How to make sure emails you want to see don’t end up lost in spam

September 25, 2023

By Kim Komando

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.

But what if important emails get flagged as spam? Like my newsletter! Use the steps below to make sure I never get lost in your junk or spam folder again. It’s dark and scary in there.

Once you’ve got this setup, the incoming emails you choose will no longer be marked as spam. It’s like having a VIP pass for your inbox!

Gmail (browser) 

Gmail provides two super-easy ways to make sure your cherished emails don’t end up lost in the dreaded spam folder. The first one’s desktop-exclusive and dives deep, while the second is a lightning-fast mobile fix.

• Click the Gmail Settings icon in your browser.
• Select See all settings. 
• Navigate to the Filters and Block Addresses tab. 
• Click Create a new filter.
• Input the sender’s email address you’d like to remove from spam.
• Click Create filter.
• Choose the Never send it to Spam option.
• Confirm the action by clicking Create filter again.

Messages from the chosen email address should now appear in your Gmail Inbox.

Gmail (mobile)

• On your phone or tablet, open the Gmail app.
• In the top left, tap Menu > Spam.
• Open the email.
• In the top right, tap More > Report not spam.

The legitimate email will now move to your Gmail Inbox and any future emails from the sender.

Apple Mail (Mac) 

Apple gives you a few options when it comes to email filtering. Here’s the scoop on ensuring those important emails stay right where you want them — in your inbox.

• Navigate to Junk and locate the appropriate email.
• In the banner of the message, click Move to Inbox.

Apple Mail (iPhone) 

No Mac? No problem! We’ve got your back on the iPhone front, too. 

• Open the Mail app.
• Navigate to the Mailboxes menu. 
• Tap Junk and locate the appropriate email.
• Select the Folder icon at the bottom of the screen. 
• Tap Inbox.

Hooray! Emails using the same address will now appear in your Mail App Inbox.

Outlook (desktop) 

Outlook usually comes preloaded on Windows desktops as well as being available on the web. Regardless of which version you’re rocking, here’s how to keep your priority mail from hiding in the Junk (Spam) folder.

• Open your Junk Email folder and select the messages you want to keep.
• From the top toolbar, select Not junk > Not junk (or Not spam > Not spam). You can also open the message and select the It’s not junk link at the top.
• If you’ve blocked someone by mistake, open your Blocked senders list and select the trash icon next to their name.
• Add the sender to your Safe senders list.

Outlook (mobile) 

Don’t forget that Outlook is also available on Android and iOS! 

For Android 

• Open the Junk Email folder.
• Tap the email you want to move to your inbox. 
• Select the vertical three-dot icon.
• Toggle Mark as not junk.

For iPhone

• Open the Spam folder. 
• Tap Edit and select the email you want to move to your inbox.
• Tap Mark followed by Mark as not junk.

And voila, you guessed it, any new emails should now appear in your Outlook Mobile App Inbox.