InboxSort

A privacy-first Chrome extension that visually sorts and filters Gmail by date, sender, star, or unread status.

Gmail gives you labels, stars, and categories, but no way to sort your inbox by sender name or push unread messages to the top. InboxSort adds a compact toolbar to Gmail with one-click sorting, filters, search, keyboard shortcuts, and message counts.

InboxSort uses CSS transforms. It does not change your actual inbox.

---

Features

Sort Modes

Mode	Description
Oldest First	Surface buried emails you may have missed
Newest First	Restore Gmail's default order with one click
Sender A→Z	Group conversations alphabetically by sender
Sender Z→A	Reverse alphabetical order
Unread First	Push unread messages to the top
Starred First	Put starred messages first, then sort each group by newest date

Group by Sender

A visual overlay that clusters consecutive emails from the same sender, with color-coded badges and email counts (e.g., "Google (3)"). Alternating background tints make sender groups easy to spot at a glance. Works alongside any sort mode.

Quick Filters

Toggle buttons in the toolbar to show only:

• Starred emails
• Unread messages
• Emails with attachments

Filters can be combined (e.g., unread + attachments). Click any stat in the stats bar to toggle it as a filter.

Live Search

Type in the filter bar to instantly narrow the current page by sender name, subject line, or snippet. Match count displays as you type. Press / to jump to the search bar or Esc to clear.

Stats Bar

A slim bar below your sort tabs showing real-time counts: total, unread, starred, and attachments on the current page. Click any stat to toggle it as a quick filter.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Alt+1	Sort: Oldest First
Alt+2	Sort: Newest First
Alt+3	Sort: Sender A→Z
Alt+4	Sort: Sender Z→A
Alt+5	Sort: Unread First
Alt+6	Toggle Group by Sender
Alt+7	Sort: Starred First
Alt+0	Clear all active filters
/	Focus the filter search bar
?	Open keyboard shortcut cheat sheet

Smart Preferences

• Auto-sort on load: Your last-used sort applies when Gmail opens
• Per-label preferences: Use different sort settings for Inbox, categories, or custom labels
• Pause sorting: Stop sorting for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hour, then restore the prior sort

Customizable Toolbar

Show or hide individual sort tabs to keep the toolbar clean. Manage visibility from the extension popup.

Accent Colors

Choose from six colors to match your style: blue, green, purple, red, orange, and teal. Applied to the active sort tab, filter highlights, group badges, and other interactive elements.

Backup & Restore

Export all your settings (sort mode, accent color, toggles, hidden tabs, per-label preferences) to a JSON file. Import them on another browser or machine.

Dark Mode

InboxSort detects Gmail's dark theme. Dark-mode colors apply to toolbar controls, badges, and dialogs.

Privacy First

• Zero data collection: No analytics, tracking, or telemetry
• No network requests: InboxSort does not contact an external server or API
• Minimal permissions: activeTab runs InboxSort in Gmail, and storage saves your preferences
• Local processing: InboxSort processes the visible message list in your browser
• Open source: Review the complete source code

---

Installation

1. Visit the InboxSort page on the Chrome Web Store.
2. Click Add to Chrome.
3. Confirm by clicking Add extension.
4. Open Gmail. The sort toolbar appears below Gmail's action bar.

No account creation, sign-up, or configuration required.

---

How It Works

InboxSort adds a toolbar below Gmail's action bar. Select a sort, filter the visible list, or examine the message counts. CSS transforms change the visual order without moving, deleting, or changing your messages.

InboxSort works in Inbox, categories, search results, and custom labels. The toolbar stays hidden in Sent, All Mail, message threads, and separate message windows.

---

Permissions

Permission	Why It's Needed
activeTab	Read email row elements on the Gmail page and inject the sort toolbar. Only activates on mail.google.com.
storage	Save preferences (sort order, accent color, toggles) locally so they persist between sessions.

InboxSort does not request identity, cookies, history, bookmarks, downloads, or any other sensitive permissions.

---

Compatibility

• Browser: Google Chrome (Manifest V3)
• Platform: mail.google.com (desktop web interface)
• Views: All Gmail views including Inbox, Sent, Drafts, Spam, Trash, custom labels, and category tabs
• Not compatible with: Mobile Gmail app, third-party email clients, Google Workspace custom domains outside mail.google.com

---

Version

v1.3.2 - See CHANGELOG.md for release history.

---

License

This project is provided for personal use. All rights reserved.

---

Contact

Alex Brecher: abrecher@gmail.com

---

InboxSort is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google or Gmail. Gmail is a trademark of Google LLC.