Remove autocomplete email address from compose screen

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Level 1

30 points

Remove autocomplete email address from compose screen

Hello,

I recently had a conversation with a company's tech support and sent an email from my iPad to their representatives with email address person@company.com. The person had the same name of someone I frequently email. Now, on any compose screen when I type the first letter of the name of my friend, the tech support person shows up first in my autocomplete list. I have not added the tech support contact to my Contacts app. I would like to remove this person, but haven't found a way to do so. Does anyone know of a way?

Thanks

Powerbook G4 1.67 GHz 15" WS, Mac OS X (10.6.4), iPhone 4, iPad 3G

Posted on Oct 11, 2010 7:57 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

morgan21

Level 1

5 points

Oct 21, 2010 5:46 PM in response to Scott R

To manage addresses in your Previous Recipients list:

Choose Window > Previous Recipients.

In the Previous Recipients window, do any of the following:

To sort the list by name, email address, or the date the address was last used, click a column header.

To search for a name in the list, enter the name in the search field.

To view the card for a recipient who is already in your address book (a card icon precedes the recipient’s name), double-click the name.

To add one or more selected recipients to your address book, click “Add to Address Book.”

To remove one or more selected recipients from the list, click Remove From List.

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Answer 2

Mar 4, 2011 12:29 PM in response to Scott R

There is a way to fix this without jailbreaking, but it requires having at least some access to a Windows PC. See the following thread:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=13164988#13164988

Good Luck!

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Answer 3

basilmir

Level 1

80 points

Oct 22, 2015 5:48 AM in response to Scott R

Delete an Email Address from Auto-Complete in Mac OS X Mail

To remove an email address from the auto-complete list in Mac OS X Mail:

Start typing the recipient's address or name in a new message.

Select the desired address from the auto-complete list as if you'd compose an email to them.
Click the small down arrow in the recipient.
Select Remove from Previous Recipients List from the menu.

You can also search for the unwanted address directly in the previous recipients list:

Select Window | Previous Recipients from the menu in Mac OS X Mail.
Highlight the address you want to remove.
You can highlight multiple addresses by holding down the Command key.
Click Remove from List.

You can also use the Previous Recipients window to rid the list of old, unused addresses.

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Answer 4

Oct 12, 2010 11:14 AM in response to Scott R

Hi,

Launch Address Book on your Mac. You can delete an email address from there. Then connect your iPad to your Mac. Select the Info tab. Select: Sync Address Book Contacts

Click the Sync button bottom right corner of the iTunes window.

And open the Mac Mail app. From the menu bar click Window / Previous Recipients. You can delete data there also.

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 5

Scott R Author

Level 1

30 points

Oct 12, 2010 3:05 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thank you for your reply, but I believe you are misunderstanding my question.

The contact I want to remove isn't in my address book -- not on my Mac, iPhone, iPad or MobileMe. It was only added to the autocompletion list after I replied to an email on my iPad. Just to be sure I did load mail and remove all previous senders and synced my iPad, yet the contact still remains.

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Answer 6

Nov 6, 2010 2:18 PM in response to mikendeb

I too would love to know how to remove autocomplete mail addresses that show up when entering an address in the iPad's mail app, but which are not in the iPad Contacts app.

This solution is needed for my elderly mum's iPad -- she has some error-laden, non-functioning addresses that show up as suggested email addresses along with the correct address (located in her Contacts app) whenever she attempts to address an email to her friend. She often inadvertently selects one of the non-functioning addresses instead of the correct address (located in her Contacts app).

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Answer 7

Lonergan

Level 2

259 points

Nov 7, 2010 8:45 AM in response to Scott R

Scott R and Ben, I have the same problem with my mother-in-law's iPad. I can't delete all the faulty addresses she has mistakenly put in, and which show up all the time in autofill. She too frequently inadvertently selects one of the non-functioning addresses suggested by autofill, causing her much grief.

I tried creating new contacts from these faulty addresses, and then deleting them, but that doesn't work. There appears to be no way to delete them. Of course it's very easy on a Mac. But I sure would like to know how to on an iPad.

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Answer 8

Scott R Author

Level 1

30 points

Nov 10, 2010 9:11 PM in response to Ben Schmidt

At least I know I'm not the only one suffering from this bug.

Ben:
In my case, it's an annoyance and has only added a handful of addresses to the autocompletion popover. I sympathize with your mother's situation and hope Apple provides a fix soon for all of us suffering from the bug, but especially her.

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Answer 9

Scott R Author

Level 1

30 points

Nov 11, 2010 5:48 AM in response to Scott R

Since there doesn't currently seem to be a way to solve this issue, I'm going to go ahead and mark the issues as "answered" and cross my fingers Apple fixes this in a future software update.

Thank you everyone for your responses.

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Answer 10

Dec 28, 2010 5:24 AM in response to Michael Morgan1

Hi

I too have this issue

This will work but not suggested. Simply restore your ipad through iTunes. Use the restore option, but you have to setup your iPad again.

Next thing is, report this as a bug with apple. The more of us reporting this then it will be resolved. I plan on reporting.

Lastly, use that + sign instead of autocomplete with the contacts. If not in contacts then add to it first. So train in-laws and parents to do so.

Thought I would chime in from my new iPad.

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Answer 11

Dec 28, 2010 6:34 AM in response to Arvin Bhatnagar

Oh yeah forgot to mention two things.

1. When you restore remember to reset to the factory default. A restore from backup will not resolve this.

2. https://bugreport.apple.com is where you can report this bug. (I just did)

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Answer 12

Dec 28, 2011 7:34 AM in response to Scott R

Hi

I just spoke with an Apple support agent and was informed that the only way to get rid of remembered email addresses is to delete the associated email account & then add the account again. I just tried this and it is incorrect. When I get time I will call back and see if I can get someone else who maybe knows the real answer....

Didn't want anyone to waste their time deleting their account to no avail.

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Answer 13

Dec 28, 2011 7:58 AM in response to Scott R

I just called again and the 2nd Apple Support Tech told me that the only way to remove this is to restore the phone to factory settings and reload all of your itunes items (not restore from backup).

Well that's the only Apple way of doing it. Hope that helps.

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Answer 14

joanna07

Level 1

0 points

May 13, 2012 3:26 PM in response to Scott R

YES, there is a way to remove the cashe of previously entered email addresses:

With the Mail window open, click on Window in the menubar, and choose Previous Recipients. Highlight any or all, and Remove.

Ernie

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Answer 15

Sep 13, 2013 8:58 AM in response to morgan21

I am very new to mac mail. whats does "choose window > previous recepients" mean?

i guess i need very basic instructions, but from the general directions it sounds like your solution should help me.

thank you,

Carlos

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