Gmail: Set Up Email Filtering

Set up automatic email filtering to manage your University email. Filters can automatically organize, label, archive, forward, delete, and/or star emails through a set search criteria, and can be created using either the search box or existing email messages.

Table of Contents

• Create an Email Filter Using the Search Box in Gmail
• Create an Email Filter Using an Existing Email Message
• Managing Filters

Create an Email Filter Using the Search Box in Gmail

1. Log in to your University of Minnesota email account.
2. Select Show search options in the search bar.
   
3. Enter the search criteria; then click Create filter at the bottom of the search drop-down menu.
   • You can check that the criteria works by searching current messages in the inbox using the search button.
     
4. Select the actions you want the filter to use.
   
5. Only messages that are incoming will use this filter. If you would like old messages to be organized like this as well, check Also apply filter to matching conversations before you select Create filter.
6. Click Create filter.

Create an Email Filter Using an Existing Email Message

1. Log in to your University of Minnesota email account.
2. Find and select the check box next to an example message you would like to filter.
3. Click the More Options menu at the top of your inbox (it will look like three dots in a vertical line).
4. In the menu that opens, click on Filter messages like this.
   
5. Enter the search criteria then click Create filter at the bottom of the search menu.
   
6. Select the actions you want the filter to use.
   
7. Only messages that are incoming will use this filter. If you would like old messages to be organized like this as well, check Also apply filter to matching conversations before you select Create filter.
8. Click Create filter.

Managing Filters

1. Click on the gear-shaped Settings icon in the top-right corner of your Gmail page.
2. Click on See all Settings.
   
3. Click on the tab labeled Filters and blocked addresses.
4. This will list all the active filters for the account. From this page you can edit, delete, create, and import filters, as well as block email addresses.
   • Any mail that has been filtered or archived will be available under All Mail.