Swipe actions and bulk selection on your phone
Swipe left to archive, right to move to Trash, with six seconds to undo. Select several conversations and star, mark, archive, move or delete them at once.
On the phone, the two most common moves are gestures: swipe a conversation left to archive it, right to move it to Trash. For anything involving several conversations, switch the list into selection mode and use the toolbar. Both work in the Private.Ki app and in a phone browser.
Swipe a conversation
- Swipe left on a row until the Archive label appears and let go. The row leaves the list and a snackbar says Conversation archived.Web & desktop screenshotSwiping left reveals Archive.This capture is produced by the screenshot pipeline and will appear here.
Swiping left reveals Archive.Web & desktop 
11ArchiveiPhone 11ArchiveAndroid - Swipe right to reveal Move to trash. Letting go moves the conversation to Trash — Conversation moved to trash.Web & desktop screenshotSwiping right reveals Move to trash. The snackbar offers Undo for six seconds.This capture is produced by the screenshot pipeline and will appear here.
Swiping right reveals Move to trash. The snackbar offers Undo for six seconds.Web & desktop 
11Move to trashiPhone 11Move to trashAndroid - Changed your mind? Tap Undo in the snackbar. It counts down from six seconds and puts the conversation back exactly where it was. After that, use Restore in Archive or Trash.
A short drag springs back; a drag of roughly 40 % of the row width, or a quick flick, commits. A mostly vertical finger scrolls the list instead, so scrolling never files mail by accident.
Which directions work depends on the folder:
| Folder | Swipe left | Swipe right |
|---|---|---|
| Inbox, Sent | Archive | Move to trash |
| Drafts | Archive (this draft only) | Move to trash (this draft only) |
| Archive | — | Move to trash |
| Trash | Archive | — |
In Trash there is no swipe to delete permanently, on purpose: a gesture with no confirmation must not destroy anything. Delete permanently stays in the long-press menu behind a dialog.
Select several conversations
- Tap the select icon (a ticked square) at the top right of the list. Checkboxes replace the avatars.Web & desktop screenshotThe select icon at the top right turns the list into a selection.This capture is produced by the screenshot pipeline and will appear here.
The select icon at the top right turns the list into a selection.Web & desktop 
11SelectiPhone 11SelectAndroid - Tap rows to tick them. Select all at the top of the list ticks every loaded row; the count of selected rows is shown in the bar.
- Use the toolbar buttons. Which ones appear depends on the folder: Star / Remove star, Mark as read / Mark as unread, Archive, Move to, Delete — and in Archive and Trash Restore, in Trash also Delete permanently (with a confirmation).Web & desktop screenshotWith rows ticked, the toolbar shows the actions the folder allows.This capture is produced by the screenshot pipeline and will appear here.
With rows ticked, the toolbar shows the actions the folder allows.Web & desktop 
123456712 selected2Star3Mark as read4Archive5Move to6Delete7Select alliPhone 123456712 selected2Star3Mark as read4Archive5Move to6Delete7Select allAndroid - After an action the selection clears. To leave selection mode without acting, untick the rows.
Long-pressing a row does not enter selection mode — it opens the row's menu with the same actions for that single conversation, plus Reply, Forward and Move to.
What our server sees
Cannot see
- The content of anything you swipe or select
Can see
- The folder change itself, and the star or read flag you set — the same as when you use the menu
Common questions
The list does not swipe, it only scrolls
Start the swipe with a clearly sideways motion. A finger that moves mostly up or down is treated as a scroll, and near the left edge of the screen on iOS and Android the system drawer gesture may take over — start a little further in.
I swiped the wrong way and missed the undo
Nothing is lost. The conversation is in Archive or Trash; long-press it there and choose Restore.
Can I swipe in Trash to delete permanently?
No. See Delete emails and restore from Trash for the permanent-delete options.