How to remove Category icons in iOS 18.2 Mail?

Yay! Thank you.

Thank you so much, this was driving me crazy.

I think the programmers who come up with these updates get bored and don’t ask anyone if this would be a plus or minus. This one was definitely.👎 Thank you for the help!

I have this exact same question. It’s annoying.

Turned off "show contact photos", which worked, and now I obviously see no icons which unexpectedly became an issue for me. I liked icons! But keep it small please. Ended up installing Gmail on my phone and it's been a better solution for now. Goodbye Apple Mail, I'm kinda shocked that Apple rolled this out.

Thank you!! Despite the actual setting making no sense whatsoever!!! Apple your woeful…how would the action turn off contact photos remove the silly prissy category icons!?!?!? Oh of course it makes sense. NOT. Thank you for posting this tip, hugely appreciated. Unlike the awful UI in this iOS release. Progressive deceleration of evolution..😱😂

Thanks! What a numbskull idea. Does Apple think its users are such nitwits we can’t even figure out what kinds of emails we get unless they give us cute little icons? Unbelievable…. just focus on the functionality (and pricing ) please and thank you.

Exactly. I’m so sick of Apple controlling my phone. Like you I don’t want any “categories” and having to work out which category Apple have decided my mail should go in. Agree why can’t I keep my personal icons for my main contacts and just remove these dumb symbols. Does anyone actually find them helpful?!

The first problem with the category icons is the very limited number of categories and therefore a very crude allocation which serves no purpose. If it distinguished between an unwanted promotion and confirmation of a delivery timetable for example that would be helpful. And showing photographs where there is an actual image and or where the sender is in your contacts would also be helpful. This would make for a slightly irregular layout with some messages having an icon and some not but that would help you sift the important one.

This looks like the most basic application of AI and whoever allowed this to be released in this ultra simplistic and meaningless format Should be told off (not wishing to resort to hyperbole in public discussion)

EJH04 wrote:

Hate category inboxes on Apple Mail! How to get rid of it permanently or do I have find another mail service?

You don't have to choose a different email provider, just a different email app. I've never liked the Apple Mail app. I've been using Spark by Readdle for years. I suspect it wouldn't be the one for you, though, as you don't like categories. But there are lots out there. Lots of people like Outlook.

This no longer works, now when you open the inbox tap the three dots in the upper right hand corner and choose list view. Unfortunately, if you have a half a dozen or more email accounts, like I do, you have to do it for each one, but once you do it the changes not one single Apple customer likely asked for have been reverted.

Thank you, Rose. Following your instructions I was able to turn to turn off Contact list on my iphone 14 and return to the clean Apple Mail screen I like so much. Thank you Apple Support Community for your help on various issues over time.

Maybe just look for this, I don’t have an iPhone 16

Maybe just look for this, I don’t have an iPhone 16