Declutter your inbox: How to delete old emails in Gmail
What's the story
For Gmail users seeking to declutter their inbox, deleting old emails can be an effective solution.
This process can be performed manually or automated for convenience.
Users can search for emails based on specific time periods or dates, select all emails matching the search criteria, and delete them by moving them to the trash.
Additionally, the guide explains how to set up filters to automatically delete old emails in Gmail, saving time and effort.
Commands
Understanding the commands for deleting old emails
The commands 'olderthan:[time period]' or 'before:[date]' are used to manually remove old emails.
The time period is denoted by a number and a letter, such as '1y' for one year or '4w' for four weeks.
The date is formatted as %B %d, %Y.
After entering the command, users select all search results and click on the trash can icon to delete them.
If more than 50 emails are found, an option appears to select all matching conversations.
Mobile process
Deleting old emails on mobile devices
The process of deleting old emails on mobile devices mirrors that on desktops.
Users open the Gmail app, tap on the search bar, and input their desired time period or date using commands like 'olderthan:[time period]' or 'before:[date].'
If any emails match the search criteria, they can be selected and deleted in bulk.
This provides a convenient way to manage email clutter while on-the-go.
Automation
Automating the deletion of old emails
For users who prefer automation, Gmail offers a filter option to automatically delete old emails.
By clicking on the 'Show search options' button, represented by an icon of some dials, users can input their desired time period or date in the 'Has the words' field and press 'Create filter.'
Selecting 'Delete it' in the second menu will automatically delete emails matching their filter.
This feature provides an efficient way to manage email clutter without manual intervention.