Gmail has a search operator specifically for unread messages: is:unread. It works on Gmail in a browser and in the Android, iPhone, and iPad apps.
Use in:inbox is:unread if you only want unread messages still in your Inbox, or in:anywhere is:unread if you also want to search Spam and Trash.
Find unread emails in Gmail on a computer
- Open Gmail in your browser.
- Click the Search mail box at the top.
- Enter
is:unread. - Press Enter.
Gmail displays messages that are currently marked as unread. The search is not limited to the Inbox, so it can also find unread messages in other normally searchable mail locations, such as sent or archived mail.
If Gmail shows search-scope choices because Chat is enabled, choose Mail rather than Conversations or Spaces.
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Useful Gmail searches for unread messages
| What you want to find | Search query |
|---|---|
| All normally searchable unread mail | is:unread |
| Unread messages in the Inbox | in:inbox is:unread |
| Unread messages, including Spam and Trash | in:anywhere is:unread |
| Unread messages from one sender | from:sender@example.com is:unread |
| Unread messages containing a subject term | subject:invoice is:unread |
| Unread messages received during a period | after:2025/01/01 before:2025/05/01 is:unread |
Combine operators by separating them with spaces. For example, to find unread messages from a particular address that are still in the Inbox, search for in:inbox from:sender@example.com is:unread.
Find unread emails in the Gmail Android app
- Open the Gmail app.
- Tap Search in mail at the top.
- Type
is:unread. - Tap Search on the on-screen keyboard.
You can also use Gmail’s search control instead of typing the operator: tap Search in mail, enter a search term if needed, and select the Is unread search chip.
To include Spam and Trash, search for in:anywhere is:unread. Without in:anywhere, Gmail’s standard search excludes those folders.
Find unread emails on an iPhone or iPad
- Open the Gmail app.
- Tap Search in mail.
- Enter
is:unread. - Tap Search on the keyboard.
On iOS, you can also tap the Is unread search chip after opening the mail search controls. To search every Gmail location, including Spam and Trash, use in:anywhere is:unread.
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Show unread messages first in your inbox
If you want unread messages easy to spot without running a search each time, change the inbox layout to Unread first.
On the Gmail website
- Click the Settings gear.
- In the Quick settings panel, find Inbox type.
- Select Unread first.
You can also open See all settings → Inbox → Inbox type, select Unread first, and save the change if Gmail presents a save option.
On Android
- Tap the Gmail Menu button.
- Tap Settings.
- Choose the Gmail account you want to change.
- Tap Inbox type.
- Select Unread first.
Android divides the inbox into sections labeled Inbox and Unread.
Unread first is an inbox layout, not a mailbox-wide search. It changes how the Inbox is arranged; it does not permanently filter every Gmail view to unread messages. Use is:unread when you need a complete search.
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Mark an email as unread again
On a computer
- Find the message, or run an unread-related search.
- Check the box to the left of the message.
- Click Mark as unread in the toolbar at the top.
Select several messages first to mark them all unread at once.
On Android
Open the message and tap Unread at the top right. To avoid opening it, tap the sender’s profile image, select the message, and tap the top-right Mark as unread control.
On iPhone or iPad
Open the message and use the Unread control at the top right.
Add “mark as read/unread” to a swipe gesture
Android
- Open Menu → Settings → General settings.
- Tap Mail swipe actions.
- Tap Change beside the left or right swipe.
- Choose Mark as read/unread.
iPhone and iPad
- Open Menu → Settings → Inbox.
- Tap Inbox customisations → Mail swipe actions.
- Set the desired swipe direction to Mark as read/unread.
Why an unread search may look confusing
A result may be a whole conversation
Gmail commonly groups related messages into conversation threads. A search result can represent an entire conversation when only one message in that conversation matches is:unread. The presence of a thread in the results does not necessarily mean every message inside it is unread.
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Open the conversation and inspect the individual messages if you need to identify the unread one. Be especially careful when marking or archiving a thread, because an action on the conversation may affect more than the single matching message.
Spam and Trash do not normally appear
If you expected an unread message from Spam or Trash but cannot find it, use in:anywhere is:unread. Gmail excludes those locations from ordinary searches.
Offline mobile searches are limited
When the Android or iOS app has no internet connection, Gmail searches only messages synchronized to that device. Reconnect to search the complete mailbox.
Fastest choice for most situations
- Use
is:unreadto find unread mail generally. - Use
in:inbox is:unreadto focus on messages requiring attention in the Inbox. - Use
in:anywhere is:unreadwhen a missing message may be in Spam or Trash. - Choose Unread first if you want Gmail to keep unread messages in a separate inbox section.
FAQ
What is the Gmail search command for unread emails?
Enter is:unread in Gmail’s search box and press Enter, or tap Search in mail, enter the command, and tap Search in the mobile app.
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How do I search only unread emails in the Gmail Inbox?
Use in:inbox is:unread. The in:inbox operator limits the results to Inbox mail.
How do I find unread emails in Spam or Trash?
Search for in:anywhere is:unread. The in:anywhere operator includes Gmail’s Spam and Trash locations.
Does Gmail search for unread emails when I type “unread”?
For an explicit unread-status search, use the documented operator is:unread rather than relying on the word unread as ordinary search text.
Why does an unread search show a conversation with read messages?
Gmail may return an entire conversation when only one message in the thread is unread. Open the thread to check the status of each individual message.
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Can I make Gmail show unread emails at the top automatically?
Yes. Set the inbox type to Unread first. On Android, use Menu → Settings → choose your account → Inbox type → Unread first. On the website, select it under Gmail’s Quick settings or Inbox settings.
The Bottom Line
The quickest way to find unread Gmail messages is is:unread. Add in:inbox for Inbox-only results or in:anywhere when Spam and Trash must be included. For a persistent visual arrangement, switch the inbox type to Unread first.
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