Mail.app Junk Mail Filtering

Question

Level 1

53 points

Mail.app Junk Mail Filtering

No amount of checking or unchecking stops Mail.app from filtering what it considers junk to the junk mail folder. I've done the reset, it doesn't stop it. My server is Apples because I use their mail service. I've looked on the icloud.com website and can't seem to find any settings for a server-side filter. This is getting very irritating. I see lots of complaints about this going back lots of versions. If Apple can't fix this then I will have to start looking to other solutions. I can no longer miss emails because Apple sees fit to filter it even when I've asked it not to do so.

I am using Mac OS Ventura 13.1 but this has been persistent over several OS/app versions.

Posted on Jan 1, 2023 7:01 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 1, 2023 7:05 AM in response to n1mie

n1mie wrote:

No amount of checking or unchecking stops Mail.app from filtering what it considers junk to the junk mail folder. I've done the reset, it doesn't stop it. My server is Apples because I use their mail service. I've looked on the icloud.com website and can't seem to find any settings for a server-side filter. This is getting very irritating. I see lots of complaints about this going back lots of versions. If Apple can't fix this then I will have to start looking to other solutions. I can no longer miss emails because Apple sees fit to filter it even when I've asked it not to do so.

I am using Mac OS Ventura 13.1 but this has been persistent over several OS/app versions.

see if there is anything here—

Block or unblock senders in Mail on Mac

Block or unblock senders in Mail on Mac - Apple Support (CA)

If Junk mail is not working for you as expected—

If junk mail filters aren’t working in Mail on Mac - Apple Support

Change Junk Mail settings in Mail on Mac - Apple Support

Reduce junk mail in Mail on Mac - Apple Support

Mail advanced junk mail settings on Mac - Apple Support

Change Junk Mail Advanced settings in Mail on Mac - Apple Support

Identify and filter junk mail in iCloud - Apple Support

Report and reduce spam in iCloud Mail - Apple Support

Manage junk mail in Mail on iCloud.com

Manage junk mail in Mail on iCloud.com - Apple Support

If no insight or resolve—

you can file a bug report /submit your Apple Feedback here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html

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Answer 2

Jan 1, 2023 7:48 AM in response to n1mie

n1mie wrote:

The only fly in the ointment here is that I use SpamSieve for spam filtering. I've used it for a very very long time. I don't want Mail.app to do the filtering, nor do I want a server-side filter.

Sounds like I need to go the bug reporting route.

if you use SpamSieve—verify your "Junk" mail is turned OFF in Mail>Settings>Junk

I have never had this issue w/ Junk turned off

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Answer 3

n1mie Author

Level 1

53 points

Jan 1, 2023 8:01 AM in response to leroydouglas

This shows the start date in 2009 but I know I was using it at least as far back as 2006.

As you can see below, I have junk mail turned off. It was turned off before I started troubleshooting. I've turned it on long enough to reset. I guess the next best thing would be to turn it on but have it leave mail in the inbox, but my recollection from past attempts to troubleshoot is that didn't work properly either.

Presently I have blocking off too. I'm waiting to see if this works or not. If it does turn junk filtering back off then it's definitely a bug as the blocking ought to be separate and distinct from junk mail filter.

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Answer 4

n1mie Author

Level 1

53 points

Jan 1, 2023 8:05 AM in response to leroydouglas

That did not resolve the issue. I just had a couple of messages filter back to the junk folder even with it off and with blocking off.

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Answer 5

n1mie Author

Level 1

53 points

Jan 1, 2023 7:25 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks for the prompt reply. I did have blocking on, I've turned that off. All the rest of that seems like just explaining how things work. I'm not a novice, I'm a power user, a very frustrated power user. I know how things work, or should work. And either there is something wrong with the user interface design or there is something wrong with the programming behind the scenes. The only fly in the ointment here is that I use SpamSieve for spam filtering. I've used it for a very very long time. I don't want Mail.app to do the filtering, nor do I want a server-side filter. I want SpamSieve to do the filtering. It does a superior job and I keep it trained as it makes mistakes or has questions. Sounds like I need to go the bug reporting route.

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