It can be frustrating to have to search through multiple emails to find the information you need. That’s why Gmail allows you to create labels to help you organize your emails. However, one of the limitations of Gmail is that you can’t automatically include all previously sent emails in a label. Instead, you have to manually add each email to the label. This can be a time-consuming process, especially if you have a lot of emails.
Fortunately, there’s a workaround that you can use to automatically include all previously sent emails in a label. This workaround involves using a filter. A filter is a set of criteria that you can use to automatically sort your emails. You can create a filter to match any criteria you want, such as the sender, subject, or date. Once you create a filter, Gmail will automatically apply it to all of your emails. This means that any emails that match the criteria in the filter will be automatically added to the label that you specify.
To create a filter, click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the Gmail window and select “Settings.” Then, click on the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab. In the “Create a new filter” section, enter the criteria that you want to use to match your emails. For example, you could enter the email address of the sender, the subject of the email, or the date the email was sent. Once you’ve entered the criteria, click on the “Create filter” button. In the “Select label” section, select the label that you want to add the emails to. Then, click on the “Create filter” button again. Your filter will now be created and Gmail will automatically apply it to all of your emails. Any emails that match the criteria in the filter will be automatically added to the label that you specified.
Selecting Multiple Emails for Labeling
There are multiple options for selecting multiple emails for labeling in Gmail:
Select Consecutive Emails
Select the first email in the sequence, then hold down the Shift key and click on the last email in the sequence to select all emails in between.
Select Non-Consecutive Emails
Hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac) and click on each email you want to select.
Select All Emails Matching a Search Query
Enter a search query in the search bar at the top of the Gmail inbox. For example, you could enter “from:person@example.com” to select all emails from a specific sender.
Once you have selected the emails you want to label, click on the “Label” button and select the label you want to apply.
Select All Emails in a Conversation Thread
Click on the checkbox next to the conversation thread to select all emails in that thread.
Select All Emails in a Specific Folder
- Click on the folder you want to select emails from.
- Click on the “Select all” checkbox at the top of the folder.
Select All Emails in Your Inbox
Click on the “Select all” checkbox at the top of your inbox to select all emails in your inbox.
Including Previously Sent Emails in a Label
Adding previously sent emails to a label can streamline your email organization and make it easier to find important messages. Here’s how to include those emails:
1. Select the “All Mail” Option
Click the “All Mail” label on the left-hand navigation panel. This will display all emails in your inbox, regardless of sender, label, or date.
2. Search and Select the Desired Emails
Use the search bar to find the previously sent emails you want to include in the label. Select each email by clicking on the checkbox next to it, or use “Select all” to select all emails in the search results.
3. Apply the Label
Once the emails are selected, click on the “Label” button in the top menu bar. A drop-down menu will appear. Select the label you want to apply to the emails.
4. Manually Add Emails
If you want to label an email that is not in the “All Mail” section, go to the relevant folder or label and select the email. Then, click the “Label” button and choose the desired label.
5. Advanced Filtering and Labeling
For more complex labeling needs, you can use advanced filtering to search for specific criteria within your emails. Click the “Create filter” button in the top menu bar. In the filter window, specify your search criteria and select the “Apply the label” option. All emails that meet the criteria will automatically be labeled.
| Search Criteria | Options |
|---|---|
| From | Specific sender email address |
| To | Specific recipient email address |
| Subject | Contains specific keywords |
| Date | Received or sent within a specific date range |
| Attachment | Has or does not have an attachment |
Filtering Emails by Label
Filtering emails by label can be a helpful way to manage your inbox and find the emails you need quickly and easily. To filter emails by label, follow these steps:
- In your Gmail inbox, click the “All Mail” drop-down menu.
- Select the label you want to filter by from the drop-down menu.
- Your inbox will now display only the emails that are assigned to the selected label.
You can also create filters to automatically label incoming emails based on certain criteria, such as sender, subject, or keyword. To create a filter, follow these steps:
- In your Gmail inbox, click the gear icon in the top-right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
- Click the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab.
- Click the “Create a new filter” link.
- Enter the criteria for your filter. You can use any combination of the following criteria:
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| From | The sender’s email address |
| To | The recipient’s email address |
| Subject | The subject line of the email |
| Body | The body of the email |
| Has the words | The email contains the specified words |
| Doesn’t have | The email does not contain the specified words |
Once you have entered the criteria for your filter, click the “Create filter” button. The filter will now be applied to all incoming emails, and any emails that match the criteria will be automatically labeled with the specified label.
Including All Previously Sent Emails In A Label
To include all previously sent emails in a label, you can use the following steps:
- In the search bar at the top of your Gmail inbox, click the down arrow to open the search options.
- In the “From” field, enter your own email address.
- Click the “Search” button.
- Select all of the emails that you want to include in the label.
- Click the “Labels” button in the toolbar at the top of the screen.
- Select the label that you want to apply to the emails.
Creating a Label
1. Open Gmail and select the email you want to label.
2. Click the “Label” icon located at the top of the screen.
3. Select “Create new label” and enter a name for the label.
4. Click “Create.”
Applying a Label to an Email
1. Open Gmail and select the email you want to label.
2. Click the “Label” icon located at the top of the screen.
3. Select the label you want to apply.
Managing Labels
1. Click the “Labels” tab located on the left side of the screen.
2. You can create, edit, or delete labels from this page.
Using Multiple Labels
You can apply multiple labels to a single email. To do this, simply click the “Label” icon for each label you want to apply.
Filtering by Label
To filter emails by label, click on the label in the list on the left side of the screen. Only emails with that label will be displayed.
Including Previously Sent Emails in a Label
To include all previously sent emails in a label, you can use the following steps:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Click the “Label” icon located at the top of the screen. |
| 2 | Select “Manage labels.” |
| 3 | Click “Create new label.” |
| 4 | Enter a name for the label and select the option “Include previously sent emails.” |
| 5 | Click “Create.” |
Once you create the label, all your previously sent emails will be included in it.
Utilizing Advanced Search Options
Gmail’s advanced search options provide a comprehensive way to filter emails by various criteria, including labels. By leveraging these options, you can easily include all previously sent emails in a specific label.
1. Access Advanced Search
Click on the search bar at the top of the Gmail inbox. Then, click on the “Show search options” arrow icon to expand the search options.
2. Specify Label
Scroll down to the “Label” section and select the label you want to include emails from. You can choose multiple labels if necessary.
3. Specify Sent Criteria
Under the “Date within” section, select the “Sent” option from the dropdown menu. This will ensure that only emails sent within the specified time frame are included.
4. Adjust Date Range
Choose the desired date range to include emails sent during that period. You can use absolute dates or relative ranges (e.g., “past week”).
5. Add Other Filters (Optional)
You can further refine your search by adding additional criteria, such as specific keywords, sender, or recipient. This allows you to narrow down the search results to only include emails that meet all the specified conditions.
6. Perform Search
Once you have configured the search parameters, click the “Search” button to execute the search. Gmail will display all emails that match the specified criteria, including those that were previously sent and have the selected label.
7. Select All Results
To include all the search results in the selected label, check the checkbox labeled “Select all” at the top of the email list.
8. Apply Label
Click on the “Labels” button in the toolbar above the email list. Select the desired label from the dropdown menu and click “Apply” to add the label to all selected emails.
9. Confirm Inclusion
Gmail will display a confirmation message indicating that the label has been applied to all the selected emails. You can now verify that all previously sent emails have been included in the specified label by checking the label in the left sidebar of the Gmail inbox.
Filter Emails
Navigate to the search field in Gmail. Enter your desired search criteria to filter emails based on specific keywords, senders, recipients, attachments, dates, or any other relevant factors. This allows you to quickly locate the emails you need to include in a label.
Select Multiple Emails
Place a checkmark in the square box next to each email you want to include in the label. You can also use the “Select all” checkbox located at the top of the email list to select all emails on that page.
Create a New Label
Click on the “Create new label” button in the left sidebar under the “Labels” section. Enter a name for the new label and click “Create” to add it to your list of labels.
Apply Label to Emails
Once you have created a new label, click on the “Labels” icon located at the top of the email list. Select the label you want to apply to the selected emails from the drop-down menu. Click “Apply” to add the label to all selected emails.
Additional Options
Gmail also provides additional options for labeling emails:
- Drag and drop: You can drag and drop emails directly onto a label in the left sidebar to apply that label.
- Bulk labeling: You can select multiple emails and then apply a label to all of them.
- Nested labels: You can create nested labels to organize emails within broader categories.
- Filter by label: You can filter your inbox by label to easily access and manage emails within a specific label.
- Customize label colors: You can assign different colors to labels to visually differentiate them.
Best Practices for Effective Email Labeling
Use Descriptive Labels
Choose labels that clearly and concisely describe the content of the emails they contain. Avoid using vague or generic labels; instead, opt for specific labels that accurately reflect the purpose or topic of the emails.
Keep It Organized
Create a hierarchical structure of labels to organize and categorize your emails efficiently. Use nested labels to create subcategories within broader categories, thereby providing a clear and well-organized system for managing your emails.
Use Filters to Automate Labeling
Take advantage of Gmail’s filter feature to automatically apply labels to incoming emails based on specific criteria. This saves time and ensures that emails are consistently organized and labeled correctly.
Consistent Labeling
Establish consistent labeling practices to maintain uniformity and avoid confusion. Use the same labels for similar types of emails and ensure that all team members follow the established labeling conventions.
Use Labels Sparingly
Avoid creating excessive labels. Too many labels can lead to clutter and make it difficult to find the emails you need. Keep your labels focused and relevant to the content of your emails.
Review and Optimize
Periodically review and optimize your labeling system. Remove any unnecessary labels or merge similar labels to keep your system lean and efficient. Monitor the effectiveness of your labeling practices and make adjustments as needed to ensure optimal organization.
Involve Your Team
If you work in a team environment, involve your team members in the creation and maintenance of labeling practices. This ensures consistency and promotes collaboration in managing emails.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts
Maximize your efficiency by using keyboard shortcuts for common labeling tasks. Learn the shortcuts for creating, applying, and managing labels to save time and streamline your workflow.
Explore Third-Party Tools
Consider using third-party tools or plugins to enhance your email labeling capabilities. These tools can provide additional features such as automatic labeling, bulk labeling, and label customization.
Additional Tips for Effective Email Labeling
| Label Name | Suggested Use |
|---|---|
| Projects | For emails related to specific projects or tasks |
| Clients | For emails from or about specific clients or customers |
| To-Do | For emails that require follow-up or action |
| Waiting for Response | For emails that require a response from someone |
| Newsletters | For emails containing newsletters or promotional content |
How to Include All Previously Sent Emails in a Label
To include all previously sent emails in a label:
- Open Gmail.
- Click the “Create a new label” button.
- Enter a name for the label.
- Click the “Create” button.
- Click the “Settings” gear icon.
- Select “Labels.”
- Find the label you just created and click the “Edit” button.
- Scroll down to the “Label rules” section.
- Check the box next to “Match all messages.”.
- Click the “Save” button.
People Also Ask
How do I add all sent emails to a label in Gmail?
Follow the steps outlined above to include all previously sent emails in a label.
How do I create a filter to automatically label all sent emails?
To create a filter to automatically label all sent emails:
- Open Gmail.
- Click the “Settings” gear icon.
- Select “Filters and Blocked Addresses.”
- Click the “Create a new filter” button.
- Enter a search query to match the emails you want to label. For example, “from:me.”
- Click the “Create filter” button.
- Select the “Apply the label” option from the drop-down menu.
- Select the label you want to apply to the emails.
- Click the “Create filter” button.
How do I search for all emails in a label?
To search for all emails in a label:
- Open Gmail.
- Enter the following search query in the search bar:
- “label:
