How To Prevent Junk Mail On Iphone

Junk mail folder

Updated: 04/12/2021 by Computer Hope

The junk mail folder or spam folder is a place used to store unwanted incoming e-mail so that it stays out of a user's inbox. All major e-mail clients and webmail services include junk mail folders (usually referred to as spam folders). These filtering systems help users decrease the volume of unnecessary and advertisement-based e-mail prevalent in the 21st century.

How does it work

When you receive a message, your e-mail service looks at the time it was sent, the sender's e-mail address, and the content of the message. If any of these aspects look suspicious, the client filters the e-mail to the spam folder accordingly. E-mail services allow the user to decide what should or should not be sent to the junk mail folder by adjusting certain settings.

How to access the junk or spam mail folder

The destination of the junk mail folder varies slightly between each e-mail service and e-mail program, but they're all in a similar area.

Google Gmail

On the left side of the screen, under the Categories section, click the icon. You then see an expanded menu with the label Spam.

more selector in Gmail

Yahoo! mail

As soon as you log in to your Yahoo! e-mail account, you see the selector that allows access to the Spam folder on the left side of the screen.

spam folder selector

Outlook.com mail

As soon as you log in to your Outlook.com e-mail account, you see the selector that allows access to the Junk Email folder on the left side of the screen.

Junk Email selector

Note

If you cannot see the folder list, click next to Folders to expand the menu.

iPhone and iPad

If you are using the default mail app on your iPhone or iPad, open the Mail app. Navigate to the Mailboxes view by backing out of the Inbox or any mail folders you are viewing.

In the Mailboxes view, you see the Junk folder below the Drafts and Sent folders.

Junk folder in Mail app on iPhone

Gmail smartphone app

When using the Gmail app for an iOS or Android smartphone, select the hamburger menu ☰ button in the top-left corner to view all accessible folders. Select Spam from the list of options.

Gmail app Spam folder

How long does mail stay in junk mail?

Junk e-mail stays in the junk folder until you are near your storage capacity, exceed a set limit, or the junk mail folder is emptied. Depending on how much e-mail you receive, this means junk mail can remain in the folder potentially for years. If you receive a lot of e-mail or lots of e-mail goes to the junk folder, it may only store junk mail for a month or two.

E-mail, E-mail terms, Internet terms, Junk mail