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 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 computer, go to Gmail.
2. Point to the message.
3. On the right, click Delete .

Delete a single message from an email thread

1. Open the message.
2. Next to Reply , click More .
3. Click Delete this message.

Delete multiple messages

1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
2. Check the boxes to the left of the messages.
3. At the top, click Delete .

Delete all messages in a category

1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
2. At the top left, check the box to select all messages. If you have more than one page of messages, click Select all conversations.
3. At the top, 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. On your computer, go to Gmail.
2. On the left side of the page, click More.
3. Scroll to Trash.
4. Check the box next to messages you want to permanently delete. Then click Delete forever.
   • Tip: The "Delete forever" option is only available in the trash. You won’t be able to delete items permanently from the Search result view.
5. To delete all messages in your trash, click 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 computer, go to Gmail.
2. On the left side of the page, scroll and click More  Trash.

Recover messages from the trash

1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
2. On the left side of the page, scroll and click More Trash.
3. Check the box next to the messages you want to move.
4. Click Move to .
5. Choose where you want to move the messages.