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.

Change your delete settings

Learn how to change your deletion settings, like whether you want confirmation before deleting a message, and whether you want to archive or delete messages by default.

Delete messages

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 a single message

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. Open the message. If you want to stay in your inbox, tap the letter or photo next to the message.
3. Tap Delete .

Tip: You can change your Gmail settings to quickly take this action by swiping left or right on messages in your messages list.

Delete multiple messages

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. Tap the letter or photo next to the messages you want to delete.
3. Tap Delete .

Delete multiple messages quickly

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. Tap the photo or letter next to a message.
3. At the top left, tap the box next to Select all.
   • Tip: You can select up to 50 messages to delete. To select more messages to delete, scroll down, then tap the box next to Select all again.
4. Tap 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. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu .
3. Tap Trash.
4. At the top, tap 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. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu .
3. Tap Trash.

Recover messages from the trash

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu .
3. Tap Trash.
4. Tap the letter or photo next to the messages you want to recover. 
5. At the top right, tap More .
6. Tap Move to.
7. Choose where you want to move the messages to, like your inbox.