
Trash: keep deleted emails synchronized so you can always recover also lets your email program delete messages by moving them to the Gmail Trash label.Labels that are not crucial but often very helpful via IMAP: Spam: while not all that useful, it is to be hoped, for reading messages, this folder lets you mark junk emails that made it to your Gmail inbox from any email program: simply move them to the Spam folder.Drafts: lets you synchronize drafted messages and continue where you left off across devices.Sent Mail: allows you not only to access past sent emails (and your email program build coherent threads) but makes sure a copy of each email you send from an email program is available in Gmail on the web as well as in other email programs set up to access Gmail.

Other labels you should typically enable as Gmail IMAP folders: Your Gmail Inbox will always be available via IMAP or OAuth as the inbox folder. What “Show in IMAP” Means for Setting Up Gmail IMAP Folders: FAQ Which labels should I enable as IMAP folders? No need to save: Changes take effect immediately you do not have to save them.


This means email programs will download multiple copies, which slows them - and you - down without need or profit. Messages with multiple labels will show up as copies in all Gmail IMAP folders. Make Gmail IMAP fast: Do disable unneeded labels. Of course: Uncheck Show in IMAP for labels you do not want to show up in email programs.

Click the Settings gear icon (⚙️) near your Gmail’s top right corner.To select the labels available as Gmail IMAP folders so you can access them in email programs (and services) that connect to your Gmail account through IMAP or OAuth:
