How to Use Gmail Mark All As Read Feature

By
Inbox Zapper
April 28, 2025
17 minutes
 read

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the mountain of emails in your Gmail inbox? You know, the one that seems to grow overnight, even if you haven't read a single message? An AI email organizer can help you conquer this chaos. 

The mark all as read function enables you to ignore the messages you don’t want to read, allowing you to get back to business faster with a cleaner inbox. 

This blog will look closer at how this feature works and fits into our Gmail cleanup tool, a powerful AI email organizer that can help you clean up your Gmail faster with artificial intelligence.

How to Manage Emails in Gmail

gmail logo - Gmail Mark All As Read

1. Tailor Your Gmail Inbox To Fit Your Needs  

Gmail’s inbox customization options let you prioritize what’s important to you, allowing you to zero in on the emails that matter most to your workflow. Go to your Gmail settings and look for the "Inbox type" section. 

Here, you can choose from several options

  • Priority Inbox, 
  • Important First, 
  • Unread First, and more. 

Each option has a unique layout to help you organize your emails. For instance, Priority Inbox separates your emails into three categories: important, unread, and everything else. You can customize your inbox by changing the labels and color-coding to fit your preferences. 

2. Get Comfortable Using Labels  

Labels are a more flexible version of folders for organizing Gmail. Not only can you create an unlimited number of labels, but you can also color-code them for easy identification. Additionally, you can nest them to create a hierarchy for even more organization. This can be especially useful for labeling emails by project, urgency, clients, or topics. This way, you can quickly scan and organize your emails without losing visibility of key messages. 

3. Automate Email Sorting with Filters  

Filters allow you to sort incoming emails into specific categories automatically, so you don’t have to do it manually. For example, you can create a filter to send all newsletters to a separate folder or label invoices so you can reference them easily later. This minimizes manual organization and helps keep your inbox clutter-free. 

4. Archive Emails Instead of Deleting Them  

If an email is no longer immediately needed but you might need it later, archive it. Archiving clears your inbox without permanently deleting important information. You can always go back and search for archived emails later. 

5. Unsubscribe from Unwanted Emails  

Promotional emails and newsletters can quickly clutter your inbox, making it hard to find important messages. Take a few minutes daily to unsubscribe from anything you no longer read or find helpful. You’ll be surprised how quickly this helps declutter your inbox. 

6. Use Gmail’s Categories and Tabs  

Gmail’s default tabs (Primary, Promotions, Updates, Forums) automatically separate types of emails. Use these to keep your inbox organized. You can customize these tabs or add new categories to keep personal and work-related emails distinct. 

7. Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Speed Up Management  

Gmail has a variety of keyboard shortcuts that can speed up your email management. To use these, enable keyboard shortcuts in Settings. Then learn the basics, like: e to archive, # to delete, r to reply, to speed up your email management without constantly using your mouse. 

8. Master Gmail’s Search Functionality  

Gmail’s powerful search operators (like from:, subject:, has:attachment) help you find exactly what you need faster instead of scrolling endlessly. Use these to pinpoint specific emails and declutter your inbox. 

9. Set Time Limits for Checking Email  

Instead of checking emails all day, set specific times (like morning, after lunch, and end of day) to process emails. This prevents your inbox from dictating your entire schedule.

Does Gmail Have a Mark All as Read Feature

man on a laptop - Gmail Mark All As Read

Yes, Gmail Offers A Mark All As Read Feature

Gmail has a handy "Mark all as read" feature that helps users quickly clear all unread emails in their inbox or a specific folder without opening them. This feature helps reduce inbox anxiety and declutters your email account when you’re overwhelmed by unread emails. It allows you to focus on the emails that matter while temporarily ignoring others. You can even combine it with filters and labels for even better organization. 

How the "Mark All As Read" Feature Works

The "Mark all as read" feature in Gmail removes the unread status of emails. You won’t see these emails when looking for new notifications or the following actionable item to tackle. It's important to note that using the feature doesn't delete any emails or their contents. Instead, it helps you manage email clutter by letting you focus on more critical messages. 

Benefits of Gmail's Mark All As Read Feature

Gmail's "Mark all as read" feature offers several benefits. Here’s a closer look: 

1. Quickly clear notifications

This feature removes the stress of seeing unread emails without checking each one. 

2. Boost productivity

Helps you manage a cluttered inbox by marking unnecessary emails as read without opening them. 

3. Improve organization

Makes your inbox feel more manageable, focusing only on actionable emails

Inbox Zapper is a game-changing
tool for anyone who wants to clean their Gmail inbox. You can unsubscribe from spam email lists and delete unwanted emails with one click. The tool scans your inbox for files, so you don't have to. Inbox Zapper was designed for privacy. Your email data never leaves your computer. While other tools resell your data, Inbox Zapper helps you clean your inbox. Over 15000 people have used Inbox Zapper to delete over 28000000 emails.

Related Reading

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  • How to Stop Unwanted Emails in Gmail
  • Gmail Mark All as Read
  • AI Email Organizer

How to Use Gmail Mark All As Read Feature

boys with macbooks - Gmail Mark All As Read

Get Started by Accessing Your Unread Emails

To mark all emails as read in Gmail, navigate to the inbox or label with your unread emails. You can either go to your primary inbox or select a specific label on the left side of the page, such as "Updates" or "Purchases." 

Select All Emails on the Page

Next, select the checkbox at the top of your email list. This action highlights every email on the current page. If you have many unread emails, Gmail only displays a subset on the first page. 

Select All Conversations

If you have more than one page of emails, a message will appear at the top of the list informing you how many emails are unread. To the right of this message is a link that says "Select all conversations." Clicking this link will highlight every unread email in the folder, not just the ones on the first page. 

Mark All as Read

Finally, click the "More" button, represented by three vertical dots, and choose "Mark as read" from the dropdown menu. After a moment, Gmail will refresh the page and remove the highlighted emails from your list.

How to Cleanup Gmail Inbox

gmail app - Gmail Mark All As Read

1. Tackle Gmail Clutter with Inbox Zapper

Inbox Zapper is the tool you need to clean up your Gmail inbox. With one click, It allows you to mass unsubscribe from emails and newsletters and mass delete emails. It also scans your inbox for email lists and unwanted emails. None of your email data ever leaves your device, preserving complete privacy. Inbox Zapper was designed with privacy in mind from day one. Other tools resell your data; we just help you clean your inbox. 

Join 15,687 people who have used Inbox Zapper to clean 28,384,924 emails. For now, Inbox Zapper only supports Gmail, but we will also expand to other email services. Inbox Zapper is the easiest way to clean your Gmail inbox. Try Inbox Zapper's Gmail cleanup tool for free today to clean up your Gmail inbox with one click.

2. Clear Out Old Attachments

Emails with large attachments can take up significant storage space over time. To find and remove such emails: In the Gmail search bar, type has:attachment larger:2M to locate emails with attachments greater than 2MB. Review these emails and delete any that are no longer needed. This will help free up storage and reduce clutter in your inbox.

3. Eliminate Unused Categories

Gmail automatically sorts emails into categories like Primary, Social, Promotions, and Updates. If you find specific categories unnecessary, go to Gmail Settings by clicking the gear icon and selecting "See all settings." Navigate to the "Inbox" tab. Uncheck the categories you no longer wish to use. This will simplify your inbox view and help you focus on important emails.

4. Unsubscribe from Unwanted Newsletters

Receiving newsletters or promotional emails can clutter your inbox. To unsubscribe: Open an email from the sender from whom you wish to unsubscribe. Scroll to the bottom of the email and click the "Unsubscribe" link, if available. Alternatively, use Gmail's search function with keywords like "unsubscribe" to simultaneously find and unsubscribe from multiple senders. This will reduce the influx of unwanted emails.

5. Block Spammers and Unwanted Senders

To prevent receiving emails from specific senders: Open an email from the sender you wish to block. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the email. Select "Block [Sender Name]." This will move future emails from this sender to your Spam folder.

6. Filter and Delete by Date, Sender, or Content

Gmail's search functionality allows you to filter emails based on various criteria: Use search operators like before:YYYY/MM/DD, after:YYYY/MM/DD, from:email@example.com, or subject: keyword to find specific emails. Once filtered, select the emails and click the trash icon to delete them. This helps quickly locate and remove unnecessary emails.

7. Use Labels for Organization

Labels in Gmail function like folders and can help you organize your emails: Create labels for categories such as Work, Personal, or Projects. Apply these labels to incoming emails to keep your inbox organized. This will make it easier to locate and manage emails.

Related Reading

  • Filter for Email
  • ProtonMail Alternatives
  • Email Organization App
  • Inbox Management Tools
  • Gmail Filter Syntax

Clean Up Your Inbox With One-Click with Inbox Zapper's Gmail Cleanup Tool for Free Today

inox zapper - Gmail Mark All As Read

Inbox Zapper is a game-changing tool for anyone who wants to clean their Gmail inbox. You can unsubscribe from spam email lists and delete unwanted emails with one click. The tool scans your inbox for files, so you don't have to. Inbox Zapper was designed for privacy. Your email data never leaves your computer. While other tools resell your data, Inbox Zapper helps you clean your inbox. Over 15000 people have used Inbox Zapper to delete over 28000000 emails.

Related Reading

  • Email Spam Blocker for Android
  • Best Unsubscribe App
  • Best Spam Email Blocker for iPhone
  • How to Unsubscribe from Emails Without Unsubscribe Link

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