With 18.2 introduction of category inboxes in apple mail, even when selecting list view (top three dots in mail app) to return it to the old format, you still have the annoying new icons representing the categories in front of each email. I'm selecting 'list view' because I don't want to use 'categories' at all. Can the icons be removed from list view so that I can just see a normal/clean email inbox?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 18
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.
Redfethor wrote:
This doesn’t solve the problem, it just replaces it with a different issue. I want to keep the contact photos and get rid of the Apple generated icons for categories. If I get a message from a trusted contact it was much easier to identify previously, now it’s grouped in a category with a badly designed graphic in ugly colors.
That doesn't appear to be possible at this time. Let Apple know what you'd like to see here:
Meanwhile, consider one of the many, many other email programs available in the App Store. It's possible that one of them will better suit you.
It IS an option, clearly, as you just changed the setting. Frequently when Apple adds a feature it defaults to ON, because if it didn’t the 99% of users who don’t read the release notes→What’s new in iOS 18 - Apple Support wouldn't know about the new features.
And I resent you calling it the dumbest update ever. Speak for yourself. I find it a useful addition, and it makes Apple Mail work more like MS mail and gmail.
cathy66m wrote:
I have no 'message list' in settings. I did see there is a button for 'reset manual categorization' in 'about categories' in mail but it is deactive. Of course. So helpful.
Did you see the post on this page→https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255889425?answerId=261204427022&sortBy=oldest_first#261204427022
There are 13 pages of posts, so you probably missed it:
kathleenfromburlington wrote:
I don’t have message list under “mail” in settings so this answer doesn’t help me.
mobabs wrote:
I have spent years getting my mail just how I want to use it. I use different accounts for different categories with spam going into one account making it easy to delete or block. I also liked showing icons of people and companies that I use all the time. Now I have to turn them off because Apple decided to mix all my accounts up into these awful categories and icons. I’m not at all happy about this. Instead of adding a useful feature they have removed one.
You can let Apple know your thoughts here:
Louise178 wrote:
I do not have anything that says message list under Mail
I realize that with 14 pages of replies it is easy to miss the solution that has been posted dozens of times, so here it is again:
To remove the icons in the list view:
To turn off Categories:
These 2 steps will return the Mail app to the way it previously worked.
This thread has probably a hundred posts on how to deal with this improvement to mail. To save you the trouble of doing your own research (which means scrolling back a page or two), I’ll repeat it here.
To remove the icons in the list view:
To turn off Categories:
These 2 steps will return the Mail app to the way it previously worked.
Grandma Geri wrote:
I agree. I like the contacts icon. Just hate categories. I am missing important mail because Apple thinks my Dr is a “promotion”. Just give me back my normail mail list. I’ll decide whats a promotion or not and block it!!!
Have you turned off Categories yet?
(copied from Lawrence Finch post)
Perfect. Thank you 🙏
Yay! Thank you.
Thank you so much, this was driving me crazy.
I turned off “Contact photos”. Now I got rid of the annoying giant icons. That’s why I almost don’t want to install an update anymore. Thanks for the info.
Brilliant - exactly what I wanted (to get rid of these irritating little icons/badges that just clutter up my Mail view). Thank you soooo much!
How to remove Category icons in iOS 18.2 Mail?
