Senders' Names Now Reversed in Mail Inbox (iOS 14.2)

This does fix the issue in mail display and thanks. Unfortunately, it also changes how contacts are displayed. I find it troublesome to view contacts with first name first because there is no method to it and everything appears to be sorted randomly that way even if it is sorted by last name. This is a new and very unhelpful change introduced in 14.2. I hope it’s a bug because email sender names and contacts are not the same and should not be using the same display rules.

There are two in Settings, Contacts

These are my preferred.

Warning, as said earlier in this workaround your contacts will be sorted by last name but first name in column1.

Please, no more personal insults, if you don’t like the situation take out your ire at

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I also strongly encourage users to use the Apple feedback form to indicate their frustration or displeasure with this annoying change.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

Sharing concerns on the forums is a way to better understand a problem and seek solutions. In this case, there is no fix for this issue except to change Contacts to be displayed in the illogical and visually-problematic "first name, last name" order. So, this is either a bug or a poor engineering decision, IMO. Regardless, the more people Apple hears from the more likely they are to pay attention and take action.

I appreciate entirely the situation.

I have said many times this is a workaround.

You mention my level for some reason as though helping thousands of people is something to be ashamed of.

I am after the truth, and to help people.

I can gain nothing more from contributing here and Apple do not monitor this forum.

You will have reported this as a bug like I have at https://www.apple.com/feedback/

so there is nothing more to be said

Agree. Hoping all will send in feedback at the below URL as this forum is not monitored by Apple employees.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

While I occasionally enjoying venting as much as the next person, and certainly appreciate knowing others are frustrated as well, the real fix is more likely when Apple hears from us directly.

No point in keep coming back at me. Plenty of feedback links in the previous pages. I just told you where you are at, but that doesn't make it my fault.

Feedback

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I have never know it any different with the Contacts database, and the update changed my sort preferences is all.

The fact that first name comes in col 1 and you prefer it in col 2 is a minor problem as I have said before.

I put this one in the "Siri says Uh Huh" or "I don't like the new calendar" category. Feedback to Apple (not here) then get on with life.

What part of

“...Warning, as said earlier in this workaround your contacts will be sorted by last name but first name in column1

and

Please, no more personal insults, if you don’t like the situation take out your ire at

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html...”

did you not understand??

Do you really think I work for Apple??

Yes it is an ios14.2 Mail issue.

Yes you can accept the bug or do the imperfect workaround.

Either way feed back the bug at

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

Cannot select 14.2 from the dropdown as that is bugged too. Write 14.2 in the text along with the symptoms

This is the fix I found for the Sender’s Name problem. In order to fix it I had to disconnect Mail and Contacts, do the sort change, then associate them again.

1. Settings, Contacts, Display order changed to First, Last corrects the sort order in Mail after a reboot.
2. In Contacts, Use the Group icon (top left) clear the dot next to the name of the email group that is the same as your Mail names.
3. Go back to Settings, Contacts, Display Order and change it back to Last, First....
4. Now go back to Contacts in the Group icon and reconnect your email group that uses your Contacts.

Hope this helps.

I cannot find any logic in your post.

• Your contacts will NOT be sorted by first name
• Your sender names for new mail will NOT be jumbled after making this workaround

if you followed my advice I posted several times in the thread

These settings give me emails from contacts displayed first, last

eg from John Doe.

My contacts display in lastname order

eg John Doe follows after Peter Dickens

I doubt if it can affect senders not in your contacts

Yes, it absolutely does. I change the setting in Contacts preferences, and my email display changes. Notice the names in this screen shot of my email. “Communities Apple Support”. It is backwards.

changing the setting makes things right in mail, but not how I want it in Contacts. Notice now that it says “Apple Support Communities”, as it should.

They are just as easy , same order, can still use the A-Z shortcut border down right of screen

They are identical except col 1 and 2 are swapped

Looking for Gene Vincent? hit the V on the shortcut border