Apple’s built-in Mail app has steadily evolved over the years, and with iOS 18.2, it introduces one of the most significant upgrades yet—automatic email categorization powered by Apple Intelligence. Whether you're aiming for inbox zero or just looking to bring a little more sanity to your daily email scroll, learning how to customize Mail on your iPhone is essential.
This article will guide you through everything you need to know—from enabling and customizing smart categories to fine-tuning swipe gestures, signatures, and more.
Starting with iOS 18.2, Apple Mail can now automatically sort your incoming emails into four smart categories:
This feature helps streamline your inbox so you can focus on what's most important without being buried by promotions or non-urgent messages.
Once your iPhone is updated to iOS 18.2:
Apple automatically decides how emails are grouped using on-device intelligence, but you're not stuck with its choices.
If you find that a specific sender is being miscategorized (for example, a personal contact showing up in Promotions), you can manually change their classification:
Future emails from this sender will now land in the category you selected. This not only improves organization but also helps the Mail app better learn your preferences over time.
Prefer the classic chronological inbox without segmented tabs? You can switch back to the traditional layout with a few taps:
Now all your emails will appear in a single, unified inbox, just like in previous iOS versions. Perfect for users who want a minimalist view or just don’t like the automatic sorting.
Beyond smart categories, iPhone Mail offers a suite of options that can help you fine-tune your email experience.
To manage multiple accounts from different providers (like Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo):
Swipe gestures can be a huge time-saver. To configure them:
Want to see more (or less) of each email in your inbox? You can change the number of preview lines:
If you use multiple email accounts, set a primary one for sending messages:
Manage alerts and notifications to avoid overload:
Give your emails a polished, professional finish:
Apple’s smart categories are a welcome addition for anyone overwhelmed by an unmanageable inbox. Whether you embrace the automated organization or prefer to customize every aspect of your Mail app manually, iPhone gives you the tools to personalize your email experience like never before.
And remember—if categories aren’t your style, switching back to List View is just a tap away.
If you’re still having trouble, consider reaching out to Support.Com for a personalized solution to all technical support issues.