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    2 min read 4 stepsMarch 31, 2026Verified March 2026

    How to Organize Your Emails into Folders

    A tidy inbox makes emails much easier to find. Here's how to create folders and move emails into them in Gmail and Outlook.

    At a Glance

    Category
    How-To Guides
    Difficulty
    Intermediate
    Read Time
    2 min read
    Steps
    4
    Topics covered
    email
    folders
    organize
    gmail
    outlook
    intermediate

    In this guide (4 steps):

    1. 1.Create a new folder or label
    2. 2.Move emails into your folders
    3. 3.Set up rules to sort emails automatically
    4. 4.Unsubscribe from emails you do not need
    1

    Create a new folder or label

    ~21s
    In Gmail, scroll down the left sidebar and click "+ Create new label." Name it something clear like "Bank," "Family," "Medical," or "Receipts" and click Create. In Outlook, right-click "Inbox" in the left sidebar and choose "New folder." Type a name and press Enter.

    Quick Tip

    Gmail calls folders "Labels" but they work the same way. They help you group related emails together.

    2

    Move emails into your folders

    ~18s
    In Gmail, check the box next to an email, then click the label icon at the top of the screen and pick the label you want. In Outlook, right-click the email and choose "Move," then select your folder. You can also drag and drop the email onto the folder name in the sidebar.
    3

    Set up rules to sort emails automatically

    ~17s
    In Gmail, open an email, click the three dots menu, and choose "Filter messages like these." Then select "Apply label" and pick your label. Future emails from that sender will go there automatically. In Outlook, go to Home, then Rules, then Create Rule, and set your conditions.
    4

    Unsubscribe from emails you do not need

    ~20s
    The fastest way to tidy your inbox is to open any newsletter you no longer want, scroll to the very bottom, and click "Unsubscribe." In Gmail, many marketing emails also show an "Unsubscribe" link right at the top, next to the sender name.

    Quick Tip

    Unsubscribing from emails you never read can cut your daily inbox clutter in half.

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    email
    folders
    organize
    gmail
    outlook
    intermediate

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