Spam filters catch unwanted mail, but sometimes they catch the important stuff too. Whitelisting ensures trusted senders land straight in your inbox, not your junk folder.
Most email providers use algorithms to spot spam, but they can’t always tell the difference between a newsletter you never read and a client message you need today. That’s where whitelisting helps, by telling your inbox who to prioritise. Whether you’re managing a busy workload or handling personal admin, a few minutes spent setting it up can save hours of searching later. It’s a small tweak that keeps your inbox organised, efficient, and stress-free.
Whitelisting also helps improve your email deliverability over time. When you consistently engage with trusted senders, your email provider learns what’s valuable to you and adjusts future filtering accordingly. It’s one of the simplest ways to take control of your inbox and make sure you never miss important updates, confirmations, or conversations again.
What does “whitelisting” mean?
Whitelisting means adding a sender’s email address or domain to a “safe sender list” so your email system recognises them as trustworthy. Once whitelisted, messages from that sender go directly to your inbox rather than your spam folder.
This step is crucial for business communication. A Mailmodo study found that over 46% of all global emails are classified as spam. With filters becoming increasingly strict, even legitimate emails from colleagues, clients, or automated systems can be caught by mistake.
Whitelisting helps maintain smooth communication, ensures essential updates don’t go unseen, and gives your email provider a clear signal about what matters most to you.
How to whitelist emails in Gmail
Gmail uses advanced filtering that looks at patterns, engagement, and sender reputation. When you whitelist an email address, you’re directly telling Gmail this contact is safe and important, which reduces the risk of false spam flags.
- Open Gmail in your browser.
- Click the Settings gear icon, then select See all settings.
- Open the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.
- Click Create a new filter.
- In the From field, enter the sender’s email address or their domain (for example:
@fyxer.com). - Click Create filter.
- Tick Never send it to Spam, then click Create filter again to save.
We recommend adding the sender to your Google Contacts as well. Gmail relies on engagement signals to learn which senders you trust, and adding them as a contact helps reinforce that trust.
Related read: How to block an email in Gmail
How to whitelist emails in Outlook
Microsoft Outlook lets you manage multiple layers of spam protection. By adding someone to your Safe Senders List, you’re effectively telling Outlook to deliver those messages directly to your inbox, regardless of other filters.
Whitelisting emails on Outlook desktop
- Open Outlook.
- Select the Home tab → click Junk → Junk Email Options.
- Go to the Safe Senders tab → click Add.
- Enter the sender’s email or domain → click OK.
Whitelisting emails on Outlook web (Outlook.com)
- Click the Settings gear → View all Outlook settings.
- Choose Mail → Junk email.
- Under Safe senders and domains, click Add, enter the address, then click Save.
Related read: How to block an email in Outlook
How to whitelist emails in Apple Mail
Apple doesn’t have a specific “safe sender” list like Gmail or Outlook, but adding a sender as a Contact or VIP teaches Mail to trust them.
Whitelisting emails on iCloud Mail
- Go to iCloud Mail.
- Open an email from the sender you want to whitelist.
- Click the sender’s name and choose Add to Contacts or Add to VIPs.
- Apple Mail prioritises VIPs, sending their messages directly to your inbox.
Whitelisting emails on a Mac
- Open the Mail app.
- Open a message from the sender.
- Hover over the sender’s name and click the dropdown arrow.
- Choose Add to Contacts.
How to whitelist emails in Yahoo Mail
Yahoo Mail offers several ways to stop trusted emails from being marked as spam. Adding senders to your Contacts list or creating a custom filter ensures their messages always arrive in your inbox. This is especially useful if you subscribe to newsletters, invoices, or automated alerts that sometimes get misplaced.
Whitelisting emails using Contacts
- Open Yahoo Mail in your browser.
- Click the Contacts icon in the right-hand sidebar.
- Select Add a new contact.
- Enter the sender’s name and email address, then click Save.
Adding someone to your Yahoo Contacts tells the platform to treat future messages from that address as safe. It also helps Yahoo’s algorithms learn which senders are legitimate.
Whitelisting emails using Filters
- Click the Settings gear icon in Yahoo Mail, then select More Settings.
- Choose Filters from the left-hand menu.
- Click Add new filters.
- In the From field, enter the email address or domain you want to whitelist (for example,
@fyxer.com). - Under Choose a folder to move to, select Inbox, then click Save.
Creating a filter ensures emails from that sender always land in your inbox, even if Yahoo’s spam filters would normally redirect them.
For extra accuracy, mark any legitimate emails that end up in spam as Not Spam. Yahoo uses this feedback to improve future filtering decisions and reduce the chances of false positives.
Related read: How to block an email address in Yahoo
How to whitelist emails on mobile
Whitelisting on mobile works a little differently, but it’s just as important. Most email apps don’t have full filter settings, yet they still let you teach your inbox which messages matter. A few quick actions on your phone can make sure trusted emails stay front and center wherever you are.
Whitelisting in the Gmail app
You can’t create filters directly in the Gmail app, but you can train Gmail manually:
- If an email lands in Spam, open it and tap Report not spam.
- Alternatively, tap the three dots in the top right corner and choose Move to Inbox.
Over time, Gmail learns that messages from that sender are safe.
Whitelisting in the Outlook app
- Open the Outlook app.
- Long-press on the email.
- Tap the three dots, then choose Move to Inbox or Mark as Not Junk.
This teaches Outlook’s algorithm that messages from this sender should not be filtered out.
Whitelisting in the Apple Mail app
- Open the Mail app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Swipe left on the email, tap More, then choose Mark as Not Junk.
- You can also tap the sender’s name and add them to your contacts list.
If whitelisting emails doesn’t work
If you’ve followed the steps but emails are still going to spam, here are a few common fixes:
- Check conflicting rules: Other filters might override your whitelist. Look through any custom rules or automation you’ve set up, such as filters that move messages to folders or label them automatically. Even small settings can redirect emails before they reach your inbox.
- Confirm the sender’s domain: If their domain changes, your whitelist won’t catch the new address. For example, if a business switches from
@oldcompany.comto@newcompany.com, you’ll need to update your safe sender list. It’s a good idea to double-check this whenever you notice delivery issues. - Review antivirus settings: Some programs include extra email filters that block or quarantine messages before they reach your inbox. Check your antivirus or security dashboard for mail settings that may be filtering messages separately from your email provider. Adjust the sensitivity or create a safe list within that software if needed.
- Add the sender to Contacts: This simple step improves recognition across all platforms. Contacts are treated as trusted sources by most major email clients, helping to reduce false spam flags. It also ensures that important messages are easier to find and recover later.
- Ask your IT admin for help: In corporate accounts, organisation-wide spam policies may override personal settings. Your IT team can adjust global filters or add domains to the company’s master safe sender list. Reaching out early helps prevent repeated delivery issues across your team.
Tips to keep important emails visible while whitelisting emails
Whitelisting helps, but it isn’t a one-time fix. Email habits and filters change over time, so it’s worth taking a few extra steps to keep your inbox working smoothly. These quick habits will help your most important messages stay exactly where they belong.
- Check your junk folder weekly: Even trusted senders can slip through if they change mail servers or use new addresses. A quick scan only takes a minute and can save you from missing invoices, meeting invites, or other important updates. Regular checks also help train your email provider to recognise similar messages in the future.
- Avoid bulk-deleting spam: Skim through first to rescue any legitimate emails. Deleting everything in one go might clear space, but it also risks losing messages that were wrongly filtered. Taking a moment to review helps you spot patterns and prevent the same mistake from happening again.
- Whitelist domains instead of individuals: For example,
@company.comcovers every sender from that organisation. This keeps your whitelist tidy and ensures new colleagues or departments are automatically included. It’s especially useful if you work with large teams or multiple contacts from the same business. - Encourage trusted senders to use authentication protocols: Verified domains using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are more likely to reach your inbox. These security standards prove that emails are legitimate and haven’t been tampered with. Sharing this advice helps protect both sides of your communication and reduces delivery errors across your organisation.
- Engage with trusted emails: Opening and replying reinforces to your provider that the sender is legitimate. Consistent interaction tells your email system these messages are valuable, helping future ones bypass spam filters automatically. It also builds a reliable sender reputation that benefits both you and your contacts.
Whitelisting takes just a few minutes, but it can save you hours of missed communication or frustration later. For professionals, clients, or teams relying on timely updates, it’s one of the easiest ways to ensure smooth communication.
If your inbox often feels like it’s running you instead of the other way around, Fyxer can help. From organising messages to drafting replies, Fyxer keeps your inbox running efficiently so you can focus on the work that matters most.
Whitelisting emails FAQs
How do I whitelist an email address on my phone?
Use Move to Inbox or Mark as Not Spam. These actions teach your email app to trust that sender even without desktop filters. Over time, this helps your provider learn which emails are important, improving overall inbox accuracy.
Why do my whitelisted emails still go to spam?
Aggressive spam filters or conflicting rules can override your whitelist. Double-check that the sender is added to both your contacts and your safe sender list. If you’re using a work or school account, your organisation’s security settings might also be filtering messages before they reach you.
Is whitelisting safe?
Yes, if you only whitelist known and trusted senders. Avoid adding unknown or marketing domains without verification. Whitelisting gives those addresses direct access to your inbox, so treat it like a security measure rather than a convenience feature.
Can I whitelist a whole domain?
Yes. Add the domain (for example, *@example.com) instead of an individual address to automatically trust all emails from that organisation. This is ideal for businesses or teams that use multiple addresses under one company domain.
How often should I review my whitelist?
Review your whitelist every few months. Remove old or inactive addresses and confirm that all key business contacts are included. Keeping it current helps prevent clutter and protects your inbox from unwanted emails sneaking through outdated permissions.