Delete or recover Gmail messages

When you delete a message, it stays in your trash for 30 days. After 30 days, the message is permanently deleted from your account and can't be recovered.

How to delete or recover deleted Gmail messages on Android

Delete one or more messages

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. On the left of each message you want to delete, tap the sender’s profile image.
3. At the top, tap Delete .

Delete multiple messages quickly

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. On the left of a message, tap the sender’s profile image.
3. At the top left, tap the box next to "Select all."
   • To select more messages, scroll down, then tap the box next to "Select all" again.
4. At the top, tap Delete .

Add "Delete" as a swipe action

To quickly archive messages in your inbox with a swipe to the left or right, add "Delete" as a swipe action.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu Settings General settings.
3. Tap Mail swipe actions.
4. Next to "Right swipe" or "Left swipe," tap Change Delete.

Empty your trash

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu Trash.
3. At the top, tap Empty trash now.

Recover messages from your trash

Important:

• You can only recover messages that are deleted within the last 30 days from your trash.
• You can’t recover messages that are permanently deleted or messages that have been in the trash for more than 30 days.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu Trash.
3. On the left of each message you want to recover, tap the sender’s profile image.
4. At the top right, tap More Move to.
5. In the "Move to" menu, choose where you want to move the messages.

Related resources

• Archive or mute Gmail messages
• Snooze emails until later