Want to remove emails from your inbox without actually deleting them? That’s where the archive function comes in. On your iPhone 13 running iOS 15, you can easily archive messages to clean up your inbox while still keeping them accessible in case you need them later.
Here’s how to archive and retrieve emails using the built-in Mail app.
How Archiving Works on iPhone Mail
Archiving moves the message out of your inbox and into the All Mail or Archive folder, depending on your email provider (e.g. Gmail uses All Mail). The email isn’t deleted and all attachments stay intact—you can retrieve it anytime.
How to Archive a Single Email
- Open the Mail app.
- If needed, tap Inbox under your account to view your messages.
- Swipe left on the email you want to archive.
- Tap the Archive icon (a box with a down arrow).
The email will be removed from the inbox and sent to your All Mail/Archive folder.
How to Archive Multiple Emails at Once
- Open the Mail app and go to your Inbox.
- Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
- Select the emails you want to archive by tapping the circles next to them.
- Tap Archive at the bottom of the screen.
All selected emails will be moved to your archive folder.
How to Retrieve Archived Emails
Need to bring an archived message back to your inbox? Here’s how:
- Open the Mail app.
- Tap Mailboxes (top-left corner) and choose All Mail or Archive.
- Find the email you want to unarchive.
- Swipe left on it and tap More.
- Tap Move Message.
- Choose Inbox or any other folder to move the email.
You can also use the Search bar to find archived emails by keyword, subject, or sender.
Having Trouble Archiving or Finding Messages?
If something’s not working:
- Make sure you’re connected to the internet.
- Restart your iPhone to clear any glitches.
- Confirm you’re signed into the correct email account.
- Check Mailboxes > All Mail or Archive folder—messages don’t go to Trash when archived.
- Keep iOS updated to avoid Mail app bugs.
Archiving is the best way to clean your inbox without losing important messages. Once you get used to it, it’s a fast and efficient habit to maintain a clutter-free mailbox on your iPhone 13.