Have you ever found yourself drowning in a sea of messages and wished for a more organized approach? You’re not alone. Channeling emails directly to designated folders is a simple yet powerful step to streamlining your inbox.
In this blog post, we’ll show you how to redirect emails to your preferred folders step-by-step and how to create filters in Gmail to save time and effort. Ready to bring order to your inbox? Let’s get started!
How to redirect certain emails to a folder in Gmail
Here’s how you can set up your inbox so that any incoming messages are automatically redirected to folders of your choice.
Step 1: Open Gmail search options
Navigate to your Gmail.
Click the ‘Show search options’ button next to the Gmail search field.
Step 2: Enter in the type of email you want to redirect
This will open up a window with various search options. You can insert the relevant parameters to narrow down the type of email you want to divert to a folder.
For example, if you’re trying to divert emails from a specific email address to a folder, enter the address or name in the ‘From’ field. You also have the option to sort emails by size, date, attachments, and words included. When you’ve inserted the correct filters that narrow down the email you want to divert, click ‘Create filter.’
Step 3: Create a filter that applies a Label
In the next window, select the filter named ‘Apply a label’ and then click the arrow next to ‘Choose label’ to select the folder to which you want to divert the incoming emails.
You can choose a preexisting label now or create a new one if you wish.
Step 4: (optional) Click “Skip the inbox”
This window also provides other options for actions that Gmail can take for those particular emails. If you don’t want the emails displayed in your primary inbox after they get labeled, select ‘Skip the inbox.’ This option will ensure that incoming messages are archived rather than shown in your inbox.
Alternatively, if you want these emails to be prominently highlighted in your inbox after they are labeled, you can also select ‘Always mark it as important.’
Step 5: Click “Create filter”
Once you’ve applied the relevant label to it, click ‘Create filter,’ and you’re done!
Questions you may be asking about redirecting emails
Does Gmail have folders?
While Gmail doesn't have traditional folders, it uses Labels to achieve a similar organizational structure. When emails are labeled and then archived, they are essentially removed from the main inbox view but can be accessed later through their respective labels.
These labels serve the same purpose as folders, helping you categorize and locate emails more efficiently. However, unlike the traditional folder system, which allows only one folder per email, Gmail enables you to have more than one label on an email.
This means you can find the email under all the labels you assigned to it. While Gmail doesn't technically have folders, the labeling system allows you to accomplish similar results and more. Learn how you can create a folder or label in Gmail.
How do I delete a filter I don’t want anymore?
Deleting a filter is easy.
Click on the settings gear icon in the top right corner and then click ‘See all settings.’
On the detailed settings page, toggle to the ‘Filters and Blocked Addresses’ tab from the ‘General’ tab.
Now, you can select the filter you want to delete and click the delete button on the far right corner. Gmail will show you an update acknowledging that the filter has been deleted.
What other ways are there to organize my inbox?
Creating filters and creating/deleting labels are the most commonly used methods of bringing order to an inbox. You can also use the following features:
- Muting emails
- Archiving emails
- Opting for another Gmail view
- Enabling Gmail's Priority Inbox
Learn about other ways to organize your Gmail.
Learn more about what you can do in Gmail
Gmail is filled with features that make communication more effective and efficient. If you want to enhance your productivity by learning Gmail features that can help you save time and effort, try the YAMM blog.
The YAMM blog is committed to providing helpful information and effort-saving hacks to make your Gmail experience smoother and more productive.