How to Create Folders in Gmail Step by Step
Gmail does not use the word “folder” — it uses labels. But the result is exactly the same. This guide shows every step on desktop, Android and iPhone, plus what changes if you use a Google Workspace Business account.
How to create a folder in Gmail on desktop
These steps work on any browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge. You do not need any extra software or a paid plan.
Open Gmail and look at the left sidebar. Scroll down past Inbox, Sent and Spam until you see the More option. Click it to expand the full menu.
At the bottom of the expanded menu, click Create new label. A small popup window will appear asking you to name the label.
Type the name for your folder — for example, Clients, Invoices or Projects. If you want this to be a subfolder inside another label, check the box that says Nest label under and choose the parent label.
Click Create. The new label appears immediately in your left sidebar and works exactly like a folder from this point on.
To move an email into the folder, open the email, click the Label icon at the top of the message (it looks like a tag), check the label you created and click Apply.
How to create a folder in Gmail on Android
Open the Gmail app on your Android phone. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top left corner to open the side menu.
Scroll to the bottom of the menu and tap Create new label.
Type the name of your new folder and tap Done. The label appears in the menu and works as a folder immediately.
To assign an email to the folder, long-press the email in your inbox, tap the three dots in the top right corner and select Move to, then choose your label.
How to create a folder in Gmail on iPhone
Open the Gmail app on your iPhone and tap the three lines in the top left to open the menu.
Scroll down and tap Create new under the Labels section.
Enter the folder name and tap Done. On iPhone, Gmail does not currently support nested labels from the app — use the desktop version to create subfolders.
How to create subfolders in Gmail
Gmail supports nested labels, which work as subfolders. You can create as many levels as you need. On desktop, when creating a new label, check Nest label under and select the parent. For example, you could have a parent label called Clients with nested labels for each client name underneath.
This structure is especially useful if you connect Gmail to a CRM like HubSpot, Salesforce or Streak. Most CRM integrations with Gmail read your label structure and map folders to pipeline stages automatically, which saves significant manual work when you first set up the connection.
How to rename or delete a Gmail folder
On desktop, hover over the label name in the left sidebar. Three dots will appear to the right. Click them and select Edit label to rename or Remove label to delete it. Deleting a label does not delete the emails inside — they remain in your inbox and can be found with search.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I not find a “New Folder” button in Gmail?
Gmail replaced folders with labels. The functionality is identical, but the button is called Create new label, not New Folder. It lives at the bottom of the left sidebar menu. Once created, the label appears and behaves exactly like a folder in Outlook or Apple Mail.
Can I create folders in Gmail without the desktop version?
Yes. Both Android and iPhone apps support label creation from the side menu. The only limitation on mobile is that nested labels — subfolders — can only be created from the desktop version of Gmail or from a Google Workspace admin console.
Does Google Workspace Business have more folder options than free Gmail?
The label system is the same, but Google Workspace Business Standard and Business Plus add admin-level controls. Workspace admins can create organization-wide labels, set routing rules for entire domains and use Google Vault for email archiving and compliance — features that free Gmail accounts do not have.
Can I share a Gmail folder with another person?
Standard Gmail labels cannot be shared between accounts. For shared folder access, you need either a Google Workspace Business account with delegation enabled, or a third-party tool like Hiver, Gmelius or Freshdesk that adds shared inbox and shared label functionality on top of Gmail.
What is the difference between Gmail labels and Microsoft Outlook folders?
Outlook folders are exclusive — one email lives in one folder only. Gmail labels are additive — one email can carry multiple labels at the same time. For users comparing Gmail vs Microsoft 365 for business email, this flexibility is one of Gmail’s main organizational advantages, especially when combined with CRM integrations like HubSpot or Salesforce.