Want the Old Apple Mail Back? Here’s How to Restore the Classic Look and Feel

Apple has recently made some big changes to its Mail app in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. The redesigned layout, automatic email categorization, contact photos, and AI-driven Priority messages are meant to make your inbox smarter. But for many users, it’s just too much change.

If you miss the classic, clean Apple Mail experience — you’re not alone. The good news? You can still bring back the simpler layout with just a few quick changes. Here’s how to get your old Apple Mail back.

Step 1: Remove Mail Categories and Restore the Classic Inbox

One of the biggest changes in the new Mail app is the introduction of Categories — Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. It’s Apple’s way of automatically sorting your email for you. But for those of us who prefer a straightforward, all-in-one inbox, it can feel overengineered.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Mail app.
2. Select a Mailbox like All Inboxes.
3. Tap the three-dot button (More) in the top-right corner.
4. Select List View.

On Mac:

1. Open the Mail app.
2. Click the three-dot button above your inbox.
3. Uncheck Show Mail Categories.
4. Or go to the menu bar: View > Show Mail Categories and uncheck it.

Once you do this, Mail will return to showing all emails in chronological order — no tabs, no sorting, just the way it used to be.

Step 2: Turn Off Contact Photos for a Cleaner Look

Apple added contact photos and business logos to Mail, hoping to help you visually scan your inbox. But if senders don’t have profile images, your inbox ends up filled with empty icons or generic initials — more clutter than clarity.

We previously explain this.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap Apps, then choose Mail.
3. Under Message List, turn off Show Contact Photos.

On Mac:

1. Open the Mail app.
2. In the menu bar, click View > Contact Photos to uncheck it.

This simple tweak makes your inbox look cleaner and less busy — especially helpful if you’re focused on productivity.

Step 3: Disable Priority Messages (For Apple Intelligence Devices)

If your device supports Apple Intelligence, you might see a Priority section in your inbox. The idea is to highlight emails that matter most. But the feature isn’t always accurate. You could end up seeing spam or low-priority emails labeled as important — and miss something you actually need.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Mail app.
2. Tap the three-dot button in the upper right.
3. Uncheck Show Priority.

On Mac:

1. In the Mail app, go to View > Priority Messages and uncheck it.

Note: This option only appears on devices that support Apple Intelligence (like the latest iPhone and Macs with M-series chips).

See also:

• Mail App Painfully Slow to Download Emails in iOS 18 on iPhone or iPad? Here’s What’s Happening, How to Fix
• Mail Error: Network Error (POSIX 96)
• What Does ‘Unable to Load Remote Content Privately’ Mean in Mail on iPhone