Gmail’s Primary, Promotions, Updates, Social, and Forums categories organize the Default inbox. They are automatic groupings, not separate accounts or ordinary custom labels. Choose which tabs appear, and correct individual placements when the sorting does not suit your use.
Select the category tabs
- In Gmail on a computer, open Settings.
- Under Inbox type, select Default.
- Choose Customize and select the categories you want to display.
- Save and inspect the resulting tabs.
You can choose from Gmail’s provided categories, but cannot create a new category tab with an arbitrary name. Use a custom label if you need a project or client grouping.
Move a misplaced message
On the web, drag a message to the appropriate category tab. Check the confirmation and use Undo if you moved the wrong item. These corrections help Gmail learn your preferences over time; do not assume that one correction permanently classifies every future message from a large sender.
For a precisely defined recurring sender, a filter can assign a category. Test the matching conditions first and inspect existing rules that might already categorize that mail. A category decision is separate from whether a message is trustworthy or important.
Find mail outside the visible tab
Search category:promotions or category:updates when looking for a misplaced item. Archived mail is not displayed in inbox category tabs; find it through All Mail or an appropriate search instead.
Google documents additional category searches, such as reservations, that are not available as user-created inbox tabs. A supported search term does not imply that an equivalent tab can be added.
If a message seems missing, search before changing settings or deleting rules. Notification behavior can also differ by category and app settings, so verify important arrivals directly rather than relying only on an alert. Changing the displayed tabs does not unsubscribe you from promotions or block the senders.
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References
Reviewed against the linked product guidance, standards, and identified vendor or public-authority guidance on October 29, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.