When you delete a folder, Gmail deletes the folder but keeps all of the emails that were in it. You cannot restore a deleted folder, but you can create a new folder from scratch if you wish.
If you want to delete all of your emails in that folder before you begin the folder removal process, find and delete all of those emails first. Then, in the section below, delete the folder itself.
Remove a Folder (Label) from the Web Version of Gmail
- Use the Gmail website on your desktop computers, such as Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook, to delete your email folders.
- To begin, open Gmail in a web browser on your computer. If you haven’t already, sign in to your account.
- Find the folder to delete in the sidebar on the left of Gmail’s main interface. Then, while hovering over that folder, click the three dots.
- Choose “Remove Label” from the menu that appears after clicking the three dots.
- Click “Delete” in the “Remove Label” prompt.
That’s the end of it. Gmail will delete the selected folder from your account, but keep in mind that the emails in that folder are still in your account if you haven’t manually removed them.
Using Gmail’s iPhone or iPad App, delete a Folder (Label).
- To delete a folder from your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app on your device. Tap the hamburger menu in the app’s top-left corner (three horizontal lines).
- Scroll to the bottom of the menu that appears. There, select “Settings.”
- Select your Gmail account in “Settings.”
- Scroll down to “Label Settings” on the account page.
- Tap the folder (label) to remove it on the “Label Settings” page that appears.
- Tap “Delete [Folder Name]” on the folder page.
- In the prompt, select “Delete.”
Gmail will remove the selected email folder from your account, and you’re done.