# Labels & filter rules

Color-code your mail with labels, then automate sorting with rules that run as soon as a message arrives.

4 min read. HTML: https://sendwithflare.com/help/labels-and-rules/

FlareMail lets you organize mail the way you work: create color-coded **labels**, then build **rules** that label, move, archive, star, or trash messages automatically.

## Create labels

1. **Open Labels** — Go to **Settings** (`⌘` `,`) → **Labels**.
2. **Name and color** — Type a label name, pick a color, and click **Add**.
3. **Use it in the inbox** — Apply labels from the message toolbar or let a rule add them for you.

![Settings → Labels. Create color-coded labels like Urgent, Clients, or Receipts.](/help/assets/labels.webp)

*Settings → Labels. Create color-coded labels like Urgent, Clients, or Receipts.*

## Build a filter rule

Open **Settings → Rules** and create a rule with a match and an action. Matches can look at From, To, Subject, or Body — with contains, equals, starts with, ends with, or regex. Actions include move, add label, archive, spam, trash, star, mark read, forward, and more.

![Settings → Rules. Rules run on incoming mail so the inbox sorts itself.](/help/assets/labels-and-rules.webp)

*Settings → Rules. Rules run on incoming mail so the inbox sorts itself.*

- **Priority** — lower numbers run first when several rules could match.
- **Stop processing** — optionally halt further rules after this one fires.
- **Enable / disable** — pause a rule without deleting it.

> **TIP:** Start with one or two high-confidence rules (newsletters → archive, VIP domains → label) before adding regex matches.