Junk mail and Spam mail

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Level 1

6 points

Junk mail and Spam mail

What is the difference between Junk mail and Spam mail and why are there two different folders?

In my Gmail account there is a Spam folder which I cannot rename. Most of the "spam" goes into this folder but doesn't appear in the Junk mail folder. Trying to permanently delete the contents of the Spam folder using the junk mail menu options doesn't work and using the delete key sends it to the Trash folder where I have to delete it a second time.

This change started under Mojave and has continued under Catalina.

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 17, 2019 10:58 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 23, 2019 11:05 AM in response to gerrynuk

You can log into your Gmail account via the browser and settings for making changes to your Spam filter here.

that would be Server side. Customize spam filter settings - G Suite Admin Help

Client side you have the Mac mail Junk filtering

for anything that makes it through server side—Apples name for "spam."

You have options here as well:

If Junk mail not working—

https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/if-junk-mail-filters-arent-working-mlhlp1145/mac

https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/junk-mail-preferences-cpmlprefjunk/mac

https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/reduce-junk-mail-mlhlp1065/mac

Identify and filter junk mail in iCloud - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mail/junk-mail-advanced-settings-cpmlprefjunkadd/mac

https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mail/viewing-preferences-cpmlprefview/mac

Mail advanced junk mail settings on Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mail/junk-mail-advanced-settings-cpmlprefjunkadd/mac

If Junk mail is not working for you as expected you can turn it off in Mail>Preferences.

You have the option of installing a third party spam filter.

ex. https://c-command.com/spamsieve/

Spam Sieve creates a folder on the mac called Spam

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Answer 2

gerrynuk Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 17, 2019 11:31 AM in response to Kappy

Thansk, Kappy.

I do get a few items in my Junk mail folder but ALL the junk/spam used to go there and now most of it doesn't. If Junk=Spam why doesn't it all end up in the Junk folder?

And why does Mail download items identified as Spam or is there a way to prevent Mail doing that?

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,995 points

Nov 17, 2019 12:44 PM in response to gerrynuk

I am not very familiar with Gmail. If they download the spam to your Inbox, and if the spam has some uniquely common identifier, then you could set up a rule to delete it, automatically. I would need to know a lot more about Gmail together with Mail to be more help.

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Answer 4

gerrynuk Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 23, 2019 10:51 AM in response to gerrynuk

Am re-posting this in the hope that someone can offer any further help:

What is the difference between Junk mail and Spam mail and why are there two different folders?

In my Gmail account there is a Spam folder which I cannot rename. Most of the "spam" goes into this folder but doesn't appear in the Junk mail folder. Trying to permanently delete the contents of the Spam folder using the junk mail menu options doesn't work and using the delete key sends it to the Trash folder where I have to delete it a second time.

This change started under Mojave and has continued under Catalina.

Many thanks to @Kappy for his answers but he does say he is not familiar with Gmail.

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

361,995 points

Nov 17, 2019 11:24 AM in response to gerrynuk

Your Gmail account has its own separate spam filter. Anything that gets through to your Mail app may be caught as junk and filtered to the Junk folder in Mail.

Spam is junk. Junk is Spam.

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

361,995 points

Nov 17, 2019 11:44 AM in response to gerrynuk

As you stated earlier, if I understood correctly, Gmail has its own Spam filter, so it is catching most of the junk before it reaches Mail (I assume you use Apple Mail to access your Gmail account.)

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