Managing a cluttered inbox can be overwhelming, especially when you have multiple categories of emails to sort through. Gmail’s Multiple Inboxes feature provides a simple way to organize your emails into different sections, allowing you to prioritize and quickly access important messages. In this guide, we’ll show you how to set up and use Multiple Inboxes in Gmail, along with tips for further customizing your inbox for better productivity.
What Are Multiple Inboxes in Gmail?
The Multiple Inboxes feature in Gmail allows you to view different sections of your inbox at the same time, based on custom filters and labels. This is ideal for users who want to manage emails from different categories (e.g., work, personal, projects) in one window without switching between folders.
Instead of scrolling through your main inbox, you can set up separate sections to display specific types of emails, making it easier to stay organized and focused.
How to Enable Multiple Inboxes in Gmail
Follow these steps to enable the Multiple Inboxes feature in Gmail:
Open Gmail Settings
- Log in to your Gmail account.
- In the top-right corner, click the gear icon and select See all settings.
Go to the “Inbox” Tab
- In the settings menu, click on the Inbox tab.
Enable Multiple Inboxes
- Under the Inbox type section, select Multiple Inboxes from the drop-down menu.
- A new set of options will appear that allows you to configure how your inbox sections will be displayed.
Customize Your Inboxes
- In the Multiple Inboxes section, you’ll see text boxes where you can specify different search queries or labels for each section.
- For example, you can enter a search query like
is:unreadto show only unread emails orlabel:workto display emails with a specific label. - You can customize up to five different sections for your inbox.
Save Changes
- Once you’ve configured your multiple inboxes, scroll down and click Save Changes.
How to Customize Multiple Inboxes for Better Organization
Once you’ve enabled Multiple Inboxes, you can further customize them to suit your needs. Here are some ideas on how to organize your inbox efficiently:
Use Labels and Filters
You can set up specific labels for different categories of emails (e.g., “Work,” “Personal,” “Important”) and configure your Multiple Inboxes to show those emails in separate sections.
To create a label:
- On the left sidebar, scroll down and click More.
- Click Create new label, give it a name, and click Create.
To apply filters:
- Click the Search bar at the top of Gmail.
- Click the down arrow to open the filter options.
- Set conditions, such as from specific senders or containing certain keywords.
- Click Create filter and apply labels or other actions (e.g., mark as read).
Display Unread Emails
One useful section to set up is showing all unread emails in a separate section. This allows you to quickly identify new emails without searching for them.
Use the search query is:unread in one of the Multiple Inboxes sections to display all unread messages.
Focus on Important Messages
If you often receive emails that need your immediate attention, such as urgent tasks or high-priority emails, you can set up a section to only display emails with specific labels or keywords.
For example, use the query label:important or subject:urgent to keep these emails at the forefront of your inbox.
Create Sections for Projects or Clients
If you work on multiple projects or with different clients, you can create sections in your inbox dedicated to those specific emails. Use labels for each project or client and set up your Multiple Inboxes to display those emails separately.
Example queries could include label:client1, label:projectX, or any keyword associated with the specific emails.
Conclusion
Gmail’s Multiple Inboxes feature is an excellent tool for organizing and managing your emails by categorizing them into different sections based on your needs. By setting up customized filters, labels, and queries, you can create a more efficient and productive workflow, helping you stay on top of important emails without feeling overwhelmed.
