How to empty the Trash in Gmail

There are two ways to remove emails from Gmail: "Archived" and "Delete". When you delete an email, it is sent to the Trash, where it stays for 30 days. You can also empty it sooner to save space immediately.

While the "archived" email is not physically removed, the "deleted" emails eventually disappear forever. Gmail keeps them in Trash for 30 days only if you change your mind. After that, they are gone forever, but you can speed up the process if you like.

To empty your trash, you'll need to open Gmail in your desktop browser or on your iPhone, iPad, or Android . Use the "hamburger" menu button in the upper-left corner of the screen to expand the menu – if it is not already expanded – and select "Trash".

At the top of the screen, you will see a message stating that the trash was deleted after 30 days. Select "Empty Trash Now" to do it now.

The confirmation message will make sure that you want to empty the Trash. Select "Blank" to continue.

That's all there is to it. Enjoy strict clean digital trash can and a little more space in your Google account.