Gmail Promotions Filter Not Working | Easy Ways to Fix it

If your Gmail filters are failing to keep emails out of the “Promotions” tab, it is likely because Gmail’s “Smart Categories” algorithm (which was updated in late 2025 to be more aggressive) is overriding your manual rules.

Here is the step-by-step guide to force emails into your Primary inbox, ordered from the most targeted fix to the “nuclear option.”

Method 1: The “Hard” Override Filter (Most Reliable)

Many users create filters that say “Move to Inbox,” but that is often not enough. You must explicitly tell Gmail to change the category.

1. Open Gmail on a desktop browser (this is harder to do on mobile).

2. Click the Search options icon (the sliders) in the search bar.

3. Type the sender’s email address in the From field (or use *@domain.com to whitelist a whole company).

4. Click Create filter.

5. Check these three specific boxes:

   • ✅ Never send to Spam (This signals “Safe”).

   • ✅ Categorize as: (Choose Primary from the dropdown).

   • ✅ Also apply filter to matching conversations.

6. Click Create filter.

Why this works: The “Categorize as: Primary” instruction is the only command that directly fights the “Promotions” tag. Without it, Gmail might move the email to the Inbox but still tag it as a Promotion, keeping it hidden in that tab.

Method 2: Disable “Smart Features” Interference

If filters are still being ignored, Gmail’s “Smart features” setting might be taking precedence.

1. Go to Settings (Gear icon) > See all settings.

2. Go to the General tab.

3. Scroll down to Smart features and personalization.

4. If this is on, Gmail uses its own AI to sort mail, sometimes ignoring your manual categorization. You can try toggling this OFF, saving, and then turning it back ON to reset the learning cache, or leave it off if you prefer manual control.

Method 3: The “Drag and Train” (Specific Senders)

If you don’t want to create a filter for every single sender, you can retrain the algorithm, but you must do it correctly:

1. Go to the Promotions tab.

2. Left-click and hold on the email.

3. Drag it physically to the Primary tab (top left).

4. Wait for the black box to appear at the bottom left of the screen.

5. It will ask: “Do this for future messages from [sender]?”

6. You MUST click “Yes” immediately. If you miss this prompt, the training won’t stick.

Method 4: The Nuclear Option (Disable Promotions Tab)

If you are tired of fighting the tab, you can delete it. All “Promotional” emails will then pour directly into your Primary Inbox.

1. Go to Settings (Gear icon) > See all settings.

2. Click the Inbox tab.

3. Uncheck the box next to Promotions.

4. Scroll down and click Save Changes.

   • Result: You will now have one single list for all emails.

Common Troubleshooting

• “I created a filter but it still goes to Promotions.” Check if you have other filters with “Skip the Inbox (Archive it)” checked. If an email is archived, it won’t appear in Primary or Promotions—it will just vanish into “All Mail.”

• “It works for a while, then stops.” This usually happens with newsletters that change their “From” address (e.g., news@company.com vs. updates@company.com). Use the filter *@company.com to catch all variations.