How to Set Up an Android Email Spam Filter
Built-in spam filters for email are great, but they aren’t perfect. You’ve probably already discovered that your email provider’s filter can still allow junk messages to sneak into your inbox. Although you can mark messages as spam on Android, it takes time for your provider to learn which emails are actually junk.
On the other hand, maybe you’ve tried the best email spam blocker for Android and found messages being identified as junk that are not. This can cause you to miss important emails and spend time reviewing your Spam folder more frequently.
With the amount of spam we all receive these days, who has time to play these games?
We’ll show you how to set up your own custom email spam filter on Android. This way you can decide what’s junk and what’s not.
Filter Spam Emails in Gmail
Gmail might be a super popular email app among Android users, but it unfortunately has limited features on mobile devices. To set up filters for automatically deleting spam in Gmail, you’ll need to access the website and request the desktop site view in your browser to do so.
Here’s how to filter out emails in Gmail on Android:
- Visit Gmail.com in your web browser and sign into your account.
- Click the Settings cog in the top-right corner, then click See All Settings.
- Click on Filters and blocked addresses.
- Select Create a new filter to begin.
You can then add conditions like sender, subject, or keyword and delete, mark, or label messages that match those conditions.
Filter Spam Emails in Clean Email
While Clean Email is not a dedicated email spam filter tool, it does provide features for filtering messages that go above and beyond apps like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail. This mailbox management application offers the following tools to help you solve the spam email issue on Android.
Prescreen for spam
Screener holds all messages from unknown senders in one mailbox location so that you can identify junk before it even reaches your inbox. Think of it as a spam email blocker for Android that’s completely in your control.
- Choose Screener in the left-hand menu and enable the tool.
- Review and select the emails from new senders.
- Pick an action like Spam, Block, or Allow.
📌 Tip: New Clean Email users can try out Screener at no cost for 14 days!
Use the predefined filters
Smart Folders are automatic filters created for you. When you open the menu, you’ll see Smart Folders like Unusual Senders, Messages from “no reply”, and Automated messages to easily check for and handle spam.
Plus, you can take advantage of additional folders like Online shopping, Travel, Entertainment, and Food Delivery to quickly find what you need or manage related emails in bulk.
Create inbox rules
Auto Clean is an inbox rule setup feature where you can customize the conditions and actions like Gmail filters or Outlook rules—but with more options and flexibility.
You can create rules to automatically mark messages as spam based on sender, recipient, keyword, size, date, or other criteria. Plus, you can also delete, trash, move, or archive emails with Auto Clean.
Filter Spam Emails in Outlook
With Outlook on Android, you can filter spam emails in a couple of different ways.
First, you can use the Focused Inbox. This automated filter recognizes the messages and contacts most important to you and places them in the Focused section with the remaining emails in the Other inbox section.
To turn on the Focused Inbox in Outlook:
- Open the Outlook app on Android.
- Tap your profile icon on the top left and pick Settings.
- Select Mail in the General section.
- Turn on the Focused Inbox toggle.
Second, you can create inbox rules that work like filters to manage messages based on conditions. Like Gmail filters, you must currently set up Outlook filters on the web using a computer, or by requesting the desktop version of the site in your mobile browser and following the same steps.
To create a rule on the Outlook website:
- Visit Outlook.com and sign into your account.
- Select the Settings icon (gear) on the top right.
- Choose Mail on the far left and Rules to the right.
- Pick Add new rule.
You can enter a rule name and select the conditions like sender, recipient, or keyword. Then, choose the action such as Mark as Junk or Delete.
Filter Spam Emails in Yahoo Mail
Unlike Gmail and Outlook, you can set up email filters in the Yahoo Mail app on Android. Unfortunately, the actions are quite limited in that you can currently only move messages to folders. So, while the feature may help with spam, it doesn’t go much further for inbox organization.
To set up a filter in Yahoo Mail on Android:
- Tap your profile icon on the top left and pick Settings.
- Select Filters in the General section.
- Choose an account.
- Tap the plus sign on the top right.
- You can add a filter name and enter details for the conditions like sender, recipient, or subject. Then, pick Spam or Trash for where to move the matching messages.
Android Email Filtering Services
If setting up spam filters with your email service provider is too cumbersome or you’ve suddenly had an inflow of junk that you want to get rid of in a hurry, another option is an email spam filter for your Android phone.
A couple of popular apps include Spamdrain and Mezo. They both average 4+ star reviews on Google Play, are available to download for free and can help you quickly remove your junk messages. These and similar apps can identify and block spam as soon as it arrives, help you unsubscribe, and often provide extra tools.
⚠️ Warning: Be careful with free email filtering services, as they can sometimes lead to even more spam by selling or sharing your data with advertisers or researchers. For stronger protection and privacy, consider paid options that prioritize user data security without compromising your inbox.
To choose the best Android spam filter for you, be sure to check their basic and bonus features along with any required in-app purchases for their tools. For additional options with pricing, features, and pros and cons, check out our list of the best email spam filter services.
Level Up Spam and Email Management with Clean Email
When you compare the spam email filter options with Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo with the Android email filtering apps, you’re still going to spend time finding and deleting those unwanted messages regardless.
The fastest, easiest, and most secure option is Clean Email. To go along with the filter features mentioned earlier, this inbox management app gives you even more ways and tools for handling messages.
Cleaning Suggestions: Not sure of the best way to clear out your inbox? Cleaning Suggestions provide you with recommendations based on your previous actions to archive, mark, and move groups of emails at once.
Unsubscriber: Want to stop receiving newsletters or marketing messages? Even though your service provider likely gives you an unsubscribe option, Clean Email lets you unsubscribe in bulk, pause subscriptions temporarily, and even resubscribe.
📌 Tip: Sign in and unsubscribe from 25 subscriptions for free!
Keep Newest: Wish there was a simple way to keep only the latest subscription emails? Using the Keep Newest action, you can hold onto the most recent messages and automatically delete the outdated ones.
Privacy Monitor: Worried your email address may have been compromised? With the Privacy Monitor, you can see if your address was part of a security breach along with suggested actions for you to take if you’re at risk.
You can use Clean Email on mobile (not only Android but also on iOS), web, and desktop (Mac) with the same commitment to your privacy and security. All features work the same way on any device without the limitations you see with similar apps. Plus, the filter features, inbox rules, and other actions you take sync seamlessly no matter where you use the app!
Android Email Spam Filter - FAQs
What is the best email spam blocker for Android?
Clean Email is a great email spam filter for Android. It's packed with useful features that will help you manage your inbox while keeping your privacy protected.
How do I stop spam emails on my Android phone?
You can stop spam emails on your Android phone by setting up filters through your mail provider — as detailed in our guide — or by using a filtering service like Clean Email.
How do I filter emails on Android?
You can set up email filters directly through your mail provider on the web, as explained in our guide. Once they are created, they will also work on your Android device.
How to clear spam filter list on Android?
To clear or reset your Gmail spam filter list on Android, go to the Spam folder and delete unwanted emails to free up space, as Gmail doesn't allow for direct spam filter customization on mobile.
How to block spam emails on Android?
To block spam emails on Android, open the unwanted email, tap the three-dot menu, and select Block [Sender]. For more control, consider using third-party apps like Clean Email, which provide advanced spam filtering options.
