Scroll to the Top on an Email Fast in iPhone Mail

It's easy to scroll in the iPhone and iPad Mail app. You swipe up and down the screen to scroll through the list of messages in a ​mailbox, just like you scroll through individual messages to read them. However, once you scroll down, you need a trick to avoid swiping over and over to reach the top of the message or mailbox again.

You don't have to swipe fast, swipe often, or swipe at all if you know the right place to tap. This trick works for iPhones and iPads running iOS 8 through iOS 12. However, the method varies depending on whether you are on an iPhone or iPad.

To go to the top of an email or mailbox quickly in iPhone Mail:

• Tap the ​iPhone status bar in the top right corner, where you see the battery and signal strength indicators.
• The same process works for scrolling to the top of a folder's message list. To get back to the top of your mailbox, tap on the top right corner of the status bar.

Here are a few other tips for navigating your iPhone emails and inboxes:

• Return to Mailbox Message List: If you have a message open, tap the Back link that is on the top left corner of the screen to go back to the message list. The link may say Inbox, Mailboxes, or the name of the service provider. You return to the area of the screen where you opened the email rather than going to the top of the message list.
• Scroll to Next or Previous Message Using the Arrows: You can also use the two arrows on the top right side of the screen just under the status bar to open the next message or to return to the previous message. These arrows provide an easy way to go through your mailbox without returning to the list of messages in the mailbox. They are visible at the top of every email, even when you've scrolled down in the message.
• Return to Mailbox Message List and then Jump to Top of the Message List: If you have a message open and want to return to the message list and then jump to the top of the list, you need two taps. First, tap on the Back link (or whatever the link is named) in the top left corner below the status bar. Then tap the status bar in the right corner to return to the top of the message list. If you have a message string open, this shortcut may not work as expected.

The method to go to the top of an email or mailbox in the Mail app on the iPad is different from the process on an iPhone. It works just as well—after you find it the first time.

• If you have scrolled down in the list of messages and want to return to the top of the list quickly, tap the blank space immediately above Inbox at the top of the messages list.
• If you have scrolled down in an individual email, tap the blank area above the email. The position is sensitive. Aim for the center point of the email's width and at the top edge of the screen to return to the top of the email on an iPad.