Overview
Inbox Zero Tabs is a free browser extension that adds custom tabs to Gmail. It helps you organize your inbox by creating tabs for different types of emails - similar to Superhuman’s split inbox feature. The extension is 100% private - all data stays in your browser with no tracking or data collection.
When used with Inbox Zero’s AI Assistant, the extension becomes extra powerful. The AI can automatically categorize and label your emails, which then appear in the appropriate tabs without any manual setup.
Installation
Install the extension for your browser:Chrome & Chromium Browsers
Get Inbox Zero Tabs Extension Works with Chrome, Brave, Arc, Edge, Opera, and other Chromium-based browsers.Firefox
Get Inbox Zero Tabs for Firefox Works with Firefox and Firefox-based browsers. After installation, refresh your Gmail tab to see the new tab system.Features
The extension adds custom tabs to Gmail that work with any Gmail search query. You get pre-configured tabs for common needs like “To Reply”, “Newsletters”, and “Receipts”, or you can create your own based on any search criteria. It supports multiple Gmail accounts with separate settings for each, automatically detecting which account you’re using. The design matches Gmail’s interface perfectly, supporting both dark and light themes.Key Difference from Gmail Labels
Unlike Gmail labels which show all emails (including archived ones), tabs focus on what’s currently in your inbox. This is why most tab queries includein:inbox - to show only active emails, not everything you’ve ever received. You can also add is:unread to focus only on unread messages.
Getting Started
After installing the extension and refreshing Gmail, click the extension icon to add your first tab. You can choose from pre-configured tabs or create custom ones using any Gmail search query.Example Tabs
Common tabs include:- To Reply:
in:inbox is:sent -in:chats -label:replied - Newsletters:
in:inbox label:newsletter OR from:substack.com - Receipts:
in:inbox subject:(receipt OR invoice OR order) - Team:
in:inbox from:@yourcompany.com - Important & Unread:
in:inbox is:important is:unread
How It Works in Practice
A common workflow is managing newsletters. Each day, you can click on your “Newsletters” tab to see all newsletters in one place. Quickly scan through them, then select all (using Gmail’s checkbox) and click archive. If you spot one or two you want to read, simply unselect those before archiving the rest. This turns what could be a tedious daily task into a quick 30-second routine.Configuration
To add a new tab, click the extension icon and select “Add Tab”. Give it a name and define the Gmail search query you want to use. You can optionally enable “Unread Only” to filter out read emails. Existing tabs can be edited by clicking on their names. You can modify the search query, rename tabs, or delete ones you no longer need. To reorder tabs, click the settings icon and then drag tabs to arrange them in your preferred order.Use Gmail’s search operators like
from:, label:, has:attachment, is:unread, and newer_than: to create powerful filters. Combine them with OR and AND for complex queries.Privacy
The extension is completely private. We don’t track or collect any email data, everything runs locally in your browser, and no account is required. All settings are stored locally in your browser. Your email data never leaves your device, and we have no access to your Gmail account or messages.Troubleshooting
Extension Not Showing
- Refresh your Gmail tab after installation
- Check that the extension is enabled in your browser’s extension settings
Tabs Not Filtering Correctly
- Verify your search query syntax
- Test the query in Gmail’s search bar first
- Check for typos in label names
- Ensure labels exist in your Gmail account