How to Change Inbox Layout in Gmail?

Gmail is increasingly becoming a highly admirable platform. It now offers a number of customizable formats.

If you have multiple Gmail accounts, you can make them all look completely different. For instance, you can have all of your emails in a single list or can separate your messages into multiple tabs.

You can also have your inbox split into the sections of unread and read messages.

That being said, there are many such ways to organize your inbox. You can add a reading pane, or simply come up with your own categories for organizing your emails. Here’s how you can customize your Gmail account according to your preference across operating systems. Let’s learn to change the inbox layout in Gmail.

How to Change Inbox Layout in Gmail

Using the Mailbox Menu in Windows

Head over to your Gmail account on your computer and sign in to your mailbox.

Hover over the Inbox option in the menu on the left. Just next to it, a drop-down icon will appear.

Click that icon and it will open a pop-up window where the available inbox types can be viewed.

Hover over one of the inbox types in the pop-up to read a brief description of each of them.

a. The option of “Default” will split up your inbox into different tabs, like “Primary,” “Social,” “Promotions,” and “Updates.” Your messages are automatically sorted into tabs, but you can also shift them among categories if you want.

b. The option of “Important first” will separate your inbox into two sections. Of them, “Important” will be at the top, and “Everything else” at the bottom.

c. “Unread first” will also separate your inbox into two sections, “Unread” at the top and “Everything else” at the bottom.

d. If you choose “Starred first,” then your inbox will be separated into a “Starred” section which is at the top, and “Everything else” section at the bottom.

e. “Multiple inboxes” is the option that will get additional sections to your inbox. You can use custom labels to create each section as you like.

f. The option of “Priority Inbox” will also separate your inbox into multiple sections. It also lets you choose which sections you want to be shown, including “Important and unread,” “Starred,” “Everything else,” or any other label that you have created.

Select the inbox layout you want to use and your mailbox will instantly switch to that layout.

Using the Settings Menu in Windows

Head over to your Gmail account on your computer and sign in to your mailbox.
Click the button in the top-right corner of your mailbox. It will open a drop-down menu.
Click Settings on the menu and your mailbox settings will open up.
Go to the Inbox tab. It is located between Labels and Accounts and Import at the top of Settings.

Navigate to the drop-down menu next to Inbox type. It can be used to switch between different inbox types such as Default, Important First, and Unread First.

Select the inbox layout you want to use and your mailbox will instantly switch to that layout.

If you want, you can customize your Inbox sections below Inbox type. According to the inbox type you have selected, you can customize the settings of each section, and add a new one to your inbox layout.

a. If you’re using the Default inbox, an option of Categories will appear instead of Inbox sections. You just have to check the box next to the one you want to use.

b. For other inbox types, go to Options and select how many items you want to be visible.

c. If you see an empty section, select Add section to add a new one.

Click Save Changes at the bottom and you’re done.