How to Add or Remove VIP Senders in iOS Mail

Here's how to manage VIP senders

By
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
  • University of Vienna
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Updated on March 2, 2022
Reviewed by
Jerrick Leger
Jerrick Leger headshot
Reviewed by Jerrick Leger
Jerrick Leger is a CompTIA-certified IT Specialist with more than 10 years' experience in technical support and IT fields. He is also a systems administrator for an IT firm in Texas serving small businesses.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

What to Know

  • Add a VIP sender: Open a message from the sender. In the From field, tap the sender's name and choose Add to VIP.
  • Remove a VIP sender: Go to Mailboxes, then tap (i) next to VIP. Swipe left on sender's name, then tap Delete to remove VIP status.

Organize your important email messages with VIP Senders in the Mail app for iPhone and iPad. When you add an email address to the VIP senders list, messages from that email address are collected in a separate folder. In addition, notifications for these messages are handled separately from your other emails. Learn how to add or remove a VIP sender at any time using iPhone and iPad devices with iOS 6 or later.

How to Add VIP Senders in Mail

To add an email address to the VIP senders list from an email message:

  1. Open a message from the sender you want to add to the VIP list.

  2. In the From field, tap the sender's name.

  3. Select Add to VIP.

    Inbox, mail sender, and Add to VIP buttons in Mail app

How to Remove VIP Senders in Mail

To delete a VIP sender from the VIP list:

  1. Tap Mailboxes.

  2. Select (i) next to VIP.

    If you don't see a VIP mailbox, select Edit in the upper-right corner and then check VIP.

  3. Swipe left on the sender's name, then tap Delete to remove VIP status.

    iOS Mail VIP List with Delete option highlighted

Make an Existing Contact a VIP in Mail

If the email address is in your contacts list, add the contact to the VIP list.

  1. Open Mail and go to the Mailboxes screen. If the list of emails displays, tap Mailboxes at the top.

  2. In the list of email folders, tap VIP, or choose the (i) button if one or more VIP senders is set up.

  3. Choose Add VIP.

    Add VIP entry highlighted in iOS VIP List

  4. Search and select a contact.

    The contact must have an email address. If the contact only has a phone number, they can't be added to the VIP list.

  5. The new VIP contact appears in the list.

    Adding VIP from Contacts in iOS
FAQ
  • How do I get alerts for VIP emails in iOS Mail?

    Go to Settings > Mail > Notifications. Turn on Allow Notifications. Select VIP and the method by which you would like to receive alerts.

  • How do I change the VIP email notification sound in iOS?

    To change the VIP email sound notification in iOS, select Settings > Notifications > Mail > Allow Notifications > Customize Notifications > VIP > Sound > choose the sound you want to hear when you receive an email from a VIP contact.

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