Labels and rules

Create coloured labels, apply them to conversations, and write filter rules that sort mail as it arrives.

Labels tag conversations. Rules act on new mail when it arrives. Use labels to find things and rules to avoid sorting by hand.

Labels#

Create a label on the web#

  1. Open Settings > Labels.
  2. Select Create Label.
  3. Enter a Label Name, choose a Color, and save.

Use the edit and delete buttons beside a label to change it later.

Apply a label#

Open a conversation, choose Label from its menu, and pick labels in the Label this thread window. Select a label again to remove it. If AI label suggestions are available for the message, they appear at the top of the list.

Labels appear in the sidebar, where you select one to see its conversations.

On iPhone and Android, labels and folders are under Settings > Folders & Labels.

Filter rules#

Rules run on the mail server when a message is delivered, so they work even when you are not signed in.

  1. Open Settings > Spam & Filters.
  2. Select Create Rule.
  3. Add one or more conditions. Fields are From, To, Subject, Has words, Size, Header and Spam score.
  4. Choose actions. You can Move to folder, Apply label, Mark as read, Star, Forward or Delete.
  5. Optionally tick Stop processing other rules after this one.
  6. Select Create Rule.

Rules appear in a list on the same page, where you can switch them on or off, edit them, or delete them. On iPhone and Android, use Settings > Filters & Rules.

The same page also holds your safe senders list.

Last updated 1 November 2026