Environment
U-M Google, Gmail
Issue
How do I create, use, and organize labels in Gmail?
Resolution
Labels "tag" emails according to specific topics you create. When you create a new label, it appears in the left sidebar of your inbox. Messages in your inbox will also show any labels assigned to them. Refer to Create & manage labels in Gmail for instructions on creating email labels.
Tips
- Messages in your inbox are automatically assigned the "Inbox" label.
- Include numbers on labels you want to appear first in the label list, since they appear in alphabetical order.
- Since you can't organize labels manually by dragging and dropping them, use an alphabetical or numerical system to sort them the way you want. (E.g., 1 ITS, 2 OGC, 3 Athletics)
- Avoid symbols and special characters when creating labels.
- Assign colors to your most-used labels to help identify those emails in your inbox.
- Use sublabels to create a label hierarchy when needed.
- Create a new label, check the Nest label under box, and choose the desired parent label from the drop-down.
- Use fewer than 500 labels, including nested labels.
- Too many labels can slow your email processing and make Gmail run much slower.
- Google limits you to 5,000 labels.
Additional Information
Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.