How to Get VIP Email Alerts in iOS Mail

Set up special email alerts for certain contacts

by
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Heinz Tschabitscher
Updated on April 12, 2021
reviewed by
Jerrick Leger headshot
Jerrick Leger
Lifewire Tech Review Board Member
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.
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Article reviewed on Dec 23, 2020
Jerrick Leger

What to Know

  • Go to Settings > Mail > Notifications. Make sure Allow Notifications is turned on, then choose VIP. Select how you want to receive alerts.
  • Optional: Choose from a variety of specialized sound alerts for VIP emails, and choose whether to Show Previews of VIP emails. 

VIP notifications are Apple Mail app alerts for select recipients. Set up VIP contacts to ensure that emails from them generate a special notification on your device so that you don't miss them. Learn how to setup up VIP alerts using iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices running iOS 6 or later.

How to Set Up VIP Email Alerts

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

  1. Add a VIP sender if you don't already have one set up.

  2. Open the Settings app from the home screen.

    The iPad Settings app

  3. Select Mail to open the Mail settings.

    Mail settings on an iPad

  4. Select Notifications.

    Notifications settings in iOS

  5. Turn on Notifications by moving the Allow Notifications toggle switch to the green/on position. Then, tap VIP in the middle of the Notifications screen.

    Allow Notifications switch in iOS

  6. Choose how you'd prefer to receive alerts. 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.

    Notifications checkmark in iOS settings

  7. Select Sounds to choose a distinctive sound for VIP emails.

    Sounds item in VIP Mail settings in iOS

  8. In the Sounds screen, select a notification sound. It should be different from other alerts you use. Tap any sound to hear a sample of it.

    Sounds screen in iPad settings

  9. Tap VIP at the top of the Sounds screen to return to the VIP notification settings.

    VIP header in iOS Settings

  10. Optionally, enable previews from the Show Previews setting.

    Show Previews heading in iOS VIP notifications

  11. Choose how frequently you want to receive previews of emails from VIPs. Options are always, when your device is unlocked, or never.

    Notifications preview settings in iOS

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

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.

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