Working with Google Mail Filters
The following tutorial teaches users on how to create filters. Gmail's filters allow you to manage the flow of incoming messages. Using filters, you can automatically
label, archive, delete, star, or forward your mail, even keep it out of Spam -- all based on a
combination of keywords, sender, recipients, and more.
A. Creating a filter
1. Click "CREATE A FILTER" (next to the Search box).
2. Enter your filter criteria in the appropriate field(s).
3. Click "TEST SEARCH" to see which messages currently in Gmail match your filter terms. You can
update your criteria and run another test search, or click "NEXT STEP."
4. Select one or more actions from the list. These actions will be applied to messages matching
your filter criteria in the order in which the actions are listed. For example, you could choose to
Forward matching messages to a specific email address, then Delete the messages.
5. If you'd like to apply this filter to messages already in Gmail, select the "Also apply filter to x
conversations below" checkbox.
6. Click "CREATE FILTER."
note: You can create an unlimited number of filters, but only 20 filters can forward to other addresses.
B. Creating a filter from within a message
1. Click the drop-down menu next to Reply.
2. Select "FILTER MESSAGES LIKE THIS."
3. Enter your filter criteria in the appropriate field(s).
C. Editing or Deleting existing filters
1. Click "SETTINGS" (at the top-right of any Gmail page), and then click "FILTERS."
2. Find the filter you'd like to change and click its "EDIT" link, or click "DELETE" to remove the filter.
3. If you're editing the filter, enter the updated criteria for the filter in the appropriate fields, and
click "NEXT STEP."
4. Update any actions and click "UPDATE FILTER."
