This article explains how to empty the Trash and Spam folders quickly in Gmail. Additional information covers how to delete an email permanently. Instructions apply to current web browsers and the iOS Gmail app.

What to Know

  • To empty Trash, go to More > Trash > Empty Trash now > OK.To empty Spam, go to Spam > Delete all spam messages now > OK.To empty Trash or Spam on iOS, tap Menu > Trash > Empty Trash Now or Menu > Spam > Empty Spam Now.

How to Empty Trash in Gmail

Here’s how to empty your Gmail Trash folder:

  • Select the Trash label. You’ll find it under More, in the left sidebar of the Gmail screen.
  • With Gmail keyboard shortcuts enabled, press GL on the keyboard to create a label search and type trash, then press Enter to see all messages labeled Trash.
  • Select Empty Trash now at the top of the Trash messages.
  • Select OK under Confirm deleting messages.
  • No messages should remain with the Trash label.

How to Empty Spam in Gmail

To delete all messages in the Spam label in Gmail:

Select the Trash label. You’ll find it under More, in the left sidebar of the Gmail screen.

With Gmail keyboard shortcuts enabled, press GL on the keyboard to create a label search and type trash, then press Enter to see all messages labeled Trash.

Select Empty Trash now at the top of the Trash messages.

Select OK under Confirm deleting messages.

No messages should remain with the Trash label.

  • Select the Spam label in the left panel.
  • Select Delete all spam messages now.
  • Select OK under Confirm deleting messages.

Empty Trash and Spam in Gmail on iOS (iPhone, iPad)

If you access Gmail on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you can delete all junk and spam email quickly in the Gmail app for iOS:

Select the Spam label in the left panel.

Select Delete all spam messages now.

  • Tap the Menu icon in the upper-left corner to view the list of labels.
  • Tap Trash or Spam.
  • Tap Empty Trash Now or Empty Spam Now.
  • Tap OK in the deletion confirmation screen that opens.

Empty Gmail Trash and Spam in iOS Mail

If you access Gmail using the iOS Mail app using IMAP:

Tap the Menu icon in the upper-left corner to view the list of labels.

Tap Trash or Spam.

Tap Empty Trash Now or Empty Spam Now.

Tap OK in the deletion confirmation screen that opens.

  • Open the Mail app.
  • Tap < to see the list of Gmail labels.
  • Tap Trash or Junk to open a list of the emails labeled as such.
  • Tap Edit at the top of the screen.
  • Tap the circle to the left of each email you want to delete.
  • Tap Delete.

Permanently Delete an Email in Gmail

You need not throw out all the trash to get rid of one unwanted email. To permanently delete a single message from Gmail:

Open the Mail app.

Tap < to see the list of Gmail labels.

Tap Trash or Junk to open a list of the emails labeled as such.

Tap Edit at the top of the screen.

Tap the circle to the left of each email you want to delete.

Tap Delete.

  • Make sure the message is in the Gmail Trash folder.
  • Check any email you want permanently deleted, or open an individual message.
  • Select Delete forever in the toolbar.

Make sure the message is in the Gmail Trash folder.

Check any email you want permanently deleted, or open an individual message.

Select Delete forever in the toolbar.

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