analytics as "Web Reports" or using labels like "Work" and "Personal" to differentiate between personal and work-related emails.
Creating a new label is simple – click the label icon in the toolbar while viewing a message or a selected message from a list on the desktop website, or use the keyboard shortcut L on both desktop and mobile platforms. On mobile devices, tap the three-line menu icon in the upper-left corner and select "Create label" from the list of existing labels or the "Create new" option.
To tag a message and archive it simultaneously, use Gmail's "Move to" option when composing an email. This command is available in the desktop website interface and the three-dot menu on Android and iOS devices. Select the desired label from the list, and the message will be both labeled and archived.
Labels aren't just for incoming messages. You can also apply them while composing a new email. On the desktop website, click the three-dot menu icon in the compose window and choose the "Label" option. Unfortunately, this feature isn't available in the Gmail mobile apps, but you can still apply a label after sending an email by accessing your Sent messages from the app's main three-line menu.
Organizing your label lists is essential for maintaining a tidy inbox. On the desktop website, your list of labels is displayed in the left sidebar in alphabetical order. You can easily add new labels by typing their names after clicking the label icon in the toolbar.
Written by urgent.news from Computerworld's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
