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 iOS

Delete one or more messages

1. On your iPhone or iPad, 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 iPhone or iPad, 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 "Trash" as a swipe action

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

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

Empty your trash

If you don't want a message to stay in your trash for 30 days, you can permanently delete it.

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.

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 iPhone or iPad, 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.
5. In the "Move" menu, choose where you want to move the messages.

Related resources

• Archive or mute Gmail messages
• Snooze emails until later