Spam emails—everyone’s favorite digital junk mail! If you’re tired of scrolling through emails like “FREE VACATION!” or “LIMITED OFFER!” just to get to what matters, there are some simple ways to clean up your inbox.
The good news is that most email platforms like Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail have spam filters, and with a few tweaks, you can kick unwanted emails to the curb. Let’s get to it!
Gmail: Customize Those Filters
Gmail’s filters are already pretty good, but you can up the game with custom filters:
- Step 1: Open Gmail, click the Settings icon (the gear in the top right), then See all settings.
- Step 2: Head to Filters and Blocked Addresses, then select Create a new filter.
- Step 3: In the filter fields, add keywords, phrases, or the addresses of annoying spammers (try “FREE OFFER” or “100% GUARANTEED!” for a start).
- Step 4: Click Create filter and choose Delete it—so these emails get tossed right into the trash.
Pro Tip: If specific senders keep bugging you, block them directly by opening the email, hitting the three dots menu, and selecting Block “Sender.” Voilà! Inbox freedom.
Outlook: Tame the Junk Filter
Outlook gives you some control over junk mail with a few different levels of protection:
- Step 1: In Outlook, go to Home > Junk > Junk Email Options.
- Step 2: Set your Level of Protection:
- Low: Catches the super obvious spam.
- High: Filters are more aggressive. Just remember to check your junk folder occasionally for strays.
- Safe Lists Only: Allows only emails from your Safe Senders list into your inbox.
- Step 3: If spam is still finding its way in, add the sender to the Blocked Senders list within Junk Email Options.
Want even more control? Go to Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts to set up rules to delete emails with keywords, specific addresses, or other criteria. Think of it as creating your own spam-sniffing guard dogs.
Apple Mail: Filter the Junk
Apple Mail comes with built-in spam filters but could use a little customization for best results:
- Step 1: In Apple Mail, go to Mail > Preferences > Junk Mail.
- Step 2: Turn on Enable junk mail filtering and set your preferences:
- Mark it as “Junk,” but leave it in your inbox; see what’s flagged as Junk before it moves.
- Move it to the Junk mailbox: Automatically clears out the spam without bothering you.
- Step 3: Go to Advanced for custom settings; add keywords or specific senders to catch those pesky emails.
For senders that just won’t quit, select a spam email and click Message > Block Contact.
Smart Unsubscribing: Proceed with Caution
It’s tempting to hit “unsubscribe” on every unwanted email, but spammers sometimes use that link as a “gotcha” to confirm your email address is active. Here’s how to decide:
- Safe to Unsubscribe: Reputable brands, known companies, or newsletters—unsubscribe away if you’re no longer interested.
- Better to Ignore: For sketchy, unknown sources, don’t risk it. Mark the email as spam or delete it; this keeps you off their radar.
Report Spam
Most platforms have a way to report spam, which helps improve spam filtering overall. In Gmail, click Report Spam; in Outlook, go to Junk> Report as Junk; in Apple Mail, mark the message as Junk.
Reporting spam is one of the best ways to keep your inbox tidy.
Update Your Apps
Finally, updating your email apps ensures you have the latest spam-fighting features. Updates often include new tools to block sneaky spam tactics that your email’s old version might miss. Think of it as refreshing your inbox’s immune system!
Need Extra Help? We’ve Got Your Back
If adjusting these spam filters still isn’t doing the trick, or if you’d like help setting up a business-grade spam filter and other cybersecurity measures, contact us at Meeting Tree Computer. We’ve been keeping inboxes clean, secure, and clutter-free since 1999.
