Using Google's search options to filter messages and apply labels

You can use Google's various search options to filter your Inbox messages based on specific criteria.  You can then create labels and apply them to the search results.  The labels will appear like folders on the left side of your inbox for easy access to specific topics.

You can search your inbox a few ways;  by using keywords, using an advanced search, or using Search Operators.

Keywords:  Using keywords in the search field will return all email messages with those words either in the subject line or body.  This includes the keywords if they're in the names of attachments. 

If you want results of a specific phrase, you can use quotes around the phrase.

Advanced search:  You can also use the advanced search option by clicking the search options icon to the far right side of the search field.

Search Operators:  You can use words or symbols called search operators to filter your Gmail search results. You can also combine operators to filter your results even more.

After a query is entered, you can use the available search chips to surface more relevant results based on various options.

Creating filters and applying labels to your search results

Once your search results are displayed, you can check the box at the top of the list to select all messages.  Important:  If your results are more than the page displayed, you'll see a blue link in the top center prompting you to "Select all conversations that match this search".  Click the link to select all conversations.

  • Click the Label icon
  • Select the label you want to apply (or create a new label), click Apply.

You'll see your labels on the left side of your inbox.  To remove a label, hover over it and click the 3 vertical dots to the right.  Click Remove label.  That will not remove the messages but only the label.  As long as you didn't remove the "inbox" label from the messages, they'll still be in your inbox.

You can also create rules to filter your emails.  This allows you to manage your incoming mail by using Gmail’s filters to send email to a label, or archive, delete, star, or automatically forward your mail.These rules can be applied as email comes into your Inbox.