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

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.

Go to Settings/General/Software Update and turn off Automatic Updates. But note that will not stop updates that fix security vulnerabilities. The updates 18.3 and 18.3.1 collectively fix 30 security issues.

darrisC06 wrote:

these developers don’t get it. no one wants to change the way they do simple tasks.

Actually, its you who doesn't get it. These new features are attractive to many users. The features already exist in gmail, Outlook, and many other mail providers (where they CAN’T be turned off). Just because you don’t like something it doesn't mean the whole world agrees with your preferences.

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.

https://idmsa.apple.com/IDMSWebAuth/signin?path=%2F%2Fthread%2F255886552%3Flogin%3Dtrue&language=US-EN&instanceId=EN&appIdKey=529eb2b096d5a3d54162171f0f29ba797e602812660013123243e58bc7bedf56&rv=1

mike719 wrote:

Newer does not mean better! Just because you change something doesn’t mean you’re improving it. Please send an update so we can choose which way we want mail to show on the app

Amazingly, you have that choice already! It doesn’t require an update! And how to do that has been posted in this thread dozens of times! To save you the trouble of reading:

To remove the icons in the list view:

• Open Settings
• Tap Apps
• Tap Mail
• Turn off Show Contact Photos
• Optionally, turn off Summarize Message Previews

To turn off Categories:

• Open the Mail app
• Tap on an inbox
• Tap on ⋯⃝ in the upper right
• Tap to check List View

These 2 steps will return the Mail app to the way it previously worked.

__LG wrote:

I am in OS 18.3.1 on iPhone SE3 and am in list view and the mail is still using categories w colored icons. I absolutely hate it and want a way to return completely to the way it was before w no icons and NO categories. Its absolute madness. And there seems NO way to get back to the simpler old way. Please help us make this happen. Give us directions that can FIX THIS please.

Thank you.

As has been posted at least a dozen times in the thread you just added to:

• Tap Settings
• Tap Apps
• Scroll down and tap Mail
• Scroll down and turn off Show Contact Photos

To unsubscribe from a thread:

• Click the blue bell near the top of the page
• Redraw the page, using the button in your browser (It’s to the right of the URL in Safari, near the top left edge in Firefox; it looks like a partial circle with an arrow)
• If the button is blue again, repeat the process until the bell remains clear

You will need to do this once for every post you made in the thread. For example, if you made 3 posts, you will have to repeat this 3 times.

This is a forum bug that first appeared around 5 years ago, was fixed, and has recently returned.

To remove the icons in the list view:

• Open Settings
• Tap Apps
• Tap Mail
• Turn off Show Contact Photos
• Optionally, turn off Summarize Message Previews

To turn off Categories:

• Open the Mail app
• Tap on an inbox
• Tap on ⋯⃝ in the upper right 
• Tap to check List View

These 2 steps will return the Mail app to the way it previously worked.

Well, actually, “they” did give you a way, and it’s been there since September, 2024:

To remove the icons in the list view:

• Open Settings
• Tap Apps
• Tap Mail
• Turn off Show Contact Photos
• Optionally, turn off Summarize Message Previews

To turn off Categories:

• Open the Mail app
• Tap on an inbox
• Tap on ⋯⃝ in the upper right 
• Tap to check List View

These 2 steps will return the Mail app to the way it previously worked.

Thank you!

Yes! I also hate the Amazon update.

Still has the weird huge icons

It doesn’t look like the old mail. Still way too much area dedicated to icons.

settings- apps- mail- notifications - customize notifications- toggle “all mail”