How to Create Folders in Gmail

Many Gmail users probably didn't know it was possible to create folders, as the platform calls this feature "Labels" instead. Labels, like folders, are useful for organizing and locating data or files. Therefore, this Gmail feature can make your inbox much easier to navigate.

But how do you create or add a label on Gmail? In this article, you will find the steps to create labels on Gmail using different devices.

How to Create Gmail Folders on an Android

The Gmail app for Android lets you check, reply to, and send new emails on the go. The app also lets you create labels to better organize your email. Here's how:

1. Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of the Gmail app near the search box.
   
2. Scroll down and select "Settings".
   
3. Choose the email address you want to adjust to.
   
4. Go to the "Labels" section and choose "Label settings".
5. Tap the label you want to edit or delete on the "Label Settings" screen. Enter a new name in the Name field or delete the label by pressing the Delete [label name] button at the bottom.

Note that the steps may vary slightly on various Android devices, but the main idea remains the same.

How to Create Gmail Folders on an iPhone

The Gmail app for iPhone works the same as the Android app. Therefore, the steps to create a label are also similar.

1. In the upper left corner of the Gmail app, near the search box, tap the three horizontal lines.
   
2. At the bottom, click on “Settings”.
   
3. Choose the email address to assign a label to.
   
4. Select "Label Settings" in the "Labels" section.
   
5. On the "Label Settings" page, tap the label you want to edit or delete. Enter a new name in the Name field or click the Delete [label name] button at the bottom to delete the label.
   

Even though the iOS and Android apps are similar, the iOS app lets you assign tags automatically. This cannot be done on the Android app. The steps to set up automatic labels on your iPhone are as follows:

1. Click on the "Menu" button in the Gmail application.
   
2. Select "Settings" from the menu.
   
3. Choose your Google Mail account.
   
4. Select "Label Settings" from the list of choices in the "Settings Menu".
   
5. Choose the folder label from the list of labels.
   
6. Press "Add" in the next window.
   
7. In the "From" box, enter a name or email address. To include other search parameters (such as a keyword), click "And".
   
8. Press "Save".
   

Emails from the specified email address will now automatically receive a label. Although you can set new labels for emails using mobile apps, they have some limitations. They don't allow you to rename or update a Gmail folder. Also, mobile apps do not support creating custom labels.

How to Create Folders in Gmail on an iPad

Since iPads use the same operating system as iPhones, the Gmail app is the same. Therefore, the steps to create a folder are also similar.

1. Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of the Gmail app near the search box.
   
2. Tap "Settings" at the bottom of the page.
   
3. Choose the email address you want to attach a label to.
   
4. In the "Labels" section, click on "Label settings".
   
5. Tap the label you want to edit or delete on the "Label Settings" screen. Enter a new name for the label in the Name box or click the Delete [label name] button at the bottom to delete it.
   

Here are the instructions for enabling auto-labeling on your iPad:

1. In the Gmail application, click on the "Menu" button.
   
2. In the menu, tap "Settings".
   
3. Select your Google Mail account from the drop-down menu.
   
4. In the "Settings Menu", choose "Label Settings".
   
5. Select the folder label.
   
6. In the next window, click “Add”.
   
7. Enter a name or email address in the "From" field. Click "And" to specify other search parameters (such as a keyword).
   
8. Press "Save".
   

How to Create Folders in Gmail on PC

You can create a label on your Gmail account in different ways on your PC. One way is to set up labels through email options. Follow these steps to do so:

1. Open your Gmail account.
   
2. Check the box next to an email to select it.
   
3. Right-click on it to get a menu of options.
   
4. Select the 'Label' option by hovering your mouse pointer over it and clicking 'Create New'.
   
5. Give your new label a name in the pop-up window that opens and click the "Create" button.
   

Another way is to use the left sidebar options. Here's how:

1. Scroll down the left sidebar of Gmail until you find "More". Select this option.
   
2. Click "+Create new label" from the additional options that appear.
   
3. Enter a name for the label, then click "Create".
   

Instead of choosing "Create a new label", you can do this instead:

1. Navigate to the "Tags" tab by clicking "Manage Tags" on the left sidebar.
   
2. Keep scrolling until you find the "Create New Label" button.
   
3. When you click on the "Create a new label" button, the same pop-up window as mentioned before appears.
   
4. Give your new folder a name and click “Create”.
   

Organize your emails

Keeping your mailbox organized can be a hassle. However, with Gmail labels, this task becomes considerably easier. Within minutes you can create, delete, rename and even color code labels. And even though mobile apps are lacking in some areas, the online version offers more than enough possibilities.

Creating labels is just the first step towards improving your inbox management. With a little maintenance and the help of Gmail's email labeling features, you could one day reach the infamous "zero inbox".

Have you ever created a folder in Gmail? What's your favorite way to organize your emails? Let us know in the comment section below!