6 Gmail sorting tips for a more efficient and less chaotic inbox

Master Gmail's Layout: Six Ways to Boost Your Email Productivity

Many of us check Gmail daily. While labels, filters, and stars help manage emails, Gmail's layout options offer a powerful, often overlooked productivity boost. By optimizing your view, you can prioritize important messages, reduce clutter, and gain a fresh perspective on your inbox.

1. Prioritize Unread Emails:

To view unread emails first, click the gear icon (top right) to access Quick Settings. Under Inbox type, select Unread first. This places unread messages at the top. Use the three dots (top right) to adjust the number of displayed unread emails (up to 50) and choose to Hide section when empty. Alternatively, searching "is:unread" displays all unread emails from your inbox and archive in reverse chronological order without altering your main inbox layout.

2. Highlight Important Emails:

For a more intelligent approach, let Gmail's AI prioritize important messages. Gmail uses factors like frequency of communication and message keywords to determine importance (indicated by a small yellow arrow). Click the gear icon, navigate to Inbox type, and select Important first. Important emails appear at the top; use the three dots to control display and hiding options. Searching "is:important" shows all important emails without changing your inbox's appearance. You can also manually mark emails as important/unimportant using the arrow markers next to subject lines.

3. Feature Starred Emails:

Gmail's star system is highly customizable. Click the gear icon, then See all settings, and go to the General tab. Under Stars, choose from 12 star types. Save changes and then, back in your inbox, select Starred first under Inbox type. Starred emails appear at the top, grouped by star type and date. Use the three dots to adjust display settings. Searching "is:starred" or "has:orange-star" (replace "orange" with your chosen star color) finds starred emails without layout changes.

4. Utilize Priority Inbox:

The Priority Inbox divides your inbox into customizable sections (important, unread, starred, etc.). Click the gear icon, select Inbox type, choose Priority inbox, and then click Customize to define sections and their order. The "Important and unread" section is particularly useful. Use the three dots to adjust the number of emails displayed per section.

5. Fine-tune the Default Setting:

Gmail's default layout uses tabs (Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates, Forums) to categorize emails. Click the gear icon, select Inbox type, choose Default, and then Customize to select which tabs are visible. Gmail automatically sorts emails; manually drag emails to correct miscategorizations.

6. Employ a Multi-pane View:

For a traditional email experience, enable a multi-pane view. Click the gear icon, go to Reading pane, and select either Right of inbox or Below inbox. This displays selected emails alongside your message list, improving email triage efficiency.

This article has been updated.

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