Simple Gmail hack to show unread messages only

Some years ago, I switched from Outlook for many reasons and began using Gmail and since it is a mail service that is still being developed, there are some features lacking in the offering. We’ve talked now about adding a HTML signature to your outbound mail, about how to recall an accidental email sent and adding a basic client management tool, bringing the offering closer to complete.

But there are more features missing from Gmail… One reason I prefer web based mail is the consistent interface that I can use from my phone, my browser, or maybe if I’m lucky, someday a third generation iPad. But one thing that I missed about my old Outlook was the ability to arrange emails based on whether they were read or unread since I marked emails I needed to respond to as unread, allowing me to prioritize.

In Gmail, you can place stars next to emails just like flags in Outlook and prioritize starred mail, and you can use tags on Gmail just like folders on Outlook, but I learned a little trick today from @ObviouslyBen on Twitter that allows you to see all of your unread emails and none of the read emails, simply type in “in:inbox is:unread” in the search bar of your Gmail and it filters out all read messages.

This may seem like a mindless, simple Gmail hack but for me, it is the biggest productivity booster I’ve learned for Gmail in years! Does this tip help you to prioritize?

Originally published February 05, 2010.