Gmail label colors make classifications easier to recognize in the web inbox. Changing a label’s color does not recolor the original email, notify its sender, or change the label’s membership. Use color alongside a meaningful name so your organization remains understandable without color alone.
Choose a label color
- Open Gmail on a computer.
- In the left sidebar, point to the custom label’s name.
- Open its More menu and choose Label color.
- Select a standard color or use Add custom color where offered.
Inspect a message carrying that label after the change. Confirm that you changed the intended label, particularly if several nested labels have similar names. A message with multiple labels can show more than one colored indicator.
Keep the scheme readable and consistent
Assign colors to a small number of useful meanings, such as action required or reference material. Keep the text label explicit; red by itself does not tell another authorized user which action is due or what a deadline means.
Check contrast against your chosen Gmail theme. A combination that looks clear on one display may be harder to distinguish on a phone or for someone with a color-vision difference. Prefer readable text and a simple naming convention over many nearly identical shades.
Understand custom-color and mailbox limits
Google documents up to 100 custom label colors, with each text-and-background combination counting separately. If a new custom combination does not save, reuse an existing color or choose a standard option before treating it as a mailbox failure.
Color is a presentation aid, not a rule. It does not automatically classify future mail, mark messages important, or prioritize delivery. A filter or deliberate label action determines membership.
Do not remove and recreate a label merely to change its appearance. That can disrupt existing organization and references unnecessarily. If the label itself is missing, check visibility and nested-label expansion first. Connected clients may display the same classification differently, so confirm the behavior in your normal devices before relying on color as the sole way to identify essential mail.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
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.