How to Get VIP Email Alerts in iOS Mail

iPhone & iPod

Updated August 23, 2019

VIP notifications are alerts for special recipients. You might want to get email alerts for certain recipients if you don't want notifications for every single email that reaches your iPad or iPhone.

For example, maybe your boss is set up as a VIP sender, and you want to ensure that each email from her makes 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.
Go to Mail > Notifications > VIP.

If you don't see these menus, go to Notifications > Mail > VIP.
Pick an alert style for very important emails. Your choices include Lock Screen, Notification Center, and/or Banners.

To turn off visual notifications for VIP emails, tap each of those options to remove the blue check mark.
Select Sounds to pick a special sound for VIP emails, or New Mail Sound on older devices.
Tap < VIP to return to the VIP notification settings, and optionally enable previews from the Show Previews setting. VIP email previews can be enabled always, only when your device is unlocked, or never.

Some devices might just have a toggle called Show Preview that you must enable to get 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.