Can I revert to the Mail App after the iOS 18.2 update

Like others here, I dislike the update. I followed the suggestions to eliminate the dysfunctional categories, but I still have big circles next to each email that clutter up my view. Any way to get rid of these too? They take up too much space, and I keep accidentally "selecting" emails.

PlzSimplify123 wrote:

Like others here, I dislike the update. I followed the suggestions to eliminate the dysfunctional categories, but I still have big circles next to each email that clutter up my view. Any way to get rid of these too? They take up too much space, and I keep accidentally "selecting" emails.

You need to realize that those features are there because users asked for them. Like all big companies Apple conducts surveys and customer focus groups to find out what users are asking for. Apple also has a Feedback website where users can suggest features, changes, and report bugs. Just because YOU don't like them doesn't mean no one else does either. Try thinking outside of your own box.

As for those “big circles” the instructions on how to disable them are contained in the posts above yours. Have you thought about reading any previous posts? It’s easy to remove them. Start reading.

Product Feedback - Apple

Nickb1959 wrote:

Because the Mail change happens automatically and wrongly categorised my emails I missed a business critical communication - thanks a bunch Apple

That’s on you, not Apple. Blaming Apple for your failings doesn’t make you blameless.

I don’t understand why Apple changes things that work without at least having the option to leave it the way it’s been for the last decade. Who is this helping? Who looked at google or outlook’s janky set ups and went, yeah this is what the average iPhone user wants.

This is for lkrupp, who left a snarky response to my civilized question. You are not helpful. This was my first time reaching out to the Apple "support community" after decades as an Apple/mail user. I came here for help, and I asked my question respectfully. There was no need to insult me. I will think long and hard before reaching out here again.

PlzSimplify123 wrote:

This is for lkrupp, who left a snarky response to my civilized question. You are not helpful. This was my first time reaching out to the Apple "support community" after decades as an Apple/mail user. I came here for help, and I asked my question respectfully. There was no need to insult me. I will think long and hard before reaching out here again.

When you go to a forum for assistance it is prudent to read what has already been posted. Expecting other users to repeat what has been posted multiple times in a thread is selfish, counting on others to do your homework for you. Everything you commented on has already been answered multiple times in this thread and others.

Nickb1959 wrote:

What a silly response! Am I supposed to make time every day just in case Apple changes something with no warning. Don’t be daft!

But it’s OK for you to expect other users to make time every day because you didn’t bother to read the iOS update notes?

Lawrence Finch wrote:

PlzSimplify123 wrote:

This is for lkrupp, who left a snarky response to my civilized question. You are not helpful. This was my first time reaching out to the Apple "support community" after decades as an Apple/mail user. I came here for help, and I asked my question respectfully. There was no need to insult me. I will think long and hard before reaching out here again.

When you go to a forum for assistance it is prudent to read what has already been posted. Expecting other users to repeat what has been posted multiple times in a thread is selfish, counting on others to do your homework for you. Everything you commented on has already been answered multiple times in this thread and others.

Maybe they did read what was posted. The problem is that the default sort order for posts is rank. The start of this whole thread, when sorted by rank, does not give the impression that suggested solutions work because potential solutions are mixed in with comments indicating that something is still wrong and an assumption that suggested solutions didn't work wouldn't be unreasonable. It surely can't be a surprise that defaulting to rank order with no threading and no easy way for anyone, let alone a newbie to follow the thread results in people re-stating the question or saying that they can't find a solution even when one might have been posted.

I've suggested to Apple on more than one occasion that threading and solution pinning and defaulting to posting order would help but nothing changes other than Apple's customers coming here and getting annoyed when they should be getting help.

Dear Lawrence Finch: Did you happen to read my original question, in which I specifically said that I had followed the instructions shared by others in this group? Following the advice of others got me part of the way, but not all of the way. As it turned out, my phone glitched, making it impossible to open and read emails. This WAS NOT a symptom that others had asked and answered. It IS a problem I have now solved, though. Before signing up for this "support community," I read through the ENTIRE thread looking for solutions. Thanks to those who offered thoughtful solutions. I am tapping out.

Zurarczurx wrote:

I've suggested to Apple on more than one occasion that threading and solution pinning and defaulting to posting order would help but nothing changes other than Apple's customers coming here and getting annoyed when they should be getting help.

Actually, message threading is a major point of discussion in the Lounge (where I hope to see you sooner rather than later); no one likes the sort default of rank, rather than oldest or newest. But fortunately, you can change the sort order in a thread, or globally in your forum preferences.

Lawrence Finch wrote:

Zurarczurx wrote:

I've suggested to Apple on more than one occasion that threading and solution pinning and defaulting to posting order would help but nothing changes other than Apple's customers coming here and getting annoyed when they should be getting help.

Actually, message threading is a major point of discussion in the Lounge (where I hope to see you sooner rather than later); no one likes the sort default of rank, rather than oldest or newest. But fortunately, you can change the sort order in a thread, or globally in your forum preferences.

Thanks, Lawrence, that's interesting.

I doubt I'll ever make the lounge. The more time I spend here the more disheartened I get with it and I've already started to reduce my participation.

Please give us the roll back options. This new version truly sucks and I am missing important stuff. It could really be the last straw with Apple. I need good communication constantly not the machine to decide what is important and I need to know the messages are there.

THANK YOU!

I hate getting Mac software update "gifts" I didn't want, need or ask for with no way to opt out.

Now it looks like the mail app I'm used to and which speeds my workflow instead of the silly cartoon version with the big colorful icons.

greginthevalley wrote:

THANK YOU!

I hate getting Mac software update "gifts" I didn't want, need or ask for with no way to opt out.

Now it looks like the mail app I'm used to and which speeds my workflow instead of the silly cartoon version with the big colorful icons.

Let’s get something straight here shall we. Users have asked for these features by submitting Product Feedback - Apple to Apple. That you don't like them does NOT mean the whole world dislikes them too. Apple, like other big consumer oriented companies conducts surveys, customer focus groups trying find out what their customers want. The decision to change, modify, or add new features to the Mail app was not made in a vacuum. It wasn’t some random action.

In the spirit of keeping the responses kind and helpful, I'm simply grateful for the information in how to revert mail to its previous look and relating my own experience and opinion about the change.

Judging from this forum, many other users are not fans of the change and were perhaps not asked or included in any surveys or customer focus groups

I understand how the testing and rollout process is supposed to work. I’ve been an Apple user for a long time and a participant in consumer outreach and beta testing, but in my experience, there can sometimes be other needs or goals that drive change in addtion to, or aside from, customer product feedback.

My personal feedback is that I would appreciate it if Apple included the information on how to opt or how to revert to the earlier look of mail along with the update.