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iCloud Mail rules automatically act on messages that match conditions you choose: move them to a folder, delete them, forward them, or mark them as read. You can create rules at iCloud.com or in iPhone settings. Each rule combines a message condition with an action.

Create a rule on iCloud.com

  1. Go to icloud.com/mail and sign in to your Apple Account if prompted.
  2. Open the Settings control above the Mailboxes list, then choose Settings.
  3. Choose Rules in the sidebar and select the Add control.
  4. Give the rule a name.
  5. Under Message, choose a condition and enter its value. For example, use a specific sender to match messages from that address.
  6. Under Action, choose what iCloud Mail should do and select any required destination, then add the rule.

Apple says rules can filter incoming messages or reorganize messages already received. Its example is a sender-based rule that moves matching messages into a folder. See Apple’s iCloud.com rules guide.

Create a rule on iPhone

  1. Open Settings, tap your name, then tap iCloud.
  2. Under Saved to iCloud, tap Mail, then iCloud Mail Rules.
  3. Tap Add Rule, name the rule, set the message conditions, choose an action, and add it.

Apple lists moving, deleting, forwarding, and marking as read among the available actions. The exact settings labels can vary with iOS versions. See Apple’s iPhone rules instructions.

Choose the right action

Sort matching messages into a folder

Choose a move action and select the destination folder. If you rename or delete a folder used by a rule, update the rule so it points to a valid destination; Apple notes that mail cannot be forwarded to a deleted folder.

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Delete matching messages

Choose the delete action for messages that meet the rule’s conditions. On iCloud.com, deleted email normally goes to Trash and remains there for 30 days before permanent erasure. Settings in another mail app can cause messages to be deleted sooner. Review the conditions carefully before enabling automatic deletion. Details: Apple’s iCloud.com deletion guide.

Forward selected messages or all incoming mail

Use a rule with a forward action when only messages matching particular conditions should go to another address. Each forwarding rule can use only one forwarding address.

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For account-wide forwarding instead, open iCloud Mail settings and choose Mail Forwarding. Enable Forward my email to and enter the destination address. Apple also offers an option to delete iCloud copies after forwarding; if you keep them, those copies use iCloud storage. These are separate approaches:

Method Messages forwarded Where to set it iCloud copies
Rule-based forwarding Only messages matching the rule’s conditions Rules in iCloud Mail settings or iPhone iCloud Mail Rules Copy handling is not stated in Apple’s cited rule and forwarding guides.
Account-wide forwarding Incoming mail for the account iCloud Mail settings > Mail Forwarding You can choose whether to delete iCloud copies after forwarding.

See Apple’s forwarding instructions.

Edit, delete, or reorder rules

On iCloud.com

Open Settings > Rules, select a rule to change its conditions or action, and save. Use the delete control to remove a rule. Drag rules in the list to change their order.

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On iPhone

Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Mail > iCloud Mail Rules and select the rule to change it. Use Edit to reorder or delete rules.

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Know how rules behave

  • Apple documents a maximum of 500 rules.
  • Rules run in the order shown in the list, so reorder them if the sequence matters.
  • New or changed rules may take up to 15 minutes to affect incoming mail; do not expect an immediate result.
  • If a rule uses a folder that is renamed or deleted, update the rule to use a valid folder.

These limits and behaviors are documented in Apple’s iCloud.com rules guide and iPhone rules instructions.

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Use Cleanup for suggestions instead of custom rules

If you want help finding mail to remove rather than defining your own matching conditions, iCloud Mail Cleanup is a separate guided option that can recommend cleanup actions, such as removing old promotions. Your inbox is not affected unless you turn on a recommendation. Use custom rules when you want messages to be handled according to conditions you specify. See Apple’s Mail Cleanup guide.

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