Unsubscribing from mailing lists on iPhone and iPad

Mailing lists

Many of us find that we receive too much email from some mailing lists from businesses, charities and other organisations. Or perhaps we just find that our inboxes are dominated by unwanted messages from lists we have subscribed to over the years. All reputable organisations will provide an unsubscribe link at the end of every message you are sent and this should allow you to remove your email address from the mailing list quickly and easily. The link is often in the "small print" at the end of each message and can be a little fiddly for both low vision users and VoiceOver users to to access. Usually, the Maill app on iPhones and iPads will identify messages from mailing lists and offer you an easier way to locate the unsubscribe option. This page describes both methods for blind VoiceOver userd and for people using their vision.

The unsubscribe feature in the Mail app on iPhone and iPad

The Mail app usually spots messages ssent from mailing lists when they are opened from your Inbox and the app places a banner at the top of the message that identifies it as from a mailing list and offers an unsubscribe button to leave the list. It's easy for low vision users to overlook this banner and for blind users, VoiceOver's focus usually doesn't land on the banner so you won't immediately hear anything spoken about mailing lists. VoiceOver will normally land below the banner in the message body.

If, after you have examined the message, you decide you want to leave the mailing list, scroll back to the top of the message and look for the banner. If you use VoiceOver, explore near the top left of the screen to locate either the text "this message is from a mailing list" or the "unsubscribe" button. If you land on "this message is from a mailing list" then swipe right to locate the "unsubscribe" button.

VoiceOver users should locate and double tapn the unsubscribe button and, of course, all other users should simply tap the unsubscribe button. The following dialog will appear.

Use the unsubscribe button in this dialog to be taken to the unsubscribe facility offered by the mailing list. This will either unsubscribe you immediately or may take you to a web page to complete the process. The Mail app has spotted the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email message and offered you an easier way to access it. If you prefer to use the link directly or if the Mail app doesn't spot the button alternative instructions follow.

Using unsubscribe links provided in mailing list emails

Mailing list emails will normally have an unsubscribe link close to the end of the message. Scroll to the end of the mail and look for the unsbscribe link. VoiceOver users can either explore near the bottom of the message or, having located any text near the end of the message, set the rotor to links and swipe vertically to locate the unsubscribe link. Tap or double tap on the link to unsubscribe.

Please be careful with unsubscribe links in emails that have come from mailing lists you have no recollection of joining or if the email looks as if it may be a fake. If the message is from a criminal then the unsubscribe link may take you to a web page that attempts to steal personal information or worse. In this case either just delete the message or, if you are certain you don't want to hear from the organisation again, try blocking the sender using the menu that appears when you tap on the reply button at the base of the screen.

Oh, and one final word. My own mailing lists for learners and trainers don't use a mailing list management system and don't offer unsubscribe links. You may be on other similar lists. In these cases, just reply to the messzge or otherwise email the sender requesting to be removed from the list. Don't use block sender unless you never want to hear anything from an individual again!

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