How to Create a Label in Gmail
Create a label in Gmail on desktop, Android, or iPhone in a few taps, nest sub-labels, color-code them, and auto-apply labels with a filter.
To create a label in Gmail on a computer, look to the left sidebar, hover over Labels, and click Create new label; type a name and click Create. A label is Gmail’s version of a folder, except one email can carry several at once and none of them move the message out of your inbox. You can create labels on Android and iPhone too, and let Gmail apply them with a filter. One thing stays desktop-only, though: changing a label’s color is not available in the Gmail app on Android or iPhone as of 2026, even though both can now create and manage labels.
Create a label on desktop
The label list sits on the left. If it is collapsed, click More to expand it.
- Next to Labels, click Create new label.
- Enter a name.
- To file it inside an existing label, check Nest label under and pick the parent.
- Click Create.
To recolor or rename later, hover the label name, click More (the three dots), then choose Label color or Edit. Remove label deletes it without deleting the emails. Gmail lets you keep up to 5,000 labels and 100 custom colors.
Create a label on your phone
The mobile apps use the hamburger menu, and the wording differs slightly by platform.
| Device | Where to start | What to tap |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop (web) | Left sidebar | Hover Labels → Create new label |
| Android | Menu, top left | Create label under All labels |
| iPhone / iPad | Menu, top left | Create new under Labels |
Enter a name and tap Save. To tag a message, open it, tap the label or three-dot icon, and check the labels you want.
Labels vs. folders
A folder holds an email in one place; a label is a sticker, so a receipt can sit under Taxes and Client A at once and still show in your inbox. Nesting (like Work/Invoices) adds a folder-style hierarchy without losing that flexibility. If you want true folders, that is closer to how you make a folder in Outlook.
Apply labels automatically with a filter
Manual tagging gets old, so let Gmail do it. On desktop, click Show search options in the search bar, set a rule such as a sender or keyword, then click Create filter. Check Apply the label, choose your label, and click Create filter again. New matching mail lands pre-sorted.
Labels only organize mail that arrives, so if messages never show up, see Gmail not receiving emails. Once it is tidy, pair labels with scheduling emails in Gmail. Start with three or four broad labels, add filters as patterns appear, and prune anything you stop using.
Common questions
Can I change a label’s color in the Gmail app?
No. As of 2026, recoloring a label is a desktop-only feature; the Android and iPhone apps can create and manage labels but not change their color. Set label colors in Gmail on the web instead.
What is the difference between a label and a folder in Gmail?
A folder stores an email in one place, while a Gmail label works more like a sticker: one message can carry several labels at once and still stay in the inbox. Nesting labels adds a folder-style hierarchy without losing that flexibility.
How many labels can you have in Gmail?
Gmail allows up to 5,000 labels, including nested sub-labels, and up to 100 custom colors on the web.
How do I nest a label under another one in Gmail?
When you create or edit a label on the web, check Nest label under and pick the parent. That builds a hierarchy such as Work/Invoices while each message can still hold other labels too.