How to Create, Rename, and Delete Gmail Labels

Custom Gmail labels let you group mail by project, person, or action. Creating or renaming a label changes organization, while removing the label does not delete its messages. Use Gmail on a computer for the complete label-management workflow described here.

Create and apply a label

1. In the left navigation, find Labels and choose the create-new-label control.
2. Enter a clear name. If needed, choose an existing parent under Nest label under.
3. Create the label.
4. Select a harmless message, use Labels in the toolbar, and apply the new label.

Use a name that describes the purpose, such as Receipts or Action. A label called Important does not automatically become Gmail’s separate importance marker, and a custom label is not a new category tab.

Rename a label without losing track of rules

Point to the label in the left sidebar, open its More menu, and choose the edit control. Change its name and confirm. Inspect the renamed label with a known message.

Then check any saved searches, bookmarks, or external procedures that refer to the old name. A manually typed label: query should match your current label choice; do not assume every external reference will rewrite itself. Review relevant filters before depending on them for new mail.

Remove a label carefully

Use the label’s sidebar More menu and Remove label when you no longer need that organizing label. The messages remain in the mailbox unless another action deletes them. If you only want to remove a label from one message, change that message’s Labels selection instead.

Before removing a heavily used label, note its rules and check whether it is part of an action queue. Losing the visible grouping can disrupt your workflow even though the mail remains searchable. Google documents a maximum of 5,000 labels, but a smaller, maintained set is easier to navigate. Never use the message toolbar’s Delete command as a substitute for removing an unwanted label.

Browse Gmail & Google Account help

References

• Create & manage labels in Gmail
• Refine searches in Gmail

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.