📋 Verified Walkthrough
Computers • Email

How do I stop getting junk promotional emails and newsletters?

Direct Answer

Open the promotional email in Apple Mail or Gmail, look at the very top for the banner that says "Unsubscribe," and tap it. Confirm "Unsubscribe" in the popup.

Why You Might Want to Do This

  • To clean up a cluttered inbox full of sales flyers from stores you visited once.
  • To make sure you only see important messages from family, doctors, and utilities.

Before You Start

  • Open your regular Mail or Gmail app.
  • Find an advertisement or sales email you no longer want to receive.

Legitimate companies are legally required to remove you within a few days of clicking unsubscribe.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Open the email you want to stop receiving

    Tap to open the promotional email from the company (e.g. a clothing store, catalog, or hotel).

    👀 Open the email message on screen.

  2. 2

    Look at the top for the built-in "Unsubscribe" link

    Both Apple Mail (iPhone) and Gmail have a special button right below the sender's name that says "This message is from a mailing list. Unsubscribe." Tap the blue word "Unsubscribe."

    👀 Blue text or banner near top stating "Unsubscribe."

    3. ✅ Success Checkpoint: You're Doing Great

    If your screen matches the description above, you have followed the steps correctly. Continue to the next step.

  3. 3

    Tap "Unsubscribe" to confirm

    A small prompt will appear asking "Unsubscribe from [Sender]?." Tap the blue or red "Unsubscribe" confirmation button.

    👀 Popup prompt with "Unsubscribe" button.

  4. 4

    Alternative: Scroll to the very bottom of the email

    If there is no top banner, scroll all the way to the very bottom of the email text. In tiny light-grey letters, look for "Unsubscribe" or "Manage Preferences" and tap it.

    👀 Small grey text link at footer of email body.

If You Don't See It / Troubleshooting

If the email looks like a scam or fake lottery

DO NOT tap unsubscribe on obvious scam emails (that verifies your email is active). Instead, tap the three dots or flag icon and choose "Move to Junk" or "Report Spam."

Good to Know

  • It can take 24 to 48 hours for marketing systems to update your address.
  • You will still be able to receive password resets or receipt emails if you order from that store again in the future.