Gmail Tabs: How to Turn On, Customize or Turn Off Inbox Categories (2026)

How do you turn on Gmail tabs, or turn them off? Gmail introduced its tabbed inbox in 2013 to sort email automatically into Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates and Forums, so newsletters and social alerts stop burying important mail. More than a decade later, Gmail tabs are still one of the easiest ways to tame a busy inbox. Here is how to set them up in 2026 on the web and on your phone.

Quick answer: On a computer, click the gear icon in Gmail, choose Default under Inbox type, then click Customize and tick the tabs you want (Primary, Promotions, Social, Updates, Forums). On the Gmail app, go to Settings, choose your account, open Inbox categories and select the tabs. To move an email to another tab, drag it there and Gmail will learn.

What each Gmail tab contains

• Primary: personal and important messages from people.
• Promotions: offers, deals and marketing emails.
• Social: notifications from social networks and media sites.
• Updates: receipts, bills, confirmations and statements.
• Forums: mailing lists and discussion groups.

How to turn on Gmail tabs (computer)

1. Open Gmail and click the gear icon at the top right.
2. Under Inbox type, select Default.
3. Click Customize next to it.
4. Tick the tabs you want to see. Primary is always on.
5. Click Save. Gmail reloads with your tabs.

How to set Gmail tabs on Android and iPhone

1. Open the Gmail app and tap the menu.
2. Tap Settings and choose your account.
3. Tap Inbox categories (on iPhone, under Inbox type choose Default inbox first).
4. Select the tabs you want.

How to move emails between tabs

• Drag an email from one tab to another on the web. Gmail asks if future emails from that sender should go there too.
• On the app, open the email, tap the three dots and choose Move to.
• Use a filter to send specific senders to a tab: create a filter and choose “Categorise as”.

Don’t want tabs? Try other inbox types

• Important first and Unread first for a single list with priorities.
• Priority Inbox to separate important unread mail. Read about Gmail Priority Inbox.
• Multiple inboxes to show searches or labels side by side.

Tips for a cleaner inbox

• Check Promotions once a day instead of on every notification.
• Unsubscribe from newsletters you never open using the Unsubscribe link at the top of each email.
• Turn off notifications for every tab except Primary in the app settings.
• Add a professional Gmail signature and keep your account secure; see how Gmail uses HTTPS and encryption.

FAQ

How do I remove the Promotions tab?

Open Customize under Inbox type and untick Promotions. Those emails go back to Primary.

Why are important emails landing in Promotions?

Gmail guesses from the sender and content. Drag the email to Primary and confirm to train it.

Can I rename Gmail tabs?

No, but you can use labels and multiple inboxes for custom groups.

Do you use Gmail tabs or one inbox? Tell us in the comments.