How to organize message threads in Mail App on iPhone and iPad


Emails are often like live conversations; you say something, and the receiver replies, starting message threads. Sometimes this game of two and fro becomes a super big thread of emails. The default email threading feature of the Mail app is quite helpful in such scenarios, as it stacks all these emails in one thread.

Instead of scrolling up or down for each conversation, you have one single window where all mails are lined up in a conversational thread. Though a helpful feature, some might not like it as is; they may want to disable the thread or organize message threads differently. Gratefully, the Mail app on your iOS and iPadOS devices incorporates such options.

Whether you want to completely turn off email threads, customize their viewing option, or mute them, you can do this more easily. Easy!! As in most cases, you must turn off/on the toggle tab to change or access a setting. So, let us not delay further and explore all the options related to Threading.

Manage Message Threads in Mail App in iPhone and iPad

How to Disable Message Thread in Apple Mail App on iPhone and iPad

The  Mail app on your iOS and iPadOS devices has an email threading feature by default. Though not everyone enjoys this functionality and the clutter it may cause. As emails are received and replied to, the conversations stack up, and it becomes challenging to look for something specific.

This is especially the case when multiple people are part of a single conversation. Instead of sifting through all the mails, one can simply look for the specific one. All in all, it is better to understand how to disable threads in Mail on iOS and iPadOS.

Step #1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and iPad.

Open Settings App on iPhone

Step #2. Scroll down and select the Mail option.

Select Mail in iOS 13 Settings App on iPhone

Step #3. Go to Threading options and toggle off the tab next to Organise by Thread.

Turn Off Organise by Thread in Threading Options in iOS 13 Mail App on iPhone

Once disabled, you will see all the emails separately lined as per the date and time they were received. Check out the before and after image below for better understanding.

Preview of iOS 13 Mail App Before and After Disable Organise by Thread on iPhone

If you want to enable message threading again, open Settings  Mail and toggle on the tab next to Organise by Thread. The process is so simple that you can toggle on/off as per your convenience. Switch on when you need email thread, switch off when you are looking for individual message.

How to Turn Off Collapse Read Messages in Mail App on iPhone and iPad

Another setting enabled by default is that read messages are displayed in the form of collapsed windows. So, while all other messages are in sort of a minimized window, only the very recent email is shown. Check out the image below for more clarity:

Disable Collapse Read Messages in iOS 13 Mail App on iPhone

However, there might be a few who resent the feature and like all the email threads open on a full scale. Which is why Apple has incorporated the option in its recent iOS and iPadOS updates.

Step #1. Open the Settings Mail on your devices.

Open Mail App in iOS 13 Settings App on iPhone

Step #2. Toggle off the tab next to Collapse Read Messages in the Threading options.

Turn Off Collapse Read Messages in Threading Option in iOS 13 Mail Settings

In case, you do not like this version of message threading, switchback by simply turning on the toggle.

Place Recent Message on Top or Bottom in Mail App

By default, recent messages are kept at the bottom, while all others are stacked above it in ascending order. Though you can switch up the setting to ensure that the recent message is always on top. The rest of the emails will follow suit and will now be arranged in descending order.

Place Recent Message on Top or Bottom in iOS 13 Mail App on iPhone

This option can be especially helpful when you have disabled Collapse Read Messages, as instead of scrolling down multiple emails, you just see the most recent one first.

Step #1. Open the Settings  Mail on your iOS and iPadOS.

Open Mail App in iOS 13 Settings App on iPhone

Step #2. Scroll down to the Threading options and toggle on the tab next to Most Recent Message on Top.

Turn ON Most Recent Message on Top in Threading Option in Mail App on iPhone

Disable Complete Threads in Mail App on iPhone and iPad

Your inbox receives multitudes of emails; depending upon their importance, you either keep them or delete. At times, you also archive them or segregate them into different sections. In doing so, we move them out of the primary mailbox and into a separate folder.

The Complete Threads option enables you to view all the messages in the thread, even those which are stored outside the mailbox. For instance, an important conversation mail saved in your important mailbox is also shown.

View All Messages Other than Primary Mail Box in Single Thread in iOS 13 Device

Let’s say someone only wants to see threads from the mailbox, then the option could be disabled.

Step #1. Open the Settings → Mail on your iOS and iPadOS.

Open Mail App in iOS 13 Settings App on iPhone

Step #2. Scroll down to the Threading options and toggle off the tab next to Complete Threads.

Disable Complete Thread in Threading Option in iOS 13 Mail Settings

How to Mute Message Threads in Mail App

When part of a group email conversation where you do not have active participation, notification pings could be irritating. Apple developers seem to face a similar issue, maybe that’s why the option of muting message threads was introduced in iOS and iPadOS. Check out how:

Step #1. Open the Mail app on your device.

Open iOS 13 Mail App on iPhone

Step #2. Select the email thread you want to mute and swipe left.

Slide Email to Left to Open Option in iOS 13 Mail App on iPhone

Step #3. Tap on More (…) from the hidden actions bar. and Tap on Mute from the options.

Select More and Tap on Mute Option To Stop Notification in iOS 13 Mail App

You can also mute notifications for an email thread from the thread itself. Open Mail Thread, here tap on Arrow icon at the bottom right of the page. Scroll down and tap on Mute.

Tap on arrow icon and scroll down to choose mute in ios 13 mail app

Along with this nifty trick, the makers have also added an option to customize the action.

Thanks to which, when you mute a thread, you can decide what happens to it, at the same time. You can either choose to ‘Mark as Read’ or ‘Archive or Delete,’ depending upon your preference.

Customise Muted Thread Action in Mail App on iPhone and iPad

Step #1. Open the Settings Mail on your iOS and iPadOS.

Open Mail App in iOS 13 Settings App on iPhone

Step #2. Go to the Threading options and tap on Muted Thread Action and select your preference from the given options.

Select Preferred Option to Customise Mute Action in iOS 13 Mail App on iPhone

Similarly, you can also customise what happens to the blocked messages.

Customise Block Email Options in Mail App

Unwanted and spam emails crowd your inbox almost as much as important mails. So, why waste your time when you can simply block them. However, you can save time further by deciding what happens to these emails when you block the sender.

Step #1. Open the Settings Mail on your iOS and iPadOS.

Open Mail App in iOS 13 Settings App on iPhone

Step #2. Go to the Threading options and tap on Blocked Sender Options. Select your preference from the given options:

  • None
  • Mark as Blocked, Leave in Inbox
  • Move to Bin
Tap on Blocked Sender Options and Choose Preferred Option to Stop Emails in iOS 13 Mail App on iPhone

That’s All Folks!!! 

We each have our own style of managing our emails; some fall in the category of ‘zero unread mails’ and some in ‘1000 unread mails’. There are also a few who are in between these two categories. Whichever zone you belong to, email threads and its customization options will help you immensely. Though if you hate it and are planning to disable message threads, then also these settings are a boon.

Here are a few more settings that are nothing less than a blessing:

author avatar
Suraj
Suraj is an operations head on the iGB team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.

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