How to delete or move e-mail messages

Updated: 05/06/2024 by Computer Hope
E-mail icon

E-mail is excellent for sending messages, pictures, and documents to other users. But, like its physical form, you're bound to get some mail you don't want (often called spam). In other cases, there are messages users want to hold on to for one reason or another. To keep your inbox clean and organized, you must delete or move old or unwanted e-mail messages. Select your e-mail client from the list below and follow the instructions.

Google Gmail logo.

Google Gmail

Accessing messages

  1. Go to the Gmail website and sign in if necessary.
  2. On the left side of the window, select the folder where you want to delete or move messages.

Selector for the Inbox folder in Gmail.

  1. Once you've selected the folder, you have a few options.

Deleting a single message

Right-click the message you want to delete and select Delete from the drop-down menu.

Deleting a single message from Gmail.

Deleting or moving multiple messages

Click the checkbox(s) next to each message you want to delete or move.

Checkboxes to delete or move messages in Gmail.

Tip

You may select every message on the page by clicking the Select checkbox (shown below) above the message list window.

Checkbox that selects all messages in Gmail.

To delete messages, click the trash icon in the bar above the folder window (A). To move messages, click the folder icon (B) and select the appropriate destination in the drop-down menu.

Delete and move icons in Gmail.

Outlook.com logo.

Microsoft Outlook online (formerly Hotmail)

Accessing messages

  1. Go to the Outlook.com website and sign in if necessary.
  2. On the left side of the window, select the folder where you want to delete or move messages.

Folder list in Outlook online.

  1. Once the folder is open, there are a few options for deleting and moving mail.

Delete a single message

To delete a single message, move your mouse cursor over the message and click the trash icon.

How to delete a single e-mail message in Outlook online.

Delete multiple messages

To delete multiple messages, click the checkbox next to each message you want to delete.

Select multiple messages in Outlook online.

After selecting the desired messages, click the Delete icon in Outlook online. icon at the top-left section of the browser window.

Moving messages

To move messages, click the checkbox next to each message you want to move.

How to select multiple messages in Outlook online.

After making your selections, click the down arrow on the Move to icon in Outlook online. icon (above the open folder's window) and select a destination folder from the drop-down menu.

Yahoo! mail logo.

Yahoo! Mail

Accessing messages

  1. Go to the Yahoo! Mail website and sign in if necessary.
  2. On the left side of the window, below the Compose button in Yahoo! mail. button, select the folder where you want to delete or move messages.

Menu from which you select a folder in Yahoo! mail.

  1. Once the folder is open, there are a few options for deleting or moving your messages.

Delete a single message

To delete a single message, move your mouse cursor over the date next to the message (on the far right side). Click the red trash icon Trash can icon in Yahoo! mail. to remove that mail entry.

Delete multiple messages

To delete multiple messages, click the checkbox next to each message you want to delete.

Selected inbox images in Yahoo! mail.

Once you've made your message selections, click the Delete button in Yahoo! mail. icon near the top of the window.

Tip

Select every message in the current window by clicking the Select all icon in Yahoo! mail. icon above the message list.

Moving messages

To move messages, click the checkbox next to each message you want to move.

Selected inbox images in Yahoo! mail.

Once you've made your message selections, click the Move button in Yahoo! mail. icon (located above the open folder's window) and select a destination folder from the drop-down menu.

Tip

Select every message in the current window by clicking the Select all icon in Yahoo! mail. icon above the message list.

Aol mail logo

Aol Mail

Accessing messages

  1. Go to the Aol Mail website and sign in if necessary.
  2. In the upper-left corner of the screen, under the Compose button in Aol mail. button, select the folder containing the message you want to view.

Menu from which you select a folder in Aol mail.

  1. Once the folder is open, there are a few options for deleting or moving your messages.

Delete a single message

To delete a single message, move your mouse cursor over the date next to the message (on the far right side). Click the red trash icon Trash can icon in Aol mail. to remove that mail entry.

Delete multiple messages

To delete multiple messages, click the checkbox next to each message you want to delete.

Selected inbox images in Aol mail.

Once you've made your message selections, click the Delete button in Yahoo! mail. icon near the top of the window.

Tip

Select every message in the current window by clicking the Select all icon in Yahoo! mail. icon above the message list.

Moving messages

To move messages, click the checkbox next to each message you want to move.

Selected inbox images in Aol mail.

Once you've made your message selections, click the Move button in Aol mail. icon (located above the open folder's window) and select a destination folder from the drop-down menu.

Tip

Select every message in the current window by clicking the Select all icon in Aol mail. icon above the message list.

Apple Mail logo.

Apple Mail

This section contains instructions for those using macOS on a desktop or laptop computer. If you're on an iMac or MacBook, follow the steps below.

Accessing messages

Open Apple Mail. In the sidebar, click the folder with the messages you want to delete or move. We're using the Inbox for this example.

Selecting the Inbox folder Apple Mail.

Tip

If you've opened the Apple Mail app recently, its shortcut icon may appear in the Dock.

Deleting messages

To delete one or more messages, select or highlight them, and press the delete key or click the Trash icon in the upper-right section of the window.

Deleting messages in Apple Mail.

Tip

Select every message in the current folder using the Command+A keyboard shortcut. For additional help, see: How to select or highlight multiple files and folders.

Moving messages

  1. To move one or more messages, select or highlight them and click the icon with the two arrows pointing to the right.

Moving messages in Apple Mail.

  1. Select Move at the bottom of the pop-out menu.

Move selector in Apple Mail.

  1. Hover your mouse cursor over the destination folder and select the appropriate client.

Selecting a destination folder in Apple Mail.

E-mail on iPhone or iPad

Delete a single e-mail message

E-mail messages viewed through the Mail app on an iPhone or iPad can be deleted one at a time by following the steps below.

  1. Open the Mail app on the iPhone or iPad.
  2. In the Mail app, find the e-mail message you want to delete. Using your finger, swipe from right to left on that e-mail message.
  3. Three options appear on the right side of the e-mail message. Tap the Trash option to delete the message.

OR

  1. In the Mail app, tap the e-mail message you want to delete.
  2. On the e-mail view screen, tap the Trash icon at the bottom.

Delete multiple e-mails

To delete multiple e-mail messages at one time, follow the steps below.

  1. In the Mail app, tap the Edit option at the top-right of the Inbox screen.
  2. To the left of each e-mail message, a bubble is visible. Tap each e-mail message you want to delete so the bubble is blue with a checkmark.
  3. After selecting the messages to be deleted, tap the Trash option at the bottom-right of the Inbox screen.