Are you tired of all those endless spam emails? These inbox deliveries are not only wildly irritating but they can sometimes be used to send scams and malware. Many times, you aren’t even sure why you’re getting so much mail. 

Often, it’s not that you signed up to receive tons of newsletters each day. Cybercriminals may send phishing emails, hoping to hit any target. If you’re looking to clean up your email and keep your spam folder from filling up, this article is for you.

Manually unsubscribe through your email service

If you’ve decided to unsubscribe from a phishing email, you can do that in a couple of different ways. One way is to click on the unsubscribe link that may be in the email. These are typically at the bottom of the email or hidden within the text of the document. 

The other way is to manually unsubscribe using your email client. And, if you’re attempting to keep your email account even more clutter-free, you could use an email masking service so that these companies have a harder time finding your real address.

We’ll take a look at the major email providers and how to use their unsubscribing services. Keep in mind that this method is best for unsubscribing from legitimate businesses and mailing lists, because they usually provide a genuine unsubscribe link that your email service recognizes. Legitimate sites also recognize your email address as valid, allowing you to unsubscribe using a link, as opposed to spammers who only hope someone will fall prey to a barrage of emails.

Here’s how to unsubscribe from emails using the most common providers.

Gmail

1. Open Gmail.
2. Open the email message from the sender you want to unsubscribe from.
3. Next to the sender’s name, click Unsubscribe or Change preferences.
4. If there’s no option to Unsubscribe or Change preferences, you’ll need to block the sender or mark the message as spam.

To block the sender:

1. Open the message.
2. In the top right, click the three vertical dots for more options.
3. Click Block (sender).

Apple Mail App

1. Select the message you want to unsubscribe from in the Mail app on your Mac or iPhone.
2. In the banner, click on the Unsubscribe button.
3. Click OK to confirm.

Microsoft Outlook

1. From your inbox, click the Settings gear icon on the right side of the toolbar.
2. Click the View all Outlook settings option at the bottom.
3. Go to Mail, then Subscriptions.
4. Click Unsubscribe next to each subscription you no longer want to receive.

Yahoo Mail

1. From your inbox, navigate to Subscriptions on the left pane.
2. On the next screen, look for Active.
3. Under the active subscriptions, choose the unsubscribe option for each one you no longer want to receive.

Create a spam filter

Another way to clean out your inbox is to create custom email filters. Sometimes unsubscribing from these unsolicited messages one by one can be challenging and extremely time-consuming if a company sends emails from different addresses. In these cases, creating a spam filter may help keep your email clean and organized. You can think of it as a net to catch all the unwanted emails and put them in a different folder.

Different email service instructions will vary, but generally, sending addresses to the spam list will take care of unwanted emails.

Here’s how to create a spam filter in Gmail:

1. From your Gmail inbox, check the box of the email you want to block.
2. Click the three vertical dots at the top of your inbox and select Filter messages like these.
3. Click Create filter, then select Delete it from the action list.
4. Click Create filter again to confirm.

Block spam messages

Most email providers have ways to block someone from sending you emails. The methods may vary by service, but it generally only takes a few steps to block the sender. You may also be able to block contacts in your email app.

For this example, we’ll use Gmail instructions to block spam emails:

1. Open your Gmail.
2. Select the spam email.
3. Click Report spam or Right-click on the email and move to spam.

Use an unsubscribe service

If you’ve got more emails than you can handle individually, you may want to opt for an unsubscribe service. Some businesses buy email lists, which means you might get daily messages from newsletters and ads you didn’t even sign up for. Those can congest your inbox quickly.

Unsubscribe services are good because you can remove your email address from multiple lists at one time. These services are easy to navigate, typically letting you bundle related emails to clean your mailbox and unsubscribe quickly. Some apps help you design a different email address for spam so that your primary inbox stays organized. You can also block senders from some unsubscribe services to help cut down on spam content.

As with all software programs, not all unsubscribe services will fit your needs. Some have limited features and complicated processes that can take time to learn. The more options you choose, the more expensive some of these apps can get. Some free unsubscribe apps have been reported to sell customer data, so make sure your service secures your information.

8 tips to avoid email spam

One way to stop getting so much spam is to avoid it beforehand. Be sure to follow our tips below to steer clear of spam and watch the number of junk emails start to diminish. Here are some of the easiest ways to lower your chances of receiving spam mail:

1. Limit giving out your email address. Use caution when posting your email address on public websites and in newsgroups.
2. Use your email service provider’s junk folder. This is your filter that sends unwanted messages to a different location.
3. Turn off your read receipts. If you have this turned on, it can let spammers verify your email address.
4. Check out the privacy policies of the websites you visit. When you sign up for online services, read their policies because many of them will ask to send you marketing emails.
5. Never reply to spam mail. If you consider the mail spam already, the last thing you want to do is reply to it because that confirms your address.
6. Be wary of opening unsolicited emails coming from an unknown sender. If you don't remember signing up for the email or didn't expect the email, it's safer to not open it.
7. Check for your email address in recent data breaches. An easy way to do this is to search for your email on a site like Have I Been Pwned. If your email was compromised, it may be worth it to create a new email address.
8. Use antivirus software. Good antivirus software will help block malware that could come in spam emails.

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Email spam unsubscription FAQ

Bottom line

If you’re tired of all those unwanted emails populating your inbox, there are ways to unsubscribe from spam. It only takes a little time to clean up your mailbox.

Since there’s no law to prevent marketers from sending mass messaging, you’ll need to protect yourself and unsubscribe from those emails. This guide shows you how to get rid of spam emails fast and create a more organized, safe space to work and communicate online.

If you're looking for more ways to keep advertisers from tracking you, take a look at these top-rated ad blockers.

Author Details

Patti Croft

About the Author

Patti Croft is a freelance writer who specializes in all things technology. Her expertise includes antivirus software, online security strategies, and safety practices. She has a degree in Computer Information Systems and extensive experience working in the IT field. In her spare time, Patti is an avid reader and researcher, and loves spending time with her pets. She currently shares an office with her cat, Beau.