Delete messages in Gmail

To clean up your inbox, delete messages one at a time or by specific categories. Deleted messages move from your inbox to your bin.

Learn what happens when you delete a message

Important: When you delete a draft, you can't recover it from the bin.

When you delete a message in Gmail, it's moved to the bin.

Up to 30 days after deletion:

• You can find the message in the bin.
• You can recover the message from your bin and move it back to your inbox.
• You can also delete the message permanently. After that, you can't recover the message.

After 30 days:

• The message is permanently deleted.
• You can't recover the message.

How to delete or recover deleted Gmail messages on iOS

Delete one or more messages

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
2. Touch and hold each message that you want to delete.
3. At the top, tap Delete .

Delete multiple messages quickly

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
2. Touch and hold a message.
3. At the top left, tap the box next to 'Select all'.
   • By default, Gmail selects up to 50 messages to delete.
     • To delete 50 more messages:
       1. Scroll to the top of the page.
       2. At the top left, tap the box next to 'Select all'.
4. At the top, tap Delete .

To delete specific emails, enter a search operator in the search bar.

For example, you can search for:

• Senders: From: [e-mail]
• Date ranges: after:2025/3/29 before:2025/4/5
• Keywords: "Confidential"
• Message attributes like attachments: has:attachment

Learn how to refine searches in Gmail.

Empty your bin

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu Bin.
3. At the top, tap Empty bin now.

Remove messages from your bin

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu Bin.
3. Touch and hold each message that you want to move.
4. At the top right, tap More Move.
5. In the 'Move' menu, choose where you want to move the messages to.

Swipe to delete a message quickly

To quickly delete a message in your inbox with a swipe, add 'Bin' as a swipe action.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu .
3. Tap Settings.
4. Under 'Inbox', tap Inbox customisations.
5. Tap Mail swipe actions Right swipe or Left swipe Bin.

Related resources

• Gmail messages are missing
• Archive or mute Gmail messages
• Snooze emails until later