How do I unsubscribe from emails on different platforms?

Why do you need to unsubscribe from emails?

We often give out our email on websites or apps that later use it to spam us with unwanted ads or promotional messages. These emails can clutter your inbox or lead you to open a spam email with harmful links. 

That’s why it’s essential to unsubscribe from such emails and protect your email privacy. In addition to safeguarding your privacy, there are a couple of other reasons why you need to learn how to cancel email subscriptions:

• Email overload: too many emails can overwhelm your inbox and make it difficult to find important messages. Unsubscribing helps reduce this clutter and makes your email management easier;
• Spam reduction: unwanted promotional emails and newsletters can quickly become spam — filling your inbox with irrelevant content;
• Privacy concerns: every time you share your email address, you risk it being used without your consent or leaking in data breaches. Unsubscribing from unnecessary emails protects your personal information;
• Storage management: email providers have limited storage space, so unsubscribing from emails you no longer read frees up space for more meaningful communications.

Learn how to keep your primary email anonymous to prevent unwanted emails in your inbox.

Easy ways to unsubscribe from emails

Now let’s explore some of the best methods to unsubscribe from unwanted emails:

Unsubscribe manually using links

The first and easiest way to unsubscribe from emails is to follow the unsubscribe link within the email, regardless your email platform. So, let’s look at how this is done on each platform separately. 

On Gmail

Here’s how to unsubscribe from emails on Gmail: 

1. Sign into your Gmail account on any device.

2. Find and open the email from the sender you want to unsubscribe from.
3. Click the Unsubscribe link, which is usually available next to the sender’s name or below the whole message.

4. A pop-up will appear where you have to click Unsubscribe again to confirm.

On Outlook

Here’s how to unsubscribe from emails on Outlook:

1. Sign in to your Outlook account.

2. Find and open the email you want to unsubscribe from.
3. Click the Unsubscribe link at the top of the email or in the footer.

4. Check for any additional prompts on the screen to confirm your choice.

On Yahoo

Here’s how to unsubscribe from emails on Yahoo:

1. Log in to your Yahoo Mail account.

2. Go to Emails and open the email from the sender you wish to unsubscribe from.
3. Find the Unsubscribe button, which is usually found at the bottom of the email.

4. Confirm your preference for unsubscription settings if needed to complete the process.

Block an email address

If you can’t unsubscribe using the email links, blocking an address is another simple way to unsubscribe from emails. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Sign in to your email account (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.).
2. Open the email from the sender you want to block.
3. Then, follow the given steps depending on the platform you use to block the sender.
   • On Gmail: click the three vertical dots in the top right of the email and select Block [sender];
   • On Outlook: open the email, click the three dots in the top right, and choose Block;
   • On Yahoo: open the email, click the three dots in the top right, and select Block Sender.
4. Confirm the action to ensure that emails from this sender are sent to your spam or junk folder automatically.

Set up email filters and rules

For extra security, you can update your email filter settings by following these steps:

1. Go to Settings on your email account.
2. Create a New Filter or Rule.
   • On Gmail: Click the gear icon> Select See all settings> Go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab> Click Create a new filter.
   • On Outlook: Go to Settings> Select Mail> Go to Rules> Click on Add new rule.
   • On Yahoo: Go to Settings> Click More Settings> Then find the Filters option> Now, choose Add new filters.
3. Specify the filter criteria, such as the sender’s email address or specific keywords.
4. Choose the action, like moving the email to a specific folder or deleting it.
5. Save your settings to apply the filter or rule to future emails.

Use unsubscribe tools

If you want to know how to unsubscribe from all emails at once, you can use specific tools for that and follow these steps:

1. Select an unsubscribe tool like Unroll.me, Clean Email, or any desired tool.
2. Sign in to the chosen tool with your email account.
3. Allow the tool to scan your inbox for email subscriptions.
4. Review the list of subscriptions found by the tool.
5. Select the subscriptions you want to unsubscribe from and confirm your choices. 

Now, the tool will handle the unsubscription process for you.

Make sure your email address is protected from spam

According to Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Report, phishing scams account for nearly 36% of all data breaches. This percentage stresses the importance of protecting your email address because it is one of the top sources behind data leaks and hacking.

So, consider the long-term consequences before signing up for any service or newsletter. Many websites retain your email permanently, and unsubscribing will not remove it from their database. 

To avoid the associated consequences and protect your primary email, you can mask it using Surfshark’s Alternative ID. Alternative ID still secures your real credentials —  all emails sent to your alternative email will be forwarded to your chosen inbox (often to the spam folder). For extra protection, you can even create a filter to automatically delete or redirect these forwarded emails to a dedicated folder.

There’s no better way to manage email privacy and keep your primary inbox spam-free.

Unsubscribe from unwanted emails now

Now that you know the most convenient methods to unsubscribe from emails and keep your inbox spam-free, it’s time to get started. Choose a method that best suits your needs, and enjoy a cleaner email experience. To ensure you don’t receive spam and your real email is not stored in any business’s database, use Surfshark’s Alternative ID and stay worry-free of spam or data leaks.

FAQ

How do I unsubscribe from emails in bulk?

You can use apps to unsubscribe to emails in bulk. Unroll.me, Clean Email, or Leave Me Alone are some services that allow you to see all your subscriptions and unsubscribe from multiple senders at once with just a few clicks.

Is it better to block or unsubscribe unwanted emails?

Unsubscribing is generally better as it informs the sender to stop sending emails, which helps reduce clutter at the source. Blocking should be used if unsubscribing doesn’t work or if the sender is spammy and continues to send emails.

How do I unsubscribe from emails on an iPhone?

Open the Mail app on your iPhone and open the email you want to unsubscribe from. At the top, click the Unsubscribe option. Now confirm your action.