How to remove Category icons in iOS 18.2 Mail?

dmichael.wagner wrote:

Now back to the matter at hand, trying to find "message list" - more time wasted and more time to think about other brands.

You will LOVE android. Google mail has had category sorting for a couple of years, and you CAN’T turn it off.

Thank you for this, works perfectly. Annoyingly I just had to go through an even more longwinded process to remove automatic slideshows from Photos albums. Wholeheartedly agree with the comments that wonder who designs the interfaces on these apps. The assumption seems to be that we’re too dim to organise things ourselves.

Even after switching back to list view I notice there is background “categorizing” going on. I imagine this is using up processing power and I can see it slowing down my other mail features like search, general scrolling, etc. it’s also performing what Apples algorithms determine are how my emails should be categorized, which many have already pointed out are completely inaccurate and annoying.

This feature reminds me of when spotlight reads and tags all data on a Mac computer. There needs to be an option to disable this feature. This is our data in devices we pay tremendous prices for. Give us control or we will find better options to these lame ideas and products.

Thank you so much for this! I am so sick and tired of Apple forcing what they think I want on my phone down my throat. Give users a chance to opt in, but don’t force it on them. It is my phone, not theirs!

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.

Why do these companies insist on putting “features” that nobody asked for into apps?

Desperate to keep relevance and change for the sake of change.

Companies need to realize apps are just tools. The apps become irritating and non functional if the interface and controls keep changing.

Microsoft also likes added features we didn’t ask like forcing Copilot onto Outlook and there is no way to get rid of it.

Just-a-dude-saying-thanks wrote:

Thank you. Why complicate something that’s easy by adding an icon.

Because a lot of people LIKE the icons so they quickly identify the more important messages. It is Apple actually catching up with gmail and Outlook, which have had icons for several years. Your opinion isn’t shared by everyone.

JesusSaves2024 wrote:

Can someone please tell me how to change those flashy icons on my email?

SHOUTING OUT LOUD!

Well, many people have posted how to do this, including in the Top Ranking post at the top of this page and every page of this 11 page thread that you apparently didn’t bother to read any of before posting.

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

jacki259 wrote:

Agree- horrible. Please return to how it was before. This update is horrendous. Who likes it?

I do, though it really doesn't go far enough. Google's Inbox, which was unfortunately discontinued a few years back, did some additional cool things such as bundling email from specific senders (user-configured) and showing them at predetermined times.

If you don't like the mail being displayed by categories, why don't you just turn it off?

Martha124 wrote:

I hate having an entity other than myself categorizing my emails. I seem not to be able to turn it off as I do not have a message list under mail,apps,settings. How can I get rid of them?

It's not in settings. It is accessed, as has been explained a few times in this thread, by tapping the three dots in the upper right corner of the main Mail screen.

Thanks for the useful info. That has fixed the icon issue next to each email in my inbox list.

However, when I open an email the category icons still appear next to the From: To: and Reply To: fields, do you happen to know how to disable that as well?

Yes, as per my message I’ve already done that and while it removes the icons from my list of messages in my inbox, it does not remove the icon inside my messages after I’ve opened them. How do I get rid of the icon next the From: To: fields inside an email????

thanks all—this worked to fix emails.

But how do I remove the stupid circle icon from my phone app??

it's taking up too much space—and I can't figure out what else to do here?

ideas?

or did I miss that in the responses above?