How to Clear Mail Search History in iOS 16

This guide explains how to clear your recent search history and manage favorited items within the Apple Mail app on iOS 16. Over time, Mail stores recent search terms and queries to speed up future searches, but you can quickly delete these records or adjust your mailbox favorites to maintain your privacy and keep your search screen clutter-free.

How to Clear Search History in iOS 16 Mail

  1. Open the Mail app on your iPhone.
  2. In the main Mailboxes view or inside any specific mailbox, tap the Search bar at the top of the screen.
  3. Look for the Recent Searches header below the search bar.
  4. Tap the blue Clear button located directly to the right of "Recent Searches."
  5. To remove an individual search term instead of the entire history, swipe left across the specific search entry and tap Delete.

How to Un-favorite Mailboxes and Folders

If you have pinned folders to your Favorites list and want to remove them:

  1. Navigate to the top-level Mailboxes screen.
  2. Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
  3. Scroll through the list and tap the blue checkmark next to any folder you wish to remove from your Favorites.
  4. Tap Done in the top-right corner to save your changes.

How to Remove VIP Contacts

The VIP list functions as a favorites list for individual senders. To un-favorite a VIP contact:

  1. On the Mailboxes screen, tap the info (i) icon next to the VIP mailbox.
  2. Swipe left on the contact you want to remove and tap Delete, or tap the contact name and select Remove from VIP.
  3. Tap Done to return to your mailboxes.

Disabling Siri Search Suggestions in Mail

If unwanted suggested searches or contacts continue to appear when you use the search bar, you can disable Siri suggestions for Mail:

  1. Open the iPhone Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap Mail.
  3. Tap Siri & Search.
  4. Toggle off Show Suggestions in App and Suggest Content.