New buttons & icons in Mail - iOS 18.3.1 - how can I get rid of them?

MartinR wrote:

lobsterghost1 wrote:

1. If you want your mailbox as it was before the update:

Open mail, tap the circle at the top with 3 dots it in and change to List View.

2. Next if you want to get rid of the icons next to each message, open the Settings App, tap Apps all the way at the bottom of the page, then find and tap Mail. Turn off Show Contact Posters

Your mail will look as it did before the update.

Thanks! That was perfect! I had already done List View. And had turned off Apple Intelligence (again).

But I didn't know what the icons were or how to disable them. Glad to know what they are (Contact Photos) ... & they are now turned off!

You're welcome!

Thank you! Worked like a charm. In my version of the Mail app settings, it said "Show Contact Photo". Flipped it off and back to old view.

So you're still using Category View instead of List View and you didn't change the setting to not show Contact Posters next to each message as I explained above? Yes, the contact poster will appear at the top of the message you open and yes, that can't be removed, but otherwise, your mail will look exactly as it did before the change.

MartinR wrote:

Is there any way to get rid of these things? I

No. This is a built-in feature and I love it.

Change is difficult to adapt to because it disrupts our comfort zones, introduces uncertainty and fear of the unknown, challenges our sense of identity, and involves letting go of the familiar. However, it's important to recognize that change is an inevitable part of life, and learning to adapt and embrace it is crucial for personal growth and development. With time, patience, and a willingness to explore new possibilities, we can navigate the difficulties of change and find ways to thrive in new circumstances.

no, I went to list view as many people, yourself included, have suggested.

it helps. as does turning off the icons in settings (although that comes at the expense of getting rid of photos that we might actually want on our email contacts).

but, as you say, it doesn't remove the [ often laughably incorrect ] icon from the message itself when it's opened. the fact that so many of the icons are misleadingly incorrect just adds insult to the injury of the visual distraction. every time a misleading icon appears, it's an advertisement for Apple's inability to do correct categorisation.

this "feature" isn't ready for prime time, and Apple should let those of us who didn't want it in the first place turn it off.

Then tell Apple what you think they need to do. You haven't done so by posting here on this user to user only forum, which Apple doesn't actively participate, nor read for user feedback. I honestly am not bothered by the silly contact poster at the top of an email. I wasn't even noticing it until someone mentioned it's there.

Feel free to tell Apple what you think they need to do using this link --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

If you want your mailbox as it was before the update:

1. Open mail, tap the circle at the top with 3 dots it in and change to List View.
2. Next if you want to get rid of the icons next to each message, open the Settings App, tap Apps all the way at the bottom of the page, then find and tap Mail. Turn off Show Contact Posters

Your mail will look as it did before the update.

sadly, that's not quite true: the new icons still appear when you open an individual message to read it, and, annoyingly, they are incorrect more than they are correct.

Substack newslatters letters get categorised as shopping.

Emails from the Financial Times (a newspaper) shows up as a bank.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Not only are these Fisher-Price icons visual clutter, but they are also anti-information. Noise.

Apple needs to let us turn them off completely. iPhones are expensive, and we're not paying for a premium product that annoys us against our will.

Reply to SravanKrA

I don't understand what your theoretical response has to do with the question ? I'm with MartinR … change is not the issue , we need answers not a life coach .

I'm not sure that it's built in , I once read a solution in this forum though I can't find it now .

I'll post it if I can locate it .

🧐

To have an iPhone 16

merce37 wrote:

To have an iPhone 16

Go to www.apple.com or any Apple Store or Apple Authorized Reseller and buy one. Great phones they are!

You're welcome.

Thank you so much !! Stupid icons were taking up all my screen .