Technology

How to clean up your Gmail inbox

Published

4 months ago

September 21, 2024

If you’re like me, you probably have tens of thousands of emails in your Gmail inbox. Most of them are probably read, and some are probably unread, but regardless, they are all sitting in your inbox, taking up space.

You only get 15GB of storage for free with Gmail, and while 15GB may seem like a lot, emails can add up quickly, especially if you receive emails with attachments such as images or videos.

A clean inbox is the first step to a more organized personal and professional life. Cleaning up your Gmail inbox can be done in a few easy steps. Let’s go over 10 different methods to reclaim your Gmail inbox.

GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS — SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER — THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE

Gmail inbox. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Tip 1 — Delete large attachments

Emails with large attachments, such as video or audio files, can take up a lot of space. Luckily, Google makes it easy to search for and find emails with large attachments buried in your inbox. From your Gmail search bar, you can search for emails larger than 10MB, showing you all emails in your inbox with an attachment larger than 10 megabytes. This will help you delete emails with large attachments you no longer need from your inbox. To delete the email, all you have to do is:

Open Gmail and type size: 10MB in the search bar.
Select the emails you want to delete by clicking the checkbox next to each email.
Click the trash icon at the top of the page to move the selected emails to Trash.
Empty the Trash to permanently delete these emails and free up space.

Deleting large attachments. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Tip 2 — Delete entire categories

By default, Gmail gives you several categories to help organize your inbox. You should have category tags for primary, promotions and social.

If you click Inbox in the left pane in Gmail, you should see a column that shows which categories you are active in.
You can add or remove categories from here, and I recommend using category tags relevant to your life.

Deleting entire categories. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Once you’re ready to clean out a category, you can click the box in the upper right corner to select all emails, allowing you to delete them quickly.

Deleting entire categories. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HOW TO FILTER AND SORT EMAILS ON YOUR IPHONE AND IPAD

Tip 3 — Unsubscribe from email lists

Remember that app you signed up for 10 years ago and still receive daily emails about? You’re not alone. Most of us get emails from a mailing list we subscribed to long ago that is no longer relevant to us. The simple solution here is to unsubscribe. Here’s how to Unsubscribe:

Look for the unsubscribe link: Most promotional emails include an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Click it, and follow the instructions to remove yourself from the list.
Use email management tools: Unsubscribing from multiple email lists can be a time-consuming process. Luckily, a helpful tool called Clean Email will do the hard work for you.
Mark as spam: If you can’t find an unsubscribe link, mark the email as spam. This will help your email provider filter out similar messages in the future.
Update your preferences: Some emails come from services you still use but don’t need frequent updates from. Check if you can update your email preferences to receive fewer notifications.

HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET

Tip 4 — Block unwanted senders

As a tech reporter, I receive many emails from sales reps from various companies. Many of these emails come from companies and senders outside of my scope for the things I typically cover, and unfortunately, I have had a few salespeople who wouldn’t leave me alone. If you have a similar issue, I recommend just considering blocking them.

All you need to do is open any message from a sender you want to block; on the right side of your screen, click the ellipses and select block.

Blocking unwanted senders (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HOW TO CREATE A QUICK ALIAS EMAIL EMAIL ADDRESS

Tip 5 — Delete emails by sender

An easy way to clear up some space quickly in your Gmail inbox is to delete old emails from the sender. Do you have a client you no longer work with, or would you want to delete all social media notification messages? Using Gmail search, you can filter all emails in the From section to delete emails from a particular sender.

All you need to do is click the toolbar on the right side of the Gmail search box and input the sender’s name in the From section.
Then, click the search button. This will display all emails from that sender.
You can then select all these emails by clicking the checkbox at the top of the list.
Finally, click the trash icon to delete them.

Deleting emails by sender. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

6 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO STOP GOOGLE FROM KNOWING EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU

Tip 6 — Delete emails by date

You can sort emails by date and delete them in the same search box form. There’s a good chance you don’t need those emails still in your inbox after five or 10 years, so why not search by date and delete them?

Just like you did with the deleting emails by sender section, all you need to do is click the toolbar in the Gmail search bar, and you can sort emails within a specific time in the form. Here’s how to do it.

Select the date range you want to delete emails from. For example, you can type before: YYYY/MM/DD or after: YYYY/MM/DD in the search bar to specify the date range.
Once you have your search results, click the checkbox at the top left to select all emails in the search results.
Finally, click the trash can icon to delete the selected emails.

Deleting emails by date. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Tip 7 — Delete emails by subject

An easy way to quickly clean up your Gmail inbox is to delete emails with specific subject lines. Gmail’s advanced email search also has a line allowing you to search for emails by particular phrases or keywords in the subject line. Make sure to use quotation marks around any words you are searching. You can quickly find and delete emails this way, and it’s one of my favorite ways to clean up an inbox. Here’s how to do it.

Log in to your Gmail account on your computer.
At the top of the page, you’ll see a search bar. Type in the subject line you want to search for, enclosed in quotation marks (e.g., “Meeting Notes”).
Gmail will display all emails with that specific subject line.
Click the checkbox at the top left corner of the email list to select all emails on the current page. If you have more emails than what is displayed on one page, you will see an option to select all conversations that match the search.
Click the trash can icon to delete the selected emails.

MY BEST PRIVATE AND SECURE EMAIL PROVIDERS 2024

Tip 8 — Organize your Gmail inbox with labels

Labels are a great way to organize your Gmail inbox. You can easily create a new label by clicking on the Create a new label option on the left sidebar within Gmail. I use labels to organize my most valuable emails, typically work emails, in my inbox. I also use Gmail’s label system to automatically filter my emails, which I’ll tell you more about in the next tip.

Organizing your Gmail inbox with labels. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Create a new label:

Open Gmail.
On the left sidebar, click on “Create new label.”
Enter a name for your label (e.g., “Work Emails”).
Then, click “Create.”

Apply labels to emails:

Select the emails you want to label by checking the boxes next to them.
At the top of the page, click on the “Labels” icon.
Choose the label you want to apply, or create a new one if needed.

Organize emails automatically:

Use Gmail’s filter system to automatically label incoming emails.
Click on the “Show search options” icon in the search bar.
Enter your criteria (e.g., emails from a specific sender).
Click on “Create filter.”
Choose “Apply the label” and select the label you want to use.
Click “Create filter.”

Manage Your Labels:

To edit or delete a label, hover over the label name on the left sidebar.
Click on the three dots (More) next to the label name.
Choose “Edit” to rename or “Remove label” to delete it.

Organizing your Gmail inbox with labels. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Tip 9 — Make use of Gmail’s built-in organization features

Gmail has many organizational features that many users neglect. For example, within Gmail, you can star emails to mark them as important or color code folders of emails to stay on top of the organization. You can also mark important emails that need responses, and all of these features are just a simple click away from the advanced settings button within Gmail.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S. NEWS

Star Emails: You can star important emails to easily find them later. Just click the star icon next to the email. You can also customize the star system by going to Settings > See all settings > General > Stars.
Labels: Labels are like folders but more flexible. You can create labels to categorize your emails. To create a label, go to Settings > See all settings > Labels > Create new label. You can also nest labels under other labels for better organization.
Color Code Labels: To color code your labels, hover over a label in the sidebar, click the three dots, and select Label color. This helps you visually distinguish between different categories of emails.
Filters: Filters automatically sort your incoming emails. Go to Settings > See all settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Create a new filter. You can set criteria like sender, subject, or keywords, and choose actions like applying a label, archiving or deleting.
Priority Inbox: Enable Priority Inbox to automatically sort your emails into categories like Important and Unread, Starred and Everything Else. Go to Settings > See all settings > Inbox > Inbox type > Priority Inbox.
Snooze Emails: If you need to deal with an email later, you can snooze it. Hover over the email, click the clock icon and choose when you want the email to reappear in your inbox.

Creating new filters. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Making use of Gmail’s built-in organization features. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HOW TO USE SMART COMPOSE TO WRITE EMAILS FASTER ON GMAIL

Tip 10 — Create new filters

Gmail’s filter system automates organizing all the emails in your inbox. Once you’ve cleaned it out, this should help you keep it clean. Filters in Gmail allow you to automatically redirect emails once they hit your inbox, saving you the time and trouble of manually sorting through them. For example, you can create a filter that will send all newsletters from specific senders to a particular inbox, or you could create a filter that automatically sends emails from particular senders straight to the trash.

To create a filter, type in a specific keyword you want to filter into the Gmail search bar and click on the filter symbol.
Clicking the filter symbol will open a dropdown menu that you can use to refine your filter options.
Once you’ve created your refinements, click the Create filter button.

SUBSCRIBE TO KURT’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICES

Kurt’s key takeaways

Organizing your email inbox can be a lot of work, but luckily, as I’ve shown, Gmail makes it easy. If you feel overwhelmed by how much has accumulated in your inbox, don’t panic. Take a deep breath, and follow these steps in order. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you have thoroughly cleaned out your inbox and have now taken advantage of Google’s automation features to keep your unruly inbox organized.

What strategies have you found most effective for managing your email inbox, and do you have any additional tips or experiences to share? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Follow Kurt on his social channels:

Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:

New from Kurt:

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Chinese auto giant wants to make flying cars your next commute option

Published

12 minutes ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Chinese auto giant wants to make flying cars your next commute option

GAC Group, a prominent automotive manufacturer from China, is making waves in the transportation sector with the launch of its new eVTOL brand, Govy.

This development reflects GAC’s commitment to sustainable air travel, as the company taps into its extensive automotive expertise and innovative technology to create fresh solutions for urban mobility.

With Govy, GAC is not just entering the flying car market; it’s setting the stage for a new era in how we think about commuting and connectivity in our cities.

I’M GIVING AWAY THE LATEST & GREATEST AIRPODS PRO 2

Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)

Introducing the AirJet

The flagship aircraft of Govy, named AirJet, is a revolutionary composite-wing flying car designed to operate as an air taxi for distances of up to 124 miles. This innovative vehicle combines the efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft with the flexibility of multi-rotor systems, allowing for vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.

The AirJet is constructed with over 90% carbon fiber composite materials, making it remarkably lightweight — just one-third the weight of a conventional car of similar size. This lightweight design not only enhances performance but also enables longer electric flights.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)

EVTOL PROTOTYPE PROMISES 150 MPH CITY-TO-CITY HOPS

Performance and features of the AirJet

In terms of performance, the AirJet is powered by GAC’s proprietary electric drive system, which allows it to reach impressive speeds of up to 155 miles per hour. The current model boasts a range exceeding 124 miles, with ambitious plans to extend this range to 249 miles through the development of future solid-state battery technology. Additionally, the AirJet can be recharged in just 30 minutes, ensuring quick turnaround times for operations.

The AirJet is designed with both luxury and safety in mind. It features a spacious cabin with a “1+1+X” seating arrangement that provides flexibility for passengers. The aircraft is equipped with autonomous flight capabilities, allowing for seamless operation without human intervention. Safety is paramount in the design of the AirJet. It includes advanced safety systems such as redundant power and control systems, real-time monitoring, and obstacle detection to ensure secure flights.

Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)

AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT THE MILITARY HAS ITS EYES ON CAN TAKE OFF WITH ONLY 150 FEET OF RUNWAY

The robo-air taxi system

GAC’s vision extends beyond individual aircraft to encompass a comprehensive Robo-AirTaxi system that integrates ground and aerial transport for end-to-end smart mobility solutions. This system will utilize the Govy AirCar for short urban trips under 12.4 miles and the AirJet for mid-range travel up to 124 miles. A key aspect of this vision is the creation of a “40-minute Greater Bay Area life circle” in China, which aims to facilitate efficient intercity travel and significantly reduce transit times and costs.

Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)

THIS FLYING ELECTRIC VEHICLE BREAKS RECORD WITH 523-MILE NONSTOP FLIGHT

Future plans and commercialization

Looking ahead, GAC has outlined an ambitious roadmap for Govy. By 2025, the company aims to achieve airworthiness certification for its flying cars, establish production lines, and begin taking pre-orders from customers. Furthermore, GAC plans to launch demonstration operations in two to three Greater Bay Area cities of China by 2027.

Flagship aircraft of named AirJet. (Govy)

Kurt’s key takeaways

With the introduction of Govy and its flagship AirJet, GAC Group is positioning itself at the forefront of urban aerial transportation. By combining innovative technology with a comprehensive ecosystem approach, GAC aims to transform urban mobility into something smarter, safer, and more sustainable. As we move toward a future where aerial vehicles become an integral part of our transportation networks, GAC’s initiatives could play a pivotal role in shaping how we navigate our cities and connect with one another.

Would you feel comfortable using flying cars like the Govy AirJet for your daily commute, and why or why not? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Follow Kurt on his social channels:

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

New from Kurt:

Technology

Drone takes out Super Scooper fighting Los Angeles wildfires

Published

9 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Drone takes out Super Scooper fighting Los Angeles wildfires

An aircraft helping to fight wildfires that are raging across Los Angeles was struck by a civilian drone on Thursday. The collision damaged the wing of the aircraft — a CL-415 “Super Scooper” capable of scooping up 1,600 gallons of ocean water to drop onto nearby blazes — according to a statement by the LA County Fire Department posted on X, putting it out of service until it can be repaired.

Cal Fire spokesman Chris Thomas told The New York Times that grounding the aircraft will likely set back local firefighting efforts. Super Scoopers can typically refill in about five minutes. But even if it takes ten, that’s six water drops that are lost each hour according to Thomas. “So whose house is not going to get that water to protect it?” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the Super Scooper landed safely after the drone impact, and that the incident is now under investigation.

Temporary flight restrictions have been implemented in the Los Angeles area that prohibit drones and other aircraft from flying without FAA authorization in an effort to protect firefighting efforts.

According to LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, the drone was not assigned to help tackle the Palisades fires, and was destroyed in the collision. Marrone told the LA Times that the FBI is now planning to implement so-called “aerial armor” in the area to prevent further interference from drones.

Several people online have violated the FAA-enforced flight restrictions, posting viral drone photos and video footage across social media showing the devastation from what appears to be prohibited airspace. Fire response agencies are often forced to ground their own aircraft to avoid collisions when dummies fly drones near wildfires for online clout.

“It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,” the FAA said in a statement. “Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations. The FAA treats these violations seriously and immediately considers swift enforcement action for these offenses.”

Technology

How to easily print photos from your phone

Published

10 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

How to easily print photos from your phone

Are you an aspiring Android or iPhone photographer? Both Android OS 15 and iOS 18 bring professional photography features to their new smartphones with advancements made in artificial intelligence-assisted photo processing and top-of-the-line digital camera sensors in the top-line smartphones.

Even if you don’t enjoy taking photos directly from your smartphone, most cameras now allow you to instantly transfer pictures from a camera to a smartphone via Bluetooth.

You can also print high-quality pictures from your phone, and it’s surprisingly easy. Here are a few different ways to print a photograph from your smartphone.

I’M GIVING AWAY THE LATEST & GREATEST AIRPODS PRO 2

A photo printer with SD cards sitting on top of it. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Using a Wi-Fi-enabled printer

Many of the most popular printers available today feature Wi-Fi functionality, and if you have a Wi-Fi-enabled printer, you can print photographs directly from your phone. Most modern photo printers are fully wireless, allowing you to easily print photos directly from their Android or iOS smartphones. Check out my top printer picks here. Here’s how to print from a wireless printer on both Android and iOS:

For iPhone:

Ensure your printer supports AirPrint and is connected to your phone’s Wi-Fi network.
Open the Photos app, select the photo you want to print, tap the share icon, and choose Print.
Choose your printer and adjust any print settings.
Click Print in the upper right of the screen.

For Android:

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Connect your printer to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone.
Go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Printing.
Select Default Print Service or a third-party print service plugin.
Open the photo you want to print in your gallery app, tap the share icon, and select Print.

Using a portable photo printer

Portable photo printers are handy for printing on the go. They usually connect via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and come with apps for easy printing. Portable photo printers are a great idea if you want a compact photograph printer that’s great for taking with you on trips. Many portable printers are small enough to fit in a travel bag and are battery-powered, so there’s no wired setup necessary. Check on my picks for the best portable printers here.

A portable photo printer being used. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

TOP PRINTERS 2025

Using an online photo printing service

You can also use apps or websites like Shutterfly or Snapfish that offer photo printing services. Upload your photos, choose your print options, and have them delivered to your home or picked up at a local store. Similar services are also available at your local print shops or even at big-box stores such as Staples, which also provide high-quality poster and image printing. Using a print service and shop to process your photographs can be a great idea, as you can rest assured that your photographs are being printed on high-quality prints with great printers.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Laptop with photos. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

4 WAYS TO PRINT OUT, SAVE, AND SEND YOUR IPHONE’S TEXT MESSAGES

Transferring photos to your computer

You can transfer your photos to your computer and print them from there using your home printer. This is a great option if you have an older printer or an older photo printer that doesn’t support Wi-Fi. Here’s a list of our printer recommendations. I recommend looking at the options for color printers that we’ve highlighted. We made the list for everyone, so we made sure to include printers that can print beautiful photographs with ease. Here’s how to do it from an iPhone to your computer:

Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer.
Make sure your iPhone or Android is unlocked.
If prompted, tap “Trust This Computer” on your iPhone or Android.
On a Mac, open the Photos app.
On a Windows PC, open the Photos app or File Explorer.
On a Mac, click on “Import” in the Photos app and select the photos you want to transfer.
On a Windows PC, click “Import” in the Photos app, or copy and paste photos from File Explorer.

Printing photos

Make sure your printer is connected to your computer (via USB or network).
Open the photos you want to print on your computer.
On a Mac, go to “File” > “Print” in the Photos app.
On a Windows PC, right-click the photo and select “Print” or use the print option in the Photos app.
Choose your printer and configure print settings (size, quality, etc.).
Click “Print” to start printing your photos.

A man transferring photos from his phone to his computer to print. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HOW TO PRINT, SAVE, AND SEND ANDROID TEXT MESSAGES

Kurt’s key takeaways

It’s exciting to see how both Android and iPhone have stepped up their game in mobile photography. With all the cool AI features and top-notch camera tech, taking amazing photos is a breeze. Plus, printing those memories is super easy now, whether you’re using a Wi-Fi printer, a portable one, or an online service.

What challenges have you faced while trying to capture or print your photos, and how did you overcome them? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Follow Kurt on his social channels:

Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:

New from Kurt: