How to Get VIP Email Alerts in iOS Mail

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Updated January 19, 2020

VIP notifications are Apple's Mail app alerts for select recipients. You might want to set email alerts for certain recipients if you don't want notifications for every single email that reaches your iPad or iPhone.

For example, you may set up your boss as a VIP sender to ensure that each email from her generates a special notification on your device so that you don't miss them. This is easy with VIP notifications.

These directions apply to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices running at least iOS 6.

How to Set Up VIP Email Alerts

The option to create VIP notifications is in the Settings app.

Add a VIP sender if you don't already have one set up.
Open the Settings app from the home screen.
Tap Mail in the left panel to open the Mail settings. Tap Notifications.
Turn on Notifications by moving the slider next to Allow Notifications to the green/on position. Tap VIP in the middle of the Notifications screen.
Pick an alert style for very important emails. Your choices include Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners.

To turn off visual notifications for VIP emails, tap each of those options to remove the blue checkmark.
Select Sounds to pick a distinctive sound for VIP emails.
Select a notification sound from the Sounds screen. It should be different from other alerts your use. Tap any sound to hear a sample of it.
Tap < VIP at the top of the Sounds screen to return to the VIP notification settings.
Optionally, enable previews from the Show Previews setting.
Tap the frequency you want to receive previews of emails from VIPs. Your options are always, when your device is unlocked, and never.

Some devices might have only a toggle called Show Preview that you enable to receive previews for VIP emails.

Don't forget to change the Push settings on your device to ensure that new mail comes quickly. The alternative is to have your iPad or iPhone check for new mail less frequently, which might be what you prefer.