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Gmail does not have traditional folders like Outlook — instead, it uses labels that function the same way. When you create a folder in Gmail, you are actually creating a label that can be applied to emails to organize them. Labels work even better than folders because a single email can have multiple labels, appearing in multiple categories simultaneously.
Whether you are using Gmail on a computer, iPhone, iPad, or Android device, this guide shows you exactly how to create labels (folders), nest them into hierarchies, apply them to emails, and set up automatic filters to sort incoming messages into the right label automatically.
The steps differ slightly between platforms, so find your device section below and follow along.
On Gmail desktop: Click the + icon next to Labels in the left sidebar, type a label name, and click Create. On mobile: open the Gmail app, tap the hamburger menu, scroll down, tap Create New under Labels.
Method 1: Create Folders (Labels) in Gmail on Computer
The desktop version of Gmail provides the most complete label management experience with support for nested labels, color coding, and batch operations.
Open Gmail in Your Browser
Go to mail.google.com and sign in to your Google account.
Find the Labels Section in the Sidebar
Look at the left sidebar. Scroll down past Inbox, Starred, Sent, and Drafts until you see the Labels section. Click More if labels are hidden.
Click the + Icon to Create a New Label
Click the small + icon next to the Labels heading. A dialog box appears asking for the label name.
Name Your Label and Click Create
Type a descriptive name for your label (e.g., Work, Invoices, Travel). To create a sub-label, check Nest Label Under and select a parent label. Click Create.
Tip: Right-click any label in the sidebar to change its color, add sub-labels, edit its name, or remove it. Color-coded labels make it much easier to visually scan your inbox.
Method 2: Create Folders in Gmail on iPhone and iPad
The Gmail iOS app supports label creation directly within the app without needing to switch to a browser.
Open the Gmail App
Launch the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad. Make sure you are signed in to the correct account.
Tap the Hamburger Menu
Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top-left corner to open the navigation drawer.
Scroll Down and Tap Create New
Scroll down past all existing labels to the bottom of the menu. Tap Create New under the Labels section.
Enter the Label Name and Save
Type your desired label name and tap Done or Save. The new label appears in your sidebar immediately.
Method 3: Create Folders in Gmail on Android
Android's Gmail app offers the same label creation functionality with a slightly different interface.
Open the Gmail App
Launch Gmail on your Android phone or tablet.
Open the Side Menu
Tap the hamburger menu icon in the top-left corner or swipe right from the left edge of the screen.
Tap Create New Label
Scroll down in the menu, find the Labels section, and tap + Create New. If this option is not visible, try updating the Gmail app.
Name the Label and Confirm
Type the label name and tap Done. Your new label is now available for organizing emails.
Method 4: Set Up Automatic Filters to Sort Emails into Labels
Manually labeling every email is tedious. Gmail filters automatically apply labels to incoming emails based on sender, subject, keywords, or other criteria.
Open Gmail Settings
In Gmail on your computer, click the gear icon in the top-right, then click See All Settings.
Go to the Filters Tab
Click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.
Create a New Filter
Click Create a New Filter. Enter your criteria — for example, From: [email protected] or Subject: Invoice.
Apply a Label Action
Click Create Filter, check Apply the Label, select your target label from the dropdown, and click Create Filter. All matching emails will now be automatically labeled.
Warning: If you check Also Apply Filter to Matching Conversations, the label will be retroactively applied to all existing emails that match. This can move hundreds of old emails at once, which may be disorienting if you are not expecting it.
Why Does Gmail Use Labels Instead of Folders?
Gmail uses labels instead of traditional folders because labels are more flexible. A traditional folder can only hold one copy of an email — if you want an invoice from a client in both your Invoices folder and your Client folder, you would need two copies. With Gmail labels, one email can have multiple labels applied simultaneously, appearing in multiple views without duplication. Labels also work seamlessly with Gmail's powerful search and filter system, making it easier to find and organize emails at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Functionally yes. Labels in Gmail serve the same organizational purpose as folders in Outlook or other email clients. The key difference is that one email can have multiple labels, while traditional folders only allow one location per email.
Yes. When creating a new label, check Nest Label Under and select an existing parent label. This creates a folder hierarchy similar to subdirectories on your computer.
Gmail allows up to 5,000 labels per account. Each label name can be up to 225 characters long. This is more than enough for even the most complex organizational systems.
Yes. The Move To action removes the Inbox label and applies the selected label, effectively moving the email. You can also drag and drop emails to labels in the sidebar on desktop.
On desktop, right-click the label in the sidebar and select Remove Label. Deleting a label does not delete the emails — they remain in your account with other labels or in All Mail.
Gmail does not support shared labels natively. However, Google Workspace users can use shared drives or delegated access. For personal accounts, you can use third-party tools or shared Google Groups.
Right-click a label in the desktop sidebar, hover over Label Color, and choose a background and text color. This adds a colored badge to emails with that label in your inbox.
Open the Gmail app, go to Settings > your account > Labels, and make sure Show in Label List is enabled for the labels you want to see. Some labels are hidden by default.
Yes, use Gmail filters (Method 4 above). You can also create filters directly from an email by clicking the three dots menu > Filter Messages Like These.
On desktop, right-click the label in the sidebar and select Edit. Change the name and click Save. The label is updated across all emails that have it applied.