Customize your inbox, including multiple inboxes.

Choose your inbox layout

  1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
  2. Click Setting  Scroll to Inbox type.
  3. Select Default, Important first, Unread first, Starred first, Priority Inbox, or Multiple Inboxes.

Learn about the inbox layout options

Some inbox styles have more settings and options you can change.

If you choose "Default," your inbox will be split up into different tabs, like "Primary," "Social," "Promotions," and "Updates." When you have the "Default" inbox, your messages are automatically sorted into tabs, but you can move messages among categories if you want.

Learn more about inbox tabs & categories.

If you choose "Important first," your inbox will be separated into two sections: "Important" at the top, and "Everything else" at the bottom.

Learn more how Gmail decides which emails to mark as important.

If you choose "Unread first," your inbox will be separated into two sections: "Unread" at the top and "Everything else" at the bottom.

If you choose "Starred first," your inbox will be separated into two sections: "Starred" at the top, and "Everything else" at the bottom.

If you choose "Multiple inboxes," Gmail will add additional sections to your inbox. You can use search operators or custom labels to create each section.

If you choose "Priority Inbox" your inbox will be separated into multiple sections. You can choose which sections you want to show, including "Important and unread," "Starred," "Everything else," or a label that you have made.

You can find all your inboxes and labels in the left-hand menu. When the left-hand menu is hidden, you’ll have more space for your emails and can point to the menu for more options.
To hide the left-hand menu:
  1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
  2. At the top left, click Menu Menu.
Tip: To show the menu again, click Menu Menu .