Gmail filter how-to

How to create Gmail filters.

Set up Gmail filters for senders, subjects, labels, categories, and keywords. Then learn the one rule Gmail cannot express natively: sender not in contacts.

Run Free Gmail Audit Start Filtering Unknown Senders

Create filterApply labelsSkip InboxScreen unknown senders

KeepKnown screening unknown Gmail senders while Gmail filters handle known rules

To create a Gmail filter, open Gmail search options, enter sender, subject, keyword, attachment, or date criteria, click Create filter, then choose actions such as Apply label, Skip Inbox, Categorize as, Mark important, or apply the filter to matching conversations.

How to create a Gmail filter

Open Gmail on a computer and click the search options icon.
Enter sender, recipient, subject, keyword, attachment, size, or date criteria.
Use Search first to confirm the rule matches the right messages.
Click Create filter and choose actions such as Apply label or Skip Inbox.
Optionally apply the filter to matching conversations.

Where Gmail filters stop

Gmail filters need a known sender, word, label, or category.

They do not provide a native sender not in contacts rule. KeepKnown handles that gap by moving unknown senders to a recoverable label without deleting mail or reading body text.

Native Gmail filters vs KeepKnown

Need	Native Gmail	KeepKnown
Filter by exact sender	Yes	Yes
Filter sender not in contacts	No native rule	Yes
Delete mail automatically	Optional	No
Read email body text	Rules may inspect content	No body reading

Questions before you connect.

How do I create email filters in Gmail?

Open Gmail search options, enter criteria, check the search results, click Create filter, choose the actions, and save the rule.

Can Gmail filters apply to existing emails?

Yes. When creating a filter, choose the option to apply it to matching conversations.

Can Gmail create a filter for everyone not in my contacts?

Not natively. Gmail filters require criteria such as sender, words, subject, labels, or categories. KeepKnown adds contact-based screening for non-contact senders.

Related inbox workflows

Gmail filter actions Gmail filter sender not in contacts Apply Gmail filters to existing emails Free Gmail unknown sender audit