Too long; didn’t read: Apple Intelligence can now summarize your emails. Just open the Mail app, choose a message and tap the Summarize button at the top of the email chain. In a few seconds, you’ll get a summary. Heads-up: It won’t save, so if you close your email, you’ll need to do this again.
Kickstart 2024 with a clutter-free inbox: Your simple guide to email zen!
Right now, I’m sitting here beaming because my inbox is at zero. Really! Did I read and reply to every single message? Well, no. Before I took back control, I had 409 unread messages. But I have a trick to starting each year with a clean slate. You can do it, too!
Clear out your inbox
Drowning in emails? Here’s a surprisingly easy fix to begin the New Year right: Archive your inbox. It’s like a magic wand for your digital clutter!
What’s email archiving, you ask? Picture this: a digital vault where every email you’ve ever sent or received is safely stored, complete with attachments. They’re out of sight but never out of reach. No more endless scrolling through a jam-packed inbox!
You could try sorting emails into a maze of folders, but let’s face it, who has the time for that? Archiving is a smart, hassle-free solution. It’s a New Year’s gift you owe yourself. A couple of clicks and voilà — your digital world just got a whole lot tidier.
So, are you ready to beat the email bloat? Here’s your quick-start guide to mastering your inbox with the power of archiving. Say hello to a streamlined, stress-free 2024!
Follow these steps to archive in Gmail
- First, open your Gmail account on a computer and click the Inbox folder on the left.
- Above your emails, there’s an empty checkbox. Click the small arrow next to it, and choose All. This selects only the conversations visible on the screen.
- To select all your emails, click Select all (number) conversations in Inbox. Then, hit the Archive icon (folder with a downward pointing arrow).
Gmail will take some time to process your request. Be patient. You may have to do this step a few times to get everything.
Once you’ve archived a message, you can hit All Mail to the left, right under Inbox and your other email folders to find it. Your best bet is to search by a term you know was in the email or by the sender.
Using Apple Mail? Here’s what to do
- Open the Mail app on your Mac. Look through your inbox or other folders and find those emails you want to stash away. Click on an email to select it, or if you’ve got a bunch, hold down the Command key and click on each one you want to archive.
- Got an ‘Archive’ button (looks like a little box) on the toolbar? Just click that, and you’re golden. No button? No problem. Click ‘Message’ at the top, then choose ‘Archive’ from the dropdown. If you’re all about shortcuts, just hit Control + Command + A and those emails will zip right into your archive.
- Where did they go? Head over to the ‘Archive’ folder. It’s in the sidebar under ‘Mailboxes.’ Got more than one email account? Each one has its own Archive folder.
Reader question: Is it safe to hit the ‘unsubscribe’ button on spam?
I got an email from a reader asking if hitting the “unsubscribe” button in her inbox is smart. Like many things in tech, it depends. In some cases, reacting to spammers might make your email a hot commodity, leading to more unwanted emails or even a spot on a “for sale” list.
🚨 Use Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail or Yahoo? No joke, three out of every four Black Friday-themed emails are scams. The scammers’ goal? To steal your credit card info or plant malware. Brands most impersonated include Amazon, Shein and Costco. Stay safe: Always double-check the sender’s email address (not just the sender’s name) before you click.
How to make sure emails you want to see don't end up lost in spam
Have you ever felt like spam is that one friend who just can’t take a hint? You know, the one who keeps inviting you to their pyramid scheme parties? Out of nowhere, your inbox is flooded with offers of “get rich quick” pitches. Some email providers block these kinds of messages before they cause trouble.
🐽 Can the spam: You can set up rules in your inbox so your uncle’s rants or high school friend’s pyramid scheme emails are automatically filed away in a folder of your choosing. In Outlook, Gmail or Apple Mail, go to your filters and look for an option like “Skip the inbox.”
Make sure you get my emails: Sometimes, spam blockers filter out safe messages you really want to see — like The Current! The good news is it takes just a minute to fix it.
- Gmail: On mobile? Hit the three dots in the top right corner > Move to > Primary. On desktop, back out of this email, then drag and drop it into the Primary tab near the top left of your screen.
- Apple Mail: Tap on our email address at the top of this email (next to “From:” on mobile) and click Add to VIPs.
- Microsoft Outlook: Click the Home tab > Delete > Junk > Never Block Sender or Never Block the Group or Mailing List.
⭐ Using a different provider? I’ve got your back. Check this list of other email providers here.