Choose Unread first as your Gmail inbox type. On a computer, open Gmail, select Settings, and choose Unread first under Inbox type. In the Gmail app, open Menu > Settings, select the account when prompted, open Inbox type, and choose Unread first. Gmail then places an Unread section above Everything else.
This makes an unread reply easier to notice, but it is not a reply-only filter. Any unread message can appear in that section, and a reply leaves it once Gmail marks it as read.
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What the Unread first layout actually changes
Gmail’s Unread first inbox type reorganizes the inbox into two sections. The Unread section appears at the top, while Everything else appears underneath. A new reply remains near the top only while it is unread.
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- An unread reply is placed in the top section with other unread mail.
- A reply that you open and that becomes read moves out of the unread section.
- Messages that are already read stay in Everything else, regardless of whether they are replies.
- A message can be unread even when it is not urgent, personally written, or part of an ongoing conversation.
Google describes the computer layout this way: choosing Unread first separates the inbox into Unread at the top and Everything else at the bottom. The same basic idea applies in the mobile apps, although the visible section labels can differ slightly.
That makes this layout useful for a simple question: “What has reached my inbox that I have not opened yet?” It does not answer the more specific question, “Which of those messages are replies to me?” You still need to identify the sender, subject, and conversation yourself.
Before you change the layout
Inbox type is an account-level Gmail organization choice, so first make sure you are looking at the account that receives the replies you want to notice. People who use several Gmail accounts can easily change one account and then continue checking another account with a different layout.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsAlso decide whether unread status is the signal you actually need. If you routinely open messages while skimming and then need to keep selected conversations visible afterward, Unread first will not be enough on its own. Once a message is read, it no longer qualifies for the Unread section. In that workflow, a star or label can provide a separate follow-up signal, while Unread first can still handle newly arrived mail.
Change Gmail to Unread first on a computer
The setting is available in Gmail’s Quick settings sidebar and in the full settings interface. The quickest route is:
- Open Gmail in a web browser.
- Click Settings.
- Under Inbox type, select Unread first.
Gmail applies the layout immediately. Return to the inbox and look for the Unread section at the top. Messages that do not currently meet the unread condition appear under Everything else.
You do not need to create a filter, search query, label, or separate folder for this change. Inbox type controls the overall arrangement of the inbox. Existing unread messages should be eligible for the upper section as soon as the layout is applied, not only messages that arrive afterward.
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If you cannot find Inbox type
Open the Quick settings sidebar from the Settings control and scroll to the Inbox type choices. Gmail’s current computer options include Default, Important first, Unread first, Starred first, Priority Inbox, and Multiple Inboxes. Select Unread first rather than changing a category tab or a search view.
If the sidebar does not show enough controls, use the link to see all settings and open the Inbox tab. The important choice is still the inbox type, not the category tabs below it. Changing a category or running an is:unread search can help temporarily, but neither creates the persistent two-section layout described here.
Check the result with a safe test
After changing the layout, leave one incoming message unopened. It should appear in the Unread section. Open it, return to the inbox, and confirm that it no longer appears there. This demonstrates the key behavior: the section follows unread status, not whether the message is a reply.
For a more realistic test, have a contact send a reply to a conversation while another unread message remains in the inbox. Both should be grouped in the upper section. After you open the reply, the other unread message should remain above it, while the opened reply moves to the lower section. This is a quick way to confirm that Gmail is behaving normally rather than filtering by sender or conversation type.
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Change the setting in the Gmail app for Android
Android places the inbox-type control inside the account-specific Gmail settings.
- Open the Gmail app.
- Tap Menu.
- Tap Settings.
- If Gmail asks which account to configure, choose the relevant account.
- Under Inbox, tap Inbox type.
- Select Unread first.
Android’s version of the layout is described as having Inbox and Unread sections. The exact wording or position of those sections may vary with the app version, but the purpose is the same: unread messages receive a dedicated place above the rest of the inbox.
When more than one account is signed in, repeat the process for each account whose replies you want to organize. The setting selected for one account does not automatically become the setting for every other account. After making the change, return to the inbox for that account and expand the unread section if it is collapsed.
When Android appears not to change
Make sure you changed the account that receives the replies you are trying to track. Gmail stores many inbox choices per account, so changing one account does not automatically change another. Return to Menu > Settings, select the other account, and check its Inbox type value if necessary.
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Check the message’s read state as well. Viewing the conversation, opening it from a notification, or using an action that marks it read removes it from the unread grouping. If you only previewed it and still need it in the upper section, use Gmail’s mark-as-unread action.
Change the setting on iPhone or iPad
The iOS Gmail app uses a similar path, without the Android account-selection prompt in Google’s documented steps.
- Open the Gmail app.
- Tap Menu.
- Tap Settings.
- Under Inbox, tap Inbox type.
- Select Unread first.
Google lists these iPhone and iPad choices: Default Inbox, Important first, Unread first, Starred first, and Priority Inbox. If you do not see the expected messages, verify that the correct Gmail account is active and that the message has not already been opened.
As on Android, this setting changes the way the account’s inbox is arranged; it is not a special notification mode. A reply can arrive without appearing as an alert, and an alert can disappear from the unread section after the conversation is opened. Treat inbox organization and notifications as separate controls.
Unread first versus Gmail’s other inbox layouts
Inbox types answer different questions. Pick the one that matches the signal you want Gmail to prioritize.
| Inbox type | What Gmail puts first or separates | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Unread first | Unread section above Everything else | Finding messages that still need to be opened, including unread replies |
| Important first | Messages Gmail marks important | Prioritizing Gmail’s relevance estimate rather than unread status |
| Starred first | Messages you have starred | Keeping deliberately marked follow-ups visible |
| Priority Inbox | Selected sections such as Important and unread, Starred, Everything else, or a label | Building a multi-section inbox around several signals |
| Default | Category tabs such as Primary, Social, Promotions, and Updates | Separating broad types of mail |
| Multiple Inboxes | Several inbox sections configured on the computer interface | Managing custom sections instead of using a single first-priority group |
Important first is not an unread view
Gmail’s importance system estimates relevance using signals such as whom you email and how often, which messages you open or reply to, keywords in messages you usually read, and messages you star, archive, or delete. A yellow importance marker identifies a message Gmail considers important. A message can be important and already read, or unread and not marked important, so this layout will not reliably surface every new reply.
Importance markers can be useful when you want Gmail to predict what matters, but they answer a different question from Unread first. Selecting Important first because a conversation feels significant does not guarantee that every unopened reply will be placed there.
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Starred first requires you to mark messages
Starred first is useful when you intentionally star a conversation for follow-up. It does not automatically place every incoming reply at the top. If you forget to star a message, the layout has no reason to elevate it.
This makes Starred first better for a deliberate task list than for catching every new arrival. You can read a message, star it, and keep it in the starred section even after it is no longer unread.
Priority Inbox is more configurable
Priority Inbox lets you combine sections, including Important and unread, Starred, Everything else, or a label. It can suit a workflow that needs both unread mail and a manually maintained follow-up group, but it requires more configuration than Unread first.
Choose it when one two-section rule is too simple. For example, a user may want an upper area for important-and-unread mail, another for starred conversations, and a lower area for everything else. The trade-off is that more sections mean more choices to maintain and more places to check.
Default organizes by category
Default Inbox separates categories such as Primary, Social, Promotions, and Updates. Categories can reduce clutter, but unread status is not given the same single top-level treatment as it is with Unread first. An unread reply may be in the Primary tab while another unread message is in Updates or Promotions.
Multiple Inboxes is a computer-oriented alternative
Multiple Inboxes is listed among the computer inbox choices and is intended for several custom sections. It may suit people who already organize mail around labels or searches, but it is not the simplest way to make unread replies stand out. For the narrow goal in this article, Unread first requires less setup and has a clearer result.
Keep an unread reply visible until you are ready
Unread first can only surface a message while Gmail considers it unread. If you open a reply and need to return to it later, mark it unread again using Gmail’s message action. The message can then return to the Unread section.
Marking a message unread is a state change, not a permanent reminder. The next time you open the conversation, Gmail can mark it read again. Use this method for short-term triage, such as a reply you have reviewed but cannot answer until later.
On Android, Gmail also provides swipe-action settings in its general settings. Those actions can be configured to mark a message read or unread, which can make it faster to restore a reply to the unread section after reviewing it. The available menu wording and notification behavior can vary by device and app version.
A simple reply-follow-up routine
- Leave the inbox type set to Unread first.
- Open a reply when you have time to handle it.
- If it needs more work, use Gmail’s mark-as-unread action before leaving the conversation.
- When you are finished, leave it read so it remains in Everything else.
- If it must remain visible after being read, add a star or use a label instead of relying on unread status.
This routine uses unread status as a temporary work queue. It does not label, sort, or identify replies separately, so messages that must remain visible after being read need a different signal, such as a star or a label.
Optional: adjust importance markers on the web
Importance markers are separate from the Unread first setting. If Gmail’s yellow markers are distracting or inaccurate, configure them on a computer:
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- Open Gmail and click Settings.
- Choose See all settings.
- Open the Inbox tab.
- Find Importance markers.
- Change the marker behavior or hide the markers.
Google says these importance-marker controls cannot be changed from the Gmail app. A choice made on a computer applies to the account’s app experience as well. Turning markers off does not disable Unread first; the two systems use different criteria.
These controls are optional. Do not change them simply because you want unread replies at the top: Unread first handles that purpose directly. Adjust importance markers only when you also want to change whether Gmail predicts importance or displays the yellow indicators.
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Unread first changes how mail is arranged after it reaches the inbox. Notification settings control whether the phone alerts you. Android Gmail settings include account notification choices, but notification behavior is not identical across every device and platform. If an incoming reply is urgent, review the account’s notification settings separately rather than assuming the inbox layout will generate an alert.
Notifications also do not change the read state. Opening a message from a notification can mark it read, which may remove it from the Unread section. If you only want to preview an arrival and handle it later, avoid opening the conversation until you are ready or mark it unread again afterward.
Conversely, an unread message can be waiting in the upper section without producing a new alert, depending on the account’s notification choices and the device. Check the inbox when you need a complete view of unread mail; do not treat the notification shade as a substitute for the Unread section.
Troubleshoot replies that do not appear under Unread
The reply is already read
This is the most common explanation. Open the inbox or conversation and use the mark-as-unread action. The message should then qualify for the Unread section.
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You changed the wrong account
Gmail accounts have their own inbox settings. On Android, revisit Menu > Settings and select the account that receives the reply. On a computer, check the account currently open in Gmail before changing Inbox type.
You selected a different inbox type
Default, Important first, Starred first, Priority Inbox, and Multiple Inboxes do not produce the same two-section Unread-first layout. Reopen the inbox settings and confirm that Unread first is selected.
You expected replies only
Unread first groups all unread messages. Use the sender, subject, or conversation details to distinguish a reply from other unread mail. Gmail does not provide a reply-only section through this inbox-type choice.
The section labels look different on mobile
Google documents the Android layout as Inbox and Unread sections, while the computer instructions use Unread and Everything else. Small label or placement differences do not necessarily indicate a problem. Confirm that unread messages are being separated from the rest.
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An importance marker reflects Gmail’s relevance prediction, not whether a message is unread. If your goal is to see every message that has not been opened, keep Unread first selected even if you also use importance markers.
You opened the message from another device
Read state belongs to the Gmail account, not just the screen where you first saw the message. If you open a reply on the web, tablet, or another phone, it may no longer qualify for the Unread section when you return to the original device. Mark it unread again if it still needs attention.
Which setup should you choose?
- Choose Unread first when your immediate priority is noticing messages you have not opened.
- Choose Important first when Gmail’s relevance estimate is more useful than unread status.
- Choose Starred first when you deliberately mark follow-ups and want those marks at the top.
- Choose Priority Inbox when you want several sections, such as important-and-unread messages plus starred items.
- Keep Default when category tabs are the main way you separate mail.
- Use Multiple Inboxes on a computer when custom sections are more important than Gmail’s predefined layouts.
For the specific goal of making an unread reply easier to spot, Unread first is the most direct choice. Just remember that it highlights unread state, not the fact that a message is a reply.
Practical examples
Suppose your inbox contains an unread reply from a colleague, an unread delivery notice, and a read conversation with a client. With Unread first, the colleague’s reply and the delivery notice appear together in Unread; the read client conversation appears in Everything else. Gmail does not rank the colleague’s reply above the delivery notice merely because it is a reply.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make unread emails show up first in Gmail?
Set the inbox type to Unread first. On a computer, open Gmail, click Settings, and select Unread first under Inbox type. In the app, use Menu > Settings > Inbox type > Unread first.
Can I make Gmail show replies only?
No. Unread first groups every unread message, including newsletters, alerts, receipts, and replies. It does not create a reply-only section.
Where is Inbox type in the Gmail app?
Open the Gmail app, tap Menu, tap Settings, and open Inbox type under Inbox. Android may ask you to select an account first.
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Why did a reply disappear from the Unread section?
It was probably marked read, either because you opened it in Gmail or viewed it on another device. Use Gmail’s mark-as-unread action to return it to the unread grouping.
Does Unread first work for every Gmail account at once?
Inbox choices are associated with accounts. On Android, select the relevant account before changing the setting, and repeat the change for other accounts if needed.
What is the difference between Unread first and Important first?
Unread first uses read status and places unread mail at the top. Important first uses Gmail’s importance prediction, based on signals such as your email activity, opening and replying habits, message keywords, and actions such as starring, archiving, or deleting.
Can I keep a read reply near the top?
Unread first cannot do that because read messages leave the Unread section. Star the conversation or apply a label if it must remain visible after you have opened it.
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Google’s documented controls for importance markers are on the computer: Settings > See all settings > Inbox > Importance markers. The computer choice applies to the account’s app experience too.
Will Unread first send a notification for every reply?
No. Unread first changes inbox arrangement, while notification settings control alerts. Review the account’s notification choices separately, especially for urgent replies.
The Bottom Line
Set Gmail to Unread first to place unread messages, including new replies, in a section at the top of the inbox. Use the computer path Settings > Inbox type > Unread first, or the app path Menu > Settings > Inbox type > Unread first. Remember that this is an unread-message layout, not a reply detector: opening a reply moves it out of the unread section, and every other unread message appears there too.
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