Organise the Inbox

Create and Use Labels

Learn to categorise messages without folders and find related email quickly in this beginner-friendly Gmail lesson.

Learning outcomes

  • Explain how to categorise messages without folders.
  • Complete the guided activity safely.
  • Check that you can find related email quickly.

Before you begin

Use the correct account. Practise with fictional content and never share passwords, recovery codes or confidential information.

Open official Google guidance ↗

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Open Gmail and confirm that the profile picture and email address show the intended Google Account.
  2. Create a practice label and apply it using fictional or non-sensitive practice information.
  3. Pause before any send, delete, sharing, security or account change; check recipients, permissions and likely consequences.
  4. Review the result and confirm that you can find related email quickly.
  5. Record one useful habit and safely reverse or remove any temporary practice item.
Ian's practical tip: Email can affect real people immediately. Check the account, recipients, subject, attachments, tone and privacy before you send or share.

Practical activity

Create a practice label and apply it. Your expected result is to find related email quickly.

Completion checklist