Gmail cleanup
search builder

Find a manageable set of messages to review. Choose your criteria, check the query, then open the search in Gmail.

No sign-in or mailbox access. Inputs stay in this page’s memory. Nothing is saved by this tool, sent to our servers, or added to its URL. Opening Gmail sends your query to Google; copying sends it to your clipboard.

Choose your criteria

Filled fields are combined. Start with a small, specific search.

Sender email (optional) One simple email address. The placeholder is synthetic.

Gmail category

Age or date

Larger than (optional)

Size notation

Uses Gmail’s larger: operator, for message size rather than an attachment-only limit.

Building again replaces manual edits in the query box.

Review your search

Edit a generated query or paste your own to use the same checker.

Gmail search query

Basic checks cover this builder’s operators. Other Gmail syntax may need manual review. No query can guarantee that mail is safe to delete.

Add criteria to begin.

Check the account and scope in Gmail. This tool cannot choose your account. A standard Gmail search excludes Spam and Trash; in:anywhere includes them. It does not mean “Inbox only.”

I’ll verify the active Gmail account and review matching messages and conversations before taking any action.

Opens a new tab at mail.google.com. This tool only searches; it never selects, archives, or deletes mail. Google may save searches under your account settings.

From a search to a careful review

Narrow the search. Choose the sender, category, age, dates, or size that describe the messages you want to inspect.
Check and read the query. Resolve errors and read the cautions. The checker does not run a Gmail search or estimate result counts.
Review in Gmail. Verify the active account, inspect individual messages and conversation contents, and adjust the search if the results are broader than expected.

Synthetic examples

These examples are illustrative, not recommendations to delete their results.

from:newsletter@example.com older_than:6m

A sender combined with a relative age. The date threshold moves over time.

category:promotions before:2025/01/01 larger:10M

A category, fixed before date, and Gmail’s message-size notation combined.

Why the checker cannot promise a safe selection

Gmail matches messages first. A conversation can appear even when some messages in it do not meet an exclusion such as -is:starred. Exclusions are not whole-thread protection. The local checker cannot inspect your mailbox, interpret every Gmail operator, or guarantee matches or deletion safety.

Can I share or save my query here?

This tool does not create query links, read criteria from URL parameters, or save inputs. Copy the query if you need to keep it, remembering that sender addresses and search terms can be personal.

Official search references

Operator syntax and the conversation caveat were checked against Gmail Help: Refine searches in Gmail. Search scope and saved searches are described in Gmail Help: Search in Gmail. Reviewed October 17, 2026. Gmail behavior and availability may vary; confirm the results in your account.

Read the Gmail cleanup guides or learn about the Inbox Cleaner extension.