The fastest way depends on which email service you use
Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail all let you delete large batches of email in one action, but the steps are different for each one. The method also depends on whether you want to delete everything or just messages matching certain criteria — like all mail from a specific sender, or everything older than a certain date.
Before you delete anything, understand that deletion is usually permanent. Most email services move deleted messages to a Trash or Deleted Items folder first, where they stay for 30 days before being wiped entirely. If you change your mind within that window, you can recover the messages. After 30 days, they are gone for good.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail lets you select all messages at once using a checkbox at the top of your inbox, then delete them in batches of up to 50 at a time.
- Outlook and Yahoo use similar checkbox selection, but Outlook requires you to empty the Deleted Items folder separately to permanently remove messages.
- You can narrow what gets deleted by using search filters — for example, searching for a sender name or date range before selecting all results.
- Deleted messages sit in a Trash or Deleted Items folder for about 30 days before permanent removal, giving you time to recover them if needed.
Deleting everything in Gmail
Open Gmail in your web browser and go to your Inbox. At the top left, just above your message list, you will see a checkbox. Click it. A dropdown menu appears asking if you want to select all messages in your inbox, or all messages that match your current search. Choose "All" to select every message.
Gmail now shows a yellow banner saying you have selected all your messages. Click the trash icon (or the three-dot menu and choose "Delete"). Your messages move to the Trash folder. Gmail deletes messages in batches, so if you have thousands of emails, this process takes a few minutes. You can close the browser tab and come back later — the deletion continues in the background.
To permanently remove them, open the Trash folder on the left sidebar, click the checkbox to select all messages there, and click "Delete permanently". Messages are then gone for good. If you only want to delete messages from a certain time period or sender, use the search box first. Type something like "from:someone@example.com" or "before:2020/01/01", then select all results and delete.
Deleting everything in Outlook (web version)
Log into Outlook.com in your browser. Click the checkbox at the top of your message list to select all visible messages. A prompt appears asking if you want to select all messages in your folder. Click "Select all [number] messages in Inbox".
Once selected, click the trash icon at the top. Messages move to the Deleted Items folder. Unlike Gmail, Outlook does not permanently delete messages from this step alone. You must go to the Deleted Items folder (on the left sidebar), select all messages there using the same checkbox method, and click the trash icon again. Only then are they permanently removed.
If you want to delete only certain messages, use the search box at the top. Search for a sender name, subject line, or date range. Once the results appear, select all of them and delete as described above.
Deleting everything in Yahoo Mail
Open Yahoo Mail in your browser. At the top of your message list, click the checkbox to select all messages currently visible on the page. A menu appears asking if you want to select all messages in your folder. Click that option.
Click the trash icon. Messages move to the Trash folder. To permanently delete them, click on Trash in the left sidebar, select all messages there using the checkbox, and click the trash icon again. Messages are then permanently removed after 30 days.
You can also narrow your selection before deleting. Use the search box to find messages from a specific sender, with certain words in the subject line, or from a date range. Once you have the results you want, select all and delete.
Deleting everything in Apple Mail (on Mac or iPhone)
On a Mac, open Apple Mail and click on your Inbox. Use the keyboard shortcut Command+A to select all messages. Right-click and choose "Delete" or press Command+Delete. Messages move to the Trash mailbox. To permanently remove them, click on Trash in the sidebar, select all messages there with Command+A, right-click, and choose "Delete Permanently".
On an iPhone or iPad, open the Mail app, tap "Edit" in the top left corner of your inbox, then tap "Select All" at the bottom. Tap the trash icon. Messages move to the Trash folder. To permanently delete them, go to the Trash folder, tap "Edit", tap "Select All", and tap "Delete".
If you use iCloud Mail through the web browser instead, the process is similar to Gmail: click the checkbox at the top, select all messages, click delete, then empty the Trash folder.
What to do if you only want to delete some messages
You do not have to delete everything. Most email services let you search first, then delete only the results. In Gmail, search for "from:sender@example.com" to find all messages from one person, or "before:2020/01/01" to find everything before a certain date. In Outlook and Yahoo, use the search box the same way — type a sender name, subject keyword, or date.
Once your search results appear, select all of them using the checkbox, then delete. This is much safer than deleting your entire inbox if you are not sure you want to lose everything.
Another option is to use filters or rules to automatically delete messages going forward. In Gmail, you can create a filter that automatically sends certain messages to Trash. In Outlook, use the "Sweep" feature to delete all messages from a sender or move them to a folder. These tools do not delete existing messages, but they prevent future ones from piling up.
Recovering deleted messages if you change your mind
If you deleted messages by mistake, you have about 30 days to get them back. Go to your Trash or Deleted Items folder, find the messages you want to keep, and move them back to your Inbox. In Gmail, click the message, then click the move icon and choose Inbox. In Outlook, right-click the message and choose "Move" then "Inbox". In Yahoo and Apple Mail, drag the message back to your Inbox or use the move option.
After 30 days, messages are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. If you need to keep something important, move it to a folder or label before deleting anything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting all my email affect my account?
No. Deleting messages does not close your account, change your password, or affect your ability to send and receive new mail. Your account settings, contacts, and calendar remain unchanged. You are only removing the stored messages themselves.
Can I delete email on my phone the same way as on a computer?
The steps are similar but not identical. On an iPhone or Android phone, open your email app, find the select or edit button (usually at the top or bottom of the screen), tap it, then choose select all or select multiple messages. Tap the delete or trash icon. The process is faster on a computer because you can see more messages at once, but the result is the same.
What happens if I delete email while I am offline?
If you are using a web-based email service like Gmail or Outlook.com, you must be online to delete messages. If you are using a desktop app like Apple Mail or Outlook for Windows, you can delete messages offline, and they will sync to the server the next time you connect.
Can I undo a delete if I already emptied the trash?
Once you empty the trash or delete permanently, the messages are gone. Most email services do not offer a way to recover them after that point. The only exception is if your email provider has a backup system — contact their support to ask if recovery is possible, though it is rarely may provide.
Is there a way to delete old email automatically?
Yes. Gmail has an auto-delete feature in settings that can remove messages after a certain number of days. Outlook has the Sweep feature, which can automatically delete or move messages from specific senders. Yahoo Mail does not have a built-in auto-delete, but you can create filters to move old messages to a folder. Check your email service's settings or help section for the exact steps.