How to Bookmark Any Label, Search, or Message in Gmail

Files with labels
Image Source / Getty Images
by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated June 18, 2019

Gmail contains a labeling system that gives you even more control over organizing your inbox than just putting messages into folders. And you can take things one step further by combining them with an option that's already available in your browser: bookmarks.

Bookmarks can sort out labels, folders, and messages. You can also save Gmail searches and make anything you've bookmarked available with a single click. Here's how to use them to keep your Gmail inbox more usable.

Bookmark any Label, Folder, Search or Message in Gmail

To create a bookmark for any mailbox, label, search, or message in Gmail:

  1. Open the desired message, label, or folder, or perform the search you want to save.

    Bookmark Gmail searches

  2. Bookmark the page by going to Bookmarks > Add Bookmark in your browser.

    The keyboard shortcut to add a bookmark is Command-D on a Mac and Ctrl-D in Windows. Chrome also has a star icon in the address bar that you can click to add a bookmark instantly.

    Save Gmail searches

  3. Give the bookmark a name and save it. You can put it in your browser's favorites bar to make it accessible at any time.

For another way to load labels fast in Gmail, try Gmail Macros.