Last year when iOS 8 came out, I made the decision to start using the default iOS Mail app again instead of Mailbox. While I miss snooze for later options, the Mail app’s contextual awareness makes it a lot more valuable to me nowadays. From adding a flight to updating contact information, the Mail app lets me stay on top of data the way others just can’t. My only remaining battle was setting up actions to quickly archive or trash something quickly. I didn’t want to pick one or the other and needed quick access to both. After poking around a bit last year, I figured out that you can set up the stock Mail app so you don’t have to choose. This is a setup I’ve been asked about a lot recently so here are instructions on how to set it up:
iOS Mail tips: How to set up simultaneous archive and delete swipe options First, you need to make sure your mail accounts are set to use
Archive as the default option for discarding messages. You’ll need to repeat these steps for ALL mail accounts you have set up in the Mail app:
1. Launch the Settings app and tap on Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
2. Tap on a mail account at the top.
3. Tap on Account on the next screen.
4. Choose Advanced.
5. Change the option for Move Discarded Messages To so it is set to Archive Mailbox.
Once you’ve done the above steps for all your configured email accounts, follow these steps to adjust your swipe options:
1. Launch the Settings app and tap on Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
2. Tap on Swipe Options — it’s a little ways down the page.
3. Tap on Swipe Right and set it to Archive.
Close out of Settings and launch your Mail app. Swiping left should now give you the Archive option and swiping right should now show Trash. That’s it!
iOS Mail tips: How to quickly trash or archive inside a mail message
It’s not immediately obvious but if you’re inside a message in the Mail app, it may appear that you can only delete or archive. However, if you hold down on the archive button like shown in the image above, you’ll get the trash option as well, or whatever the opposite of your default is. Before I realized this, I hated that I’d have to back out of a message to access the swipe options laid out in the section above. Bonus tip, you can also hold down on the Compose button in the Mail app for quick access to all your drafts.
What’s the difference between delete and trash then? When I delete I want to never see the thing again, I want it gone, from my phone, from the server, from everywhere. I’m looking to get rid of the Google Inbox app and go back to the stock Mail app…I used to understand email!!!
Archive just files it away. Still searchable but not in a specific folder. Trash = gone forever.
For example – spam gets trashed, emails i don’t need in a specific folder but may need to refer to later – archive. Folders require that I remember where I put things, which I don’t. So normally I just archive.
I’m so thankful for finding this. I’ve been not using Apple Mail for so long just because of this issue. Thank you!