Q: Phantom unread emails: Mail shows 5 unread messages, but there are none...

Messed up the markup code...

Also, to clarify further, the ghost e-mails appeared after I had marked a read e-mail as 'unread' in my Inbox. There might be different causes for different users (and consequently, different solutions).

Oh yes! This problem of over 9000 phantom emails has been confirming my views of Apple and IOS7 and their disregard of their users and quality control. Thank you for fixing a problem Apple obviously doesn't care to address for their users.  Greedy, lazy and trying to control the tech world. Depending on cheap, or free,  crowd sourcing to do their tech support. Cheers, V.

I tried it all and it all failed until I hit upon this solution. I had seventeen phantom emails in my sent folder but not one "actual" email in it. When I first tried this with one email, it didn't work, but then I sent a second one and, once there were multiple emails — whoosh — the phantom emails and their numbers disappeared immediately. That said, I only have one account in iPhone's Mail app, it's a POP account, and I don't use my phone as an email repository.

I (and my OCD) could not be more grateful, gumdoc2.

I ended up deleting 20 unread (read) emails and since then haven't had the problem any more. This can't be the "official correct" solution though.

10/3/14  This morning...all of a sudden my Verizon email inbox was showing two unread emails and there were none. I am on a MacBook Pro...which I don't know if matters...for me the solution was simple...I held down the control key...clicked on the pad which  brought a drop down menu down.....selected marked all email read....and that cleared it....the end of the problem....

10/3/14  This morning...all of a sudden my Verizon email inbox was showing two unread emails and there were none. I am on a MacBook Pro...which I don't know if matters...for me the solution was simple...I held down the control key...with my curser over Verizon (under inbox) I clicked on the pad...essentially doing a right click if you are using a mouse.... which  brought a drop down menu down.....selected mark all email as read....and that cleared it....the end of the problem....

10/3/14  This morning...all of a sudden my Verizon email inbox was showing two unread emails and there were none. I am on a MacBook Pro...which I don't know if matters...for me the solution was simple...I held down the control key...with my curser over Verizon (under inbox) I clicked on the pad...essentially doing a right click if you are using a mouse.... which  brought a drop down menu down.....selected mark all email as read....and that cleared it....the end of the problem....

Jad's solution worked for me in Mail 5.3 on OS X 10.7.5, where Mail was showing 1 unread message when there were no folders showing any unread mail. After restarting Mail, it still showed 1 unread on the Mail icon, only now Mail also showed 1 unread mail in one subfolder, which it had not shown before. So the  unread count is accurate at the moment.

The solution is to go into the email folder that has the unread emails , select edit then "mark all as unread" then wait 5 second, and edit "mark all as read" and this will resolve your problem.

Hello everyone
The failure is with me every few days.
I set OFF then ON in setting iphone - exchanhe, it works, but comes back after a day or two.

I updated to version 8.3, and still, the same thing.

We work with Exchange 2003 sp2. But I know also occurs in Exchange 2010.

Anyone found anything?
Is Apple facilities that?
I also checked if I connect via OWA ( Explorer, Chrome, Firefox ), it shows right. Email show read.

It's very long time that problem isn't solve about Apple, why ?

Thanks for every one.

Quick fix.

1. Open your email folder
2. Click Edit (top right)
3. Select All (bottom left)
4. Mark All As Unread
5. Select All (again)
6. Mark All As Read

Good luck!

This works perfectly even on OSX Yosemite

Hi, I have an iphone 5S and been noticing that the last week or so with Yahoo. Just posted my own question because along with this I also have strangers emails and their Facebook pics or shadows beside their email suddenly in my contacts.  I am not even on Facebook.   I found for the phantom emails, turning off my phone helped and resigning into Yahoo. Its just Yahoo doing it now Icloud.

The problem still persists after 5 years, rebuilding my mails accounts now.

I have had this problem on my iPhone 6.  There is an easy way to get read of the Phantom unread designation.

Open mail on the iPhone.

Under Mailboxes, select "All Inboxes".

Select "Edit".

Select "Mark All".

Select "Mark as Unread".

Select "Mark as Read".

Problem solved.