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
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.
Please get rid of the categories and category icons. If I wanted that I would use Gmail. I do NOT like this at all as it doesn’t let me see the messages. Please remove or allow us to remove also you aren’t categorizing by as I would.
JoyWeaver70 wrote:
Please get rid of the categories and category icons. If I wanted that I would use Gmail. I do NOT like this at all as it doesn’t let me see the messages. Please remove or allow us to remove also you aren’t categorizing by as I would.
Have you read anything here before posting? If you had, then you would have seen that they are removed easily and the steps have been provided here many, many, many times for those you do not bother reading.
mozzastryl wrote:
No. They only test with programmers who are trying to look busy, but don't know real people.
What? How about the million invited and public beta testers who have it 3 months before the release, that you could have been if you wanted to? Or are you just trolling?
AghIHateThis wrote:
THANK YOU! All those stupid little squares of color were driving nuts. Who thinks of all these irritating "upgrades"?
Well, Google started it a couple of years ago for gmail (where you actually can’t turn it off). Then Microsoft got on the bandwagon, and Yahoo, and AOL, and pretty much all the major players in the email domain. Apple is actually late to the game.
Mgdeuce wrote:
April 25, 2025 update
Oh my gosh, thank you! Those new icons , contacts photos were obnoxious. Thank you so much. What is wrong with a clean, adult, simple presentation
Absolutely nothing is wrong with a clean and simple presentation and actually I agree with you. Unfortunately you see many others that see a feature on another platform or service and always ask why Apple cannot do that too. If Apple does not provide updates that include these features, then they are viewed as being stagnant or not listening to users requests. We see those types of posts here daily.
Fortunately Apple does give you the option to turn off these features as you have done, which is a huge advantage over the other services such as Google Mail where users do not have that option.
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.
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:
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!!!
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!. Surprised at Apple- those icons were annoying and made no sense. So happy to return to simpler list view!
Yay! Thank you.
Thank you SO much. I found those icons quite annoying. I appreciate you taking the time to share such a positive result with everyone.
How to remove Category icons in iOS 18.2 Mail?
Thank you for showing how to remove those annoying categories in my mail box! You made my day and whoever thought that was a good idea to add needs another day job.
How to remove Category icons in iOS 18.2 Mail?
