Delete messages in Gmail

To clean up your inbox, delete messages one at a time or by specific categories. Deleted messages move from your inbox to your trash.

Learn what happens when you delete a message

Important: When you delete a draft, you can't recover it from Trash.

When you delete a message in Gmail, it's moved to Trash.

Up to 30 days after deletion:

• You can find the message in Trash.
• You can recover the message from your trash and move it back to your inbox.
• You can also delete the message permanently. After that, you can't recover the message.

After 30 days:

• The message is permanently deleted.
• You can't recover the message.

How to delete or recover deleted Gmail messages on iOS

Delete one or more messages

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
2. Touch and hold each message you want to delete.
3. At the top, tap Delete .

Delete multiple messages quickly

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
2. Touch and hold a message.
3. At the top left, tap the box next to "Select all."
   • By default, Gmail selects up to 50 messages to delete.
     • To delete 50 more messages:
       1. Scroll to the top of the page.
       2. At the top left, tap the box next to “Select all.”
4. At the top, tap Delete .

Empty your trash

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

Remove messages from your trash

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu Trash.
3. Touch and hold each message you want to move.
4. At the top right, tap More Move.
5. In the "Move" menu, choose where you want to move the messages.

Swipe to delete a message quickly

To quickly delete a message in your inbox with a swipe, add "Trash" as a swipe action.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu .
3. Tap Settings.
4. Under "Inbox," tap Inbox customizations.
5. Tap Mail swipe actions Right swipe or Left swipe Trash.

Related resources

• Gmail messages are missing
• Archive or mute Gmail messages
• Snooze emails until later