How To Find Unread Emails In Gmail And Outlook (2022)

How to Find Unread Emails in Gmail and Outlook

by Jayson DeMers | 1 comment

Table of Contents

• Key Terms
• How Do You Find Unread Emails in Gmail on Desktop?
• How Do You Find Unread Emails in the Gmail Mobile App?
• How Do You Find Unread Emails in Outlook on Desktop?
• How Do You Find Unread Emails in the Outlook Mobile App?
• Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Unread Emails
  • How do you find unread emails in Gmail on desktop?
  • How do you find unread emails in Gmail on iPhone or Android?
  • How do you find unread emails in Outlook on desktop?
  • How do you find unread emails in the Outlook mobile app?
  • What does the is:unread search operator do in Gmail?
  • What counts as an unread email in Gmail?
  • Can you combine is:unread with other Gmail search parameters?
  • What is an Outlook search folder and how does it help find unread emails?

Key Terms

is:unread – A Gmail search operator that filters results to show only messages that have not been opened or that have been manually marked as unread.

Inbox Type – A Gmail setting that controls how messages are sorted in your inbox; options include Default, Important first, Unread first, Starred first, and Priority Inbox.

Search Folder (Outlook) – A virtual folder in Outlook that automatically displays messages matching predefined search criteria, such as all unread mail.

Search Operator – A text command typed into a search bar to filter results by specific criteria like sender, date, read status, or attachment presence.

Unread First – A Gmail inbox type that splits the inbox into two sections, placing all unread messages at the top and everything else below.

Filter (Outlook) – A dropdown menu option in Outlook that narrows the message list to show only messages matching a selected condition, such as unread status.

When unread emails get buried under hundreds of read messages, finding them requires more than scrolling. Both Gmail and Outlook offer built-in tools to surface unread messages quickly—through inbox sorting, search operators, and search folders. Here is how to use each method on desktop and mobile.

How Do You Find Unread Emails in Gmail on Desktop?

Quick Answer: Either set your inbox type to “Unread first” under Settings > Inbox, or type “is:unread” in the Gmail search bar. Unread first sorts all unread messages to the top; the search operator filters your inbox to show only unread messages.

In Gmail, a message is considered “unread” if it has never been opened, or if it was opened and then manually marked as unread. Unread emails appear in bold text. There are two ways to isolate them on desktop.

Method 1: Sort by Unread First. This places all unread messages at the top of your inbox in a separate section, regardless of when they were sent.

1. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner and open the Settings menu.

2. Select the Inbox tab. Under “Inbox type,” choose “Unread first” from the dropdown menu.

3. Click “Save Changes.” Your inbox will now display unread emails at the top, with everything else below.

Method 2: Search for Unread Messages. Click the search bar and type is:unread, then press Enter.

You can combine is:unread with other parameters to narrow results—for example, is:unread from:[email protected] or is:unread has:attachment. For more search techniques, see our guide on Gmail filters and searches.

How Do You Find Unread Emails in the Gmail Mobile App?

Quick Answer: On iPhone/iPad, tap the hamburger menu and select “Unread.” On Android, go to Settings > Inbox > select “Unread first.” On both platforms, you can also type “is:unread” in the search bar.

On iOS (iPhone and iPad):

1. Tap the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.

2. Select “Unread” to filter your inbox to show only unread emails.

On Android:

1. Tap the gear icon and open Settings.

2. Go to the Inbox section and select “Unread first” from the Inbox type menu.

3. Scroll down and tap Save Changes.

Using search on either platform: Scroll to the top to access the search bar (Android) or tap the search icon in the top right corner (iOS). Type is:unread and add any additional parameters. For a full list of available operators, see our guide to Gmail search operators.

If you need to narrow results further, you can add modifiers like email size or the date it was sent.

How Do You Find Unread Emails in Outlook on Desktop?

Quick Answer: Click the dropdown at the top of the message list (usually set to “All”) and select “Unread Mail.” For a permanent solution, create an Unread Mail search folder under Folder > New Search Folder > Unread mail.

Outlook uses a folder-based system, and you can filter for unread messages across your entire inbox or within a specific folder. Unread messages appear bold by default.

Method 1: Filter by Unread. In the desktop Outlook app, click the dropdown menu at the top of the message list (it usually says “All”) and select “Unread Mail.”

In older versions of Outlook, this option may appear inside the “Filter Email” dropdown menu instead.

Method 2: Create an Unread Mail Search Folder. A search folder is a virtual folder that automatically updates to display all messages matching your criteria. Click the Folder tab, select “New Search Folder,” choose “Unread mail” from the Reading Mail group, and click OK. This folder is always available and stays current as new messages arrive.

How Do You Find Unread Emails in the Outlook Mobile App?

Quick Answer: Tap the Filters dropdown at the top of your inbox and select “Unread Mail.” Search folders created on desktop also sync to the mobile app automatically.

The Outlook mobile app works the same way on both iOS and Android. Tap the Filters dropdown menu at the top of your inbox and select “Unread Mail.”

You can also create an Unread Mail search folder from the mobile app by going to Folder > New Search Folder. Search folders sync across desktop and mobile, so a folder created on one device is accessible from the other.

Outlook also offers advanced search parameters for finding specific emails, though these are not as extensive as Gmail’s search operator system.

Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Unread Emails

How do you find unread emails in Gmail on desktop?

You have two options. Set your inbox type to “Unread first” under Settings > Inbox to move all unread messages to the top. Or type is:unread in the Gmail search bar and press Enter to filter for only unread messages. You can combine is:unread with other operators like from:, subject:, or has:attachment to narrow results.

How do you find unread emails in Gmail on iPhone or Android?

On iPhone or iPad, tap the hamburger menu in the top left and select “Unread.” On Android, go to Settings > Inbox > select “Unread first” from the Inbox type menu > Save Changes. On both platforms, you can also type is:unread in the search bar.

How do you find unread emails in Outlook on desktop?

Click the dropdown at the top of the message list (usually set to “All”) and select “Unread Mail.” For a permanent solution, create an Unread Mail search folder under Folder > New Search Folder > select “Unread mail” from the Reading Mail group > OK.

How do you find unread emails in the Outlook mobile app?

Tap the Filters dropdown menu at the top of your inbox and select “Unread Mail.” Search folders created on desktop also sync automatically to the mobile app, so you can access them from either device.

What does the is:unread search operator do in Gmail?

Typing is:unread in the Gmail search bar filters your inbox to show only messages that have not been opened or that have been manually marked as unread. You can combine it with other operators like from:, subject:, date parameters, or has:attachment for more specific searches.

What counts as an unread email in Gmail?

Gmail considers an email unread if it has never been opened, or if it was opened and then manually marked as unread. Unread emails appear in bold text in your inbox regardless of which view or sorting method you use.

Can you combine is:unread with other Gmail search parameters?

Yes. You can add parameters like from:[email protected], subject:keyword, has:attachment, size operators, or date filters alongside is:unread. For a full list, see our guide to Gmail search operators.

What is an Outlook search folder and how does it help find unread emails?

An Outlook search folder is a virtual folder that automatically displays messages matching predefined criteria. Creating an Unread Mail search folder gives you a permanent, always-updated view of all unread messages across your inbox without needing to filter or search each time. It syncs between desktop and mobile.

Jayson DeMers

Jayson is a long-time columnist for Forbes, Entrepreneur, BusinessInsider, Inc.com, and various other major media publications, where he has authored over 1,000 articles since 2012, covering technology, marketing, and entrepreneurship. He keynoted the 2013 MarketingProfs University, and won the “Entrepreneur Blogger of the Year” award in 2015 from the Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs. In 2010, he founded a marketing agency that appeared on the Inc. 5000 before selling it in January of 2019, and he is now the CEO of EmailAnalytics and OutreachBloom.

1 Comment

1. one word on 10/02/2023 at 5:58 am

   I love this article! I have been trying to find a way to find unread emails in Gmail and Outlook for a while now. This article has helped me a lot!

   Reply

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