What are iPhone Mail categories and how to turn them off

Apple’s latest iOS update introduced a new feature in the Mail app called Categories, designed to help users organize their inbox more efficiently. However, not everyone finds this feature useful. If you prefer the traditional inbox view, you can disable it in just a few steps.

How Mail categories work

The Mail app automatically sorts incoming emails into four categories: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. This system is similar to what Gmail users are familiar with, allowing for a more structured inbox.

• Primary: Contains messages that Apple considers most important, such as personal emails or customer service interactions.
• Transactions: Includes receipts, order confirmations, and delivery updates.
• Updates: Gathers newsletters, social media notifications, and other subscription-based messages.
• Promotions: Stores marketing emails, special deals, and discount offers.

While this feature aims to improve email management, some users may find it disruptive, especially if messages are miscategorized.

Can you move emails between categories?

You can manually reassign emails to different categories for most messages, except for those in the Primary tab. However, one limitation is that all emails from the same sender will move to the new category, and this change cannot be undone.

For example, if you move a ticket confirmation email from Promotions to Primary, all future emails from that sender—such as promotional offers—will also appear in the Primary tab.

How to disable Mail categories

If you prefer the classic inbox layout, you can turn off categories with a few simple steps:

1. Open the Mail app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
3. Select List View.

After following these steps, your inbox will return to its traditional chronological order, without automatic filtering.