How to Delete All Emails in Gmail

Deleting all emails in Gmail can clear your inbox and other mail folders, but it also moves messages to Trash, where they may be permanently removed after 30 days. Before you start, check whether you need to keep any messages, and consider exporting or otherwise saving important mail. You’ll need access to Gmail in a web browser; the desktop site makes it easiest to select messages in bulk.

What You’ll Need

A web browser and access to the Gmail account you want to clear. Sign in at Gmail if prompted.
A little time for Gmail to load and process large selections. For a very large mailbox, work one category or search result at a time.
A backup of any messages or attachments you may need later. Deleting mail is not a substitute for archiving it.

Step-by-Step

Open Gmail on a computer. Go to Gmail in a browser and sign in to the correct account. You can use the Gmail app for smaller batches, but bulk selection is more straightforward on the desktop website.
Decide what “all emails” means for your cleanup. Gmail separates messages into categories and labels. The Inbox view contains only messages currently in your inbox; it does not include every message in the account. To include mail outside the inbox, use the All Mail label and separately check areas such as Spam and Trash. All Mail generally excludes messages already in Spam or Trash.
Review mail you may want to keep. Search for important senders, receipts, travel details, work messages, or other records. Open relevant messages and choose the Archive button to remove them from the inbox without deleting them, or download/save them if you need a separate copy. Check whether an email has attachments you need.
Choose the mailbox area to clear. To delete inbox messages only, select Inbox in the left sidebar. To select most messages that are not in Spam or Trash, click More if necessary, then select All Mail. If a label or category is hidden, expand the sidebar with More. You can also use a search, such as in:anywhere, to find messages across folders, but remember that it includes Spam and Trash and may surface mail you do not intend to remove.
Select the messages on the page. Click the checkbox at the top-left above the message list. This selects the messages shown on the current page, not necessarily every matching message in the mailbox.
Select all matching messages, if Gmail offers the option. After the first-page selection, look for a banner above the list with wording such as “Select all conversations that match this search.” Click that link to expand the selection to all matching conversations. If the banner does not appear, you may have selected only the current page; repeat page by page or use a specific search and check for the banner again. Gmail’s wording and layout can vary.
Delete the selected messages. Click the trash-can icon in the toolbar. If you do not see it, check the toolbar’s More menu. Wait for Gmail’s confirmation message and allow the list to refresh. For a very large mailbox, repeat the selection and deletion in manageable batches if Gmail does not process everything at once.
Clear other areas only if you mean to. Repeat the process in Spam or other labels if you want to remove those messages too. To empty Trash, open Trash and choose Empty Trash now, then confirm. To empty Spam, open Spam and choose Delete all spam messages now, then confirm if asked. These actions are much harder to undo than ordinary deletion.
Verify the result. Refresh Gmail and check the folders and searches you intended to clear. If messages remain, confirm the all-matching selection was made, check for other categories or labels, and repeat the process where appropriate.

Common Mistakes

Assuming the checkbox selects the whole mailbox. Usually it selects only the current page until you click the separate all-matching link in the banner.
Using Inbox as a synonym for all mail. Inbox does not include archived messages, and it does not include Spam or Trash.
Emptying Trash before checking your selection. Messages in Trash can usually be restored for up to 30 days. Emptying it removes that recovery option, and Google may delete messages earlier if you empty it manually.
Forgetting other categories or labels. Promotions, Social, updates, custom labels, and archived conversations may need separate attention, depending on your selection and Gmail layout.
Deleting instead of archiving. If you only want a cleaner inbox, archive messages. They remain searchable in Gmail and can be found under All Mail.

Tips

Use Gmail search to narrow the selection before deleting. For example, search for a sender or subject, review the results, and then select the matching conversations. Use search operators only when you understand their scope.
For a cautious cleanup, delete one category or date range at a time. Confirm the result before moving to another part of the mailbox.
Keep a copy of messages you may need for records. If you want a broader account export, Google Takeout can create an archive of Gmail data; review its current options before starting and store the downloaded archive somewhere safe.
Remember that deleting an email conversation can remove multiple messages grouped into that conversation. Open it first if you need to preserve only certain messages.
Deleting messages in Gmail may affect devices and mail apps synced to the same account. Check those apps after a large cleanup; do not assume they hold an independent backup.

Troubleshooting

Some messages are still visible: Check whether you selected only the current page, then look for the banner link to select all matching conversations. Also check Inbox, All Mail, Spam, Trash, and any custom labels based on what you meant by “all.”

The selection or deletion seems stuck: Wait for the page to finish loading, refresh Gmail, and try a smaller batch. A slow connection or a very large selection can delay updates. Search for a message you know you deleted and check whether it is in Trash.

You deleted something by mistake: Open Trash, select the message, and use Move to or the toolbar’s move option to return it to Inbox or another label. Do this before the message is permanently deleted from Trash. If Trash has been emptied, recovery may not be possible.

You cannot find All Mail or a folder: Expand the left sidebar using More. If using a mobile app, folder visibility and bulk controls can differ; try Gmail in a desktop browser.

Gmail says the action is unavailable: Check that you are signed in to the intended account and that the message list has loaded. In a work or school account, an administrator may manage some account settings; contact the organization’s support team if the option remains unavailable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete every email in Gmail at once?
Often, yes. Select messages in a mailbox or search result, then click the banner link to select all matching conversations before choosing Delete. Some areas may require separate selections.

Does deleting everything in Inbox delete archived emails?
No. Inbox selection targets messages in the inbox. Use All Mail or an appropriate search to include archived messages, and check Spam and Trash separately if needed.

Are deleted Gmail messages gone permanently?
Not immediately in ordinary deletion: messages usually remain in Trash for up to 30 days. Emptying Trash removes them from the normal recovery process, and recovery is not guaranteed afterward.

Can I undo deleting all my emails?
Right after deletion, Gmail may show an Undo option. Otherwise, restore messages from Trash before it is emptied or the retention period ends.

Will deleting Gmail emails free up Google storage?
It can, but messages may continue to count while they remain in Trash or Spam. Empty those folders to remove them sooner, and allow time for storage figures to update.

Can I do this from the Gmail app?
You can delete messages in the app, but selecting every matching conversation may be less convenient or unavailable in the same way. For a large cleanup, use Gmail in a desktop browser.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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