If you’re a Gmail user, you may have noticed the words “labels” and “folders” seem to be used interchangeably.
But are they the same thing? To help you better understand the difference between Gmail labels and folders, were going to cover what labels are, the benefits they offer, how to create, use, edit, and delete them, and how they differ from folders.
So if you’re curious to learn more about using labels in Gmail, keep reading!
Short Answer
No, Gmail labels and folders are not the same.
Gmail labels are like tags, they can be applied to multiple emails at once and are used to organize emails into categories.
Folders are more like physical folders, they are used to store emails, and can only be applied to one email at a time.
Both labels and folders can be used to organize emails in Gmail, but they serve different purposes.
What are Gmail Labels?
Gmail labels are a powerful way for users to organize their emails and keep track of important messages.
Labels are a type of folder within Gmail, but they offer more flexibility and organization than traditional folders.
Labels can be applied to any email, allowing users to group emails into categories without needing to move them to a specific folder.
This makes it easier to find emails related to a particular topic or project.
Unlike folders, labels can be applied to multiple emails at once and they stay with the email even when it is moved to another folder.
This provides a consistent way for users to organize their emails and quickly locate relevant messages.
Labels also allow users to color code emails, making it easier to spot specific emails in a crowded inbox.
What are the Benefits of Labels?
Labels are one of the most powerful features of Gmail and offer plenty of benefits for organizing and managing your emails.
With labels, users can quickly group related emails into categories for easy reference and organization.
Labels also allow users to apply multiple labels to a single email, which can make it easier to track an email throughout its life cycle.
Labels are also easy to create, delete and modify, making it easy to stay on top of your email organization.
Furthermore, labels stay with the email when it is moved to another folder, allowing users to keep their emails organized no matter where they go.
This also makes it easier to search for specific emails across folders, since the labels will remain with the email as it moves.
With labels, users can quickly and easily keep track of their emails and ensure that they are organized in the most efficient way possible.
How To Create Labels
Creating labels in Gmail is a quick and easy process.
If you’re looking for a way to organize your emails, labels are a great option.
To create a label, simply open the label tab in your Gmail settings, then click the Create New Label button.
You’ll be prompted to enter a name and description for your label, then click Create.
You can also opt to make the label visible in the side panel of your Gmail inbox and choose whether or not to nest it under an existing label.
Once you’ve created a label, you can start applying it to emails.
To do this, simply select the emails you want to label and click the Label icon.
You can then choose the label you want to apply from the drop-down menu.
You can also easily apply labels to emails from the inbox view.
Just select the emails you want to label and click the Label icon.
From there, you can choose the label you want to apply.
Labels are an incredibly powerful tool for organizing emails.
You can create labels for all kinds of projects, topics, or conversations.
With labels, you can quickly find the emails you need and keep your inbox organized.
How To Use Labels
Using labels to organize emails in Gmail is a great way to keep track of messages without getting overwhelmed by hundreds of folders.
Labels allow you to assign multiple labels to a single email, while folders only allow one folder assignment per email.
To create a label, simply click the More option on the left side of the Gmail interface and select Create New Label.
You can then assign any emails related to that topic with the label.
Labels can also be used to color-code emails for easy visual recognition.
Labels are also useful when organizing emails into folders.
By assigning labels to emails, you can easily move emails into folders without losing their labels.
For example, if you have an email about a specific project, you can assign it a Projects label and then move it into a Projects folder.
The label will still be attached to the email even if it is moved to another folder.
Labels also offer more flexibility than folders when it comes to searching for emails. You can easily search for emails with specific labels by typing Label: followed by the label name in the search bar. This makes it much easier to find emails related to a particular topic or project. Finally, labels can be used to create filters that automatically apply labels or move emails into folders based on certain criteria. This is a great way to automate the process of organizing emails.
How To Edit Labels
Editing labels in Gmail is an easy way to keep your emails organized.
Labels can be used to categorize emails by topic, sender, or any other criteria you choose.
Editing labels allows you to keep your emails organized and easy to find.
To edit labels in Gmail, first open the Gmail app and select the email you want to label.
Tap on the label icon at the top of the email.
This will open the Label Manager.
From here, you can add, remove, and edit labels for the email.
To add a label to an email, tap the plus (+) icon next to the label list.
This will open a window where you can enter the name of the label.
Once you have entered the name of the label, tap the Create button to save the label.
To remove a label from an email, tap the minus (-) icon next to the label list.
This will remove the label from the email.
To edit a label, tap the edit icon next to the label list.
This will open a window where you can change the name of the label.
Once you have changed the name of the label, tap the Save button to save the changes.
Editing labels in Gmail is a great way to keep your emails organized and easy to find.
Labels can be used to categorize emails by topic, sender, or any other criteria you choose.
By taking the time to edit labels, you can keep your emails organized and easy to find.
How To Delete Labels
Deleting labels in Gmail is a simple process.
To delete a label, open the Gmail app, click on the “More” button, and select “Manage labels.” You will be presented with a list of all your labels and can select the one you want to delete.
Once you select the label, click on the “Delete” button.
This will delete the label and all of its messages.
It is important to note that deleting a label does not delete the messages associated with it.
The messages are still in your inbox and will remain there until you delete them.
If you delete a label, the messages associated with it will no longer show up in the label, but they will still be accessible from your inbox.
If you want to delete a label and all of its messages, you will need to select the messages individually and delete them.
To do this, click on the label, select the messages you want to delete, and click on the “Delete” button.
This will delete the messages as well as the label.
It is also important to note that when you delete a label, all of its subfolders and labels will also be deleted.
If you want to keep those labels, you will need to create them again.
Finally, remember that deleting a label does not delete the messages associated with it.
If you want to delete those messages, you will need to delete them one by one.
Differences Between Folders and Labels
When it comes to organizing emails, Gmail offers users two distinct options: labels and folders. While both of these tools are designed to help keep emails organized, they do have some major differences.
Folders are the more traditional type of email organization tool.
With folders, emails are placed into individual categories, with only one folder assignment per email.
This means that emails can only be placed into one folder at a time, and can’t be shared across multiple folders.
Folders also do not stay with the email if it is moved to another folder.
Labels, on the other hand, offer more flexibility and organization than folders.
Labels allow users to apply multiple labels to a single email, while folders only allow one folder assignment per email.
Labels also stay with the email when it is moved to another folder, providing a consistent way for users to organize their emails.
In addition, Gmail labels can also be used to filter emails, making it easier to find specific emails quickly.
Another key difference between labels and folders is that labels are associated with specific users, while folders are not.
This means that when someone shares a label with a user, they can see all of the emails in that label, regardless of who sent them.
With folders, the emails are only visible to the user who created them.
Finally, labels are also much more customizable than folders.
Users can create custom labels with specific colors, fonts, and even icons.
This makes it easier for users to quickly identify emails in specific labels.
In conclusion, labels and folders both offer unique benefits for users looking to organize their emails.
While folders offer more traditional organization, labels offer more flexibility and customization.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and what works best for each user’s individual needs.
Final Thoughts
Gmail Labels provide an efficient and effective way to organize your emails.
They offer more flexibility and customization than folders, allowing users to apply multiple labels to a single email and keep labels with emails when they are moved.
Creating and editing labels is simple, and understanding the differences between labels and folders can help users make the most of their Gmail experience.
So, take some time to explore how to use Gmail Labels, and you’ll be on your way to a better organized inbox!