iOS devices such as iPhones come with default email apps that let us access our emails in a hassle-free manner. We can get our work done and stay updated with our emails by using the mail app with ease. However, frustration kicks in when the number of unread emails becomes unmanageable, and we’re unable to filter them out. In this guide, we’ll learn how to delete all unread emails on an iPhone and keep our mailbox neat and tidy.

Video Tutorial:

The Challenge of Deleting All Unread Emails on iPhone

While deleting individual emails one by one may sound easy, it becomes a daunting task when you’ve got hundreds, if not thousands of unread emails to go through. The default mail app in iPhone doesn’t come with an option to instantly delete all unread emails. You need to have a quick and easy solution to efficiently delete all unread emails without going through them individually.

Things You Should Prepare for

Before proceeding with the methods to delete all unread emails, there are a few preparatory steps that you need to take:

  • Ensure that you have configured your email account on your iPhone.
  • Make sure you have a stable internet connection to avoid any interruptions while performing the process.
  • Create a backup of your important emails before deleting them, in case you need them in the future.

Method 1: Via Mail App

This method involves using the default Mail app on your iPhone to delete all unread emails.

Step 1: Open your iPhone’s default Mail app.

Step 2: In the Inbox view, click on ‘Mailboxes’ located at the top-left corner of the screen.

Step 3: Scroll down and tap on ‘Unread’ to list all unread messages.

Step 4: Tap ‘Edit’ at the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 5: Choose ‘Select All’.

Step 6: Click on the icon ‘Trash’ to delete all unread emails.

Pros:

  1. Easy to use
  2. Quick
  3. Doesn’t require any additional apps or software

Cons:

  1. You may unknowingly delete important emails along with unread ones.

Method 2: Via Third-Party Apps

This method involves using a third-party app to delete all unread emails. Two such reliable apps are ‘Clean Email’ and ‘Mailstrom.’

Step 1: Download any of the apps mentioned above.

Step 2: Log in with your email account.

Step 3: Grant the app the permission to access your email account.

Step 4: Click on ‘Unread’ to list all unread messages.

Step 5: Choose ‘Select All.’

Step 6: Click on ‘Delete’ or ‘Remove.’

Pros:

  1. You can use the app to manage your inbox better, delete emails based on other filters as well.
  2. The apps are easy to use and efficient in cleaning your mailbox.

Cons:

  1. Having to download a third-party app may make some users skeptical about the privacy of their emails.
  2. Some apps may require you to pay for unlock features.

Method 3: Using Gmail App

If you use Gmail as your email service provider, you can follow these steps to delete all unread emails:

Step 1: Open the Gmail app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Go to ‘All Mail.’

Step 3: Tap on the search bar.

Step 4: Type ‘label: unread’ in the search bar and hit search.

Step 5: Click on ‘Select All.’

Step 6: Choose ‘Delete.’

Pros:

  1. Quick and efficient method for Gmail users.
  2. Doesn’t require any additional apps or software.

Cons:

  1. Only effective for Gmail users.
  2. You may unknowingly delete important emails along with unread ones.

Why Can’t I Delete All Unread Emails on iPhone?

Some of the reasons why you might be unable to delete all unread emails on iPhone include:

1. Inability to select multiple emails

If you’re unable to select multiple emails, it could be because the ‘Edit’ button is not active.

Fix:

Tap on the email you want to delete, hold it until you see a checkmark in a circle around the email. Now you can select multiple emails.

2. Mailbox size limitations

Mail services usually have mailbox size limitations. If your mailbox has exceeded its limit, you may not be able to delete emails.

Fix:

Free up storage space by deleting unwanted emails, moving important emails to different folders, and ensuring that you empty your trash and spam folders regularly.

3. Mail syncing error

A syncing error could cause problems when performing an action, such as deleting emails.

Fix:

Close the Mail app, restart your iPhone, and try again. If the problem persists, check your internet connection and re-authenticate your email account.

Additional Tips

  • Regularly delete unwanted emails to keep your mailbox tidy.
  • Unsubscribe from email chains and newsletters that you’re no longer interested in receiving.
  • Use filters to help organize your mailbox and delete emails based on specific criteria.
  • Empty your Spam and Trash folders regularly to free up storage space.

5 FAQs about Deleting All Unread Emails on iPhone

Q1: Can I recover deleted emails if I accidentally delete important ones?

A: Yes. If you’ve recently deleted an email and want to recover it, shake your iPhone and tap on ‘Undo Trash.’

Q2: Can I delete emails in bulk?

A: Yes. You can select multiple emails and delete them at the same time.

Q3: How do I turn off the ‘Load Remote Images’ feature in emails?

A: Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Mail’ > ‘Load Remote Images.’ Toggle it off.

Q4: Can I automatically delete old emails?

A: Yes. You can set a filter to auto-delete emails that are older than a certain date.

Q5: Can I delete emails from a specific sender?

A: Yes. You can search for emails from a particular sender and delete them using the same steps mentioned in the methods above.

In Conclusion

Now that you’re well-informed about the different methods of deleting all unread emails on your iPhone, you can choose the one that’s convenient for you. While the methods above are efficient, always remember to filter out the emails you intend to delete to avoid deleting important ones. With a clean and tidy mailbox, you can focus on more critical tasks without worrying about the clutter.

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