Delete or recover deleted Gmail messages

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

Delete one or more messages

1. Make sure you've downloaded the Gmail app.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
3. Select emails by tapping the circular sender's image or letter next to each email.
4. Tap Delete .

Tip: When you delete a message, it stays in your trash for 30 days. After that time, it will be permanently deleted. If you want to remove a message from your inbox but don't want to delete it, you can archive the message.

Delete all messages in a category

1. On your computer, open Gmail. You can't delete all messages from the Gmail app.
2. At the top left, check the box to select all messages on the page. If you have over 25 messages, you can click Select all conversations.
3. Click Delete .

Empty your trash

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

1. Make sure you've downloaded the Gmail app.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
3. At the top left, tap Menu .
4. Tap Trash Empty Trash now.

Recover messages

You can move messages out of your trash if you deleted them in the last 30 days.

Check the messages in your trash

1. Make sure you've downloaded the Gmail app.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
3. At the top left, tap Menu .
4. Tap Trash.

Recover messages from the trash

1. Make sure you've downloaded the Gmail app.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
3. At the top left, tap Menu .
4. Tap Trash.
5. Select emails by tapping the circular sender's image or letter next to each email.
6. At the top right, tap More  Move to.
7. Choose where you want to move your messages, like a category or label.