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Gmail filters are exactly what the name implies. They help you keep your mail inbox organized and decluttered by redirecting emails automatically. Here’s how to create, customize, and manage filters in Gmail.
How to Create Filters in Gmail
To create Gmail filters, you’ll need to use a computer. As of now, it’s not possible to create filters via the Gmail mobile app (iOS or Android).
There are several ways to create a filter in Gmail, but the easiest way is to use the Search bar. Navigate to the top of your inbox and select the slider icon labeled “Show search options”.
Additionally, you can create a filter directly from an email in your inbox. To create a filter from a received email:
This list should include the option to archive an email, mark it as read, star it, delete it, always or never mark it as important, and apply a label or category to it. you may also choose to apply the filter to existing conversations in your inbox that match the same criteria.
To learn more about how to set the criteria for your filters, take a look atGoogle Workspace’s article on the subject.
Examples of Useful Gmail Filters
We’ll take a look at some practical examples of Gmail filters that can significantly improve your email management.
1. Filter Emails Based on Keywords in Gmail
To block all emails containing the word “investment” from a particular sender, you can follow the steps described below:
2. Sort Your Gmail Inbox Using Plus Addressing Filters
Plus addressing is a feature that allows you to append characters to your email address and still get the messages delivered to your inbox. This can be used to create disposable email addresses for quick sign-ups and to organize emails from different senders.
To use plus addressing, simply add a plus (+) sign to your email address before the @ symbol. For example, makeuseof@gmail.com would become makeuseof+tech@gmail.com.
To use plus addressing to filter emails, follow the steps listed below:
3. Filter Emails Based on Subject or Sender in Gmail
You might want to set up a Gmail filter to categorize all emails related to a specific subject or from a designated sender into a single label. However, Gmail combines criteria in the Search Options window using an AND operator, rather than an OR operator. So, this results in a filter that selects emails meeting all specified criteria, rather than finding emails that fulfill any single criterion.
While you could create separate filters for each criterion, it is much easier to use the “Has the words” box. To create a filter to organize all work-related emails under the label “Work”, you’d follow a process similar to the one described below:
Be sure to check out ourlist of smart Gmail filters to deal with email overloadfor more examples of useful Gmail filters.
How to Edit and Delete Gmail Filters
If you no longer need certain filters or want to edit them to include certain criteria, here’s how to edit and delete your Gmail filters:
Filters can simplify the process of managing your emails and keeping your inbox tidy. But filters are not the only way to keep your inbox organized. you may also learnhow to sort your Gmail inbox by sender, subject, and label.
