How can I remove icons from my iPhone mail list?

I'm with you - ridiculous icons! I am so fed up with getting force-fed updates and 'upgrades' if Apple wants to offer me a new feature then they should explain its benefits and give me the option to accept or REFUSE. The tyranny of rubbish!

Thank you for help in removing "show contact photos." This problem originated after I installed iOS 18.3 yesterday...so annoying. Change for change's sake isn't always a good idea.

Lucy, I, too, am a photographer and found the unsolicited introduction of icons and categories on my iPhone, consuming substantial real estate, a major irritant. Sometimes, analysts and programmers get carried away with what can be done in code they overlook the effects of what they are doing. I’m glad I was able to help.

Thanks for the tip to turn off those useless icons. Stop forcing crap down our throats

Actually, I found out you don’t have to do the turn off contacts move. You can just turn the size of the text up on Mail only and they will go away.

I don’t mind having contact images, because they are small. But these HUGH colored kid boxes are way too much. Some of the updates as of late are moronic!

Thanks - finally I can understand my inbox again!!

God bless you for sharing this information. I was on the edge!

Thank you for this, those stupid childish icons are gone. Merci Beaucoup

For what it’s worth, I created a short YouTube video on the fix too: https://youtu.be/prUylkVNW2g

Thankyou Jendev5!!!

Spent 2 days trying to remove the new huge colorful and INANE STUPID CHILDISH UNNECESSARY AND INTRUSIVE icons from my gmail inbox listing...and you made it clear and simple! Thank you very much!

My iPhone just updated last night with this, Thank you so much!

I despise having some of these so called “improved” features pushed on me and then searching how to turn them off. Agree with the others- I’m not a child and don’t need the cartoon-like ‘feature’

Thanks. I googled How do I turn off this useless feature and got here, very grateful.

it’s a bit like coming downstairs one morning and finding your front door has been painted bright red with a note saying that it was decided everyone would love red front doors.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Give us the option at upgrade not to have these features that can be so incredibly annoying.

My mother in law was using an iPad until she died at over 99. I don’t know how many times she said, Why do they keep changing things? I then had to find how to turn off the new feature or teach her how to cope with the intrusive unremovable feature.

Thank goodness this thread exists! The icons are so busy. I started to look for another email programme because I just couldn’t do emails with the change. Too much going on/ visual distraction! I’m so happy to change back to no icons and no categories!