Where your spam folder is and how to open it
Your spam folder is a separate folder inside your email account that your email service automatically sends suspected junk messages to. You reach it the same way you reach any other folder — by looking for it in your folder list on the left side of your screen (on desktop) or in a menu (on phone). The exact name and location depends on which email service you use.
In Gmail, the spam folder is called "Spam" and appears in the left sidebar below your inbox. Click it once to open it. On a phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left, scroll down, and tap "Spam".
In Outlook (including Hotmail), the folder is called "Junk Email" and sits in the left sidebar. On a phone, tap the menu icon at the bottom right, then tap "Junk".
In Apple Mail (on iPhone or Mac), swipe left on any email and tap "Mark as Junk", or open the Mail app settings to see your junk folder in the sidebar. On a Mac, the junk folder appears automatically once you mark something as junk.
Key Takeaways
- Your spam folder holds messages your email service thinks are junk, and you should check it weekly because legitimate messages sometimes land there by mistake.
- Gmail calls it "Spam", Outlook calls it "Junk Email", and Apple Mail calls it "Junk" — the name changes but the purpose is the same.
- If you find a real message in spam, click "Not Spam" or "Mark as Not Junk" to move it back to your inbox and train your email service to stop filtering that sender.
- Messages in your spam folder are usually deleted automatically after 30 days, so if you need something, retrieve it before then.
- You can set up rules so messages from specific senders never go to spam, but only after you have confirmed the sender is real.
Why legitimate messages end up in your spam folder
Email services use automated filters to catch spam, and those filters sometimes make mistakes. A message might land in spam because it came from a new sender, because it contains certain words that spam often uses, because it has a link or attachment, or because the sender's email server has a poor reputation even though that particular message is legitimate.
This is why checking your spam folder matters — you might miss a password reset link, a shipping notification, a receipt, or a message from someone trying to reach you for the first time. Most people should check their spam folder at least once a week, and more often if you are expecting important messages.
How to recover a message from spam
Open your spam folder and look through the messages. When you find one that should not be there, select it and look for a button or option that says "Not Spam", "Mark as Not Junk", "Not Junk", or "Move to Inbox". The exact wording varies by email service.
In Gmail, click the message to open it, then click the three-dot menu at the top right and select "Report not spam". The message moves back to your inbox and Gmail learns that this sender is safe.
In Outlook, right-click the message and select "Mark as Not Junk", or click the message and use the toolbar at the top.
In Apple Mail, swipe left on the message and tap "Mark as Not Junk".
After you move a message back, the email service updates its filter so future messages from that sender are less likely to be marked as spam. This process is called training your filter, and it works best when you do it consistently.
How to prevent messages from a specific sender from going to spam
Once you have confirmed a sender is real, you can create a rule that keeps their messages out of spam. The steps differ by email service, but the idea is the same: you tell your email to always trust messages from that address.
In Gmail, open a message from the sender, click the three-dot menu, and select "Add to Contacts". Messages from people in your contacts are less likely to be filtered as spam. Alternatively, click the three-dot menu and select "Create filter", then check "Never send to Spam".
In Outlook, right-click the sender's address in a message and select "Add to Safe Senders". You can also go to Settings, then "Mail", then "Junk Email", and manually type addresses into the "Safe Senders" list.
In Apple Mail, add the sender to your Contacts app. Mail treats messages from your contacts as trusted.
What happens to messages you leave in spam
Email services do not keep spam forever. Most delete messages from your spam folder automatically after 30 days, though some services keep them longer. If you think you might need a message later, move it to a regular folder or mark it as not spam so it goes to your inbox.
You can also empty your spam folder manually if you want to clear it out. In Gmail, open the Spam folder and click "Delete all" at the top. In Outlook, right-click the Junk Email folder and select "Empty Folder". In Apple Mail, right-click the Junk folder and select "Erase Junk Mail".
How to spot a scam message before you act on it
Spam folders catch many scams, but not all. A message might look legitimate and still be a phishing attempt — a fake message designed to trick you into giving up your password or payment information. Before you click a link or read an attachment from any email, check these things.
Look at the sender's email address, not just their display name. Scammers often use names like "PayPal Support" but the actual email address is something like "paypal-help@random-domain.com". Real companies use their own domain. If you are not sure, go to the company's website directly (do not click the link in the email) and look for contact information there.
Watch for urgent language like "Act now", "Verify your account", "Confirm your password", or "Your account will be closed". Real companies rarely demand when ready action by email. If you are worried, call the company using a phone number from their official website.
Do not read attachments from senders you do not know, and be cautious about attachments even from people you do know if the message seems out of character or you were not expecting it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a message after it has been deleted from spam?
Once a message is permanently deleted, it is gone. However, many email services have a "Trash" or "Deleted Items" folder that holds deleted messages for a short time before they are erased completely. Check your trash folder when ready if you realize you deleted something by mistake. After that window closes (usually 30 days), the message cannot be recovered.
Why do I keep getting the same spam messages even though I mark them as spam?
Spam filters work on patterns, not individual messages. Marking one message as spam helps your filter learn, but spammers often send from different addresses or change their message slightly each time. If a sender keeps getting through, you may need to create a rule that blocks their entire domain, or you can unsubscribe if the message includes an unsubscribe link (though only do this if you are confident the sender is real).
Is it safe to click "Mark as Not Spam" on messages I am not sure about?
No. Only mark a message as not spam if you are certain it came from a real sender. If you are unsure, leave it in spam. You can always visit the company's website directly and contact them to ask if they sent you an email, rather than clicking a link in a suspicious message.
Does my email service read the content of my spam messages?
Email services scan messages to filter spam, but they do not read your spam folder the way a person would. The scanning is automated and happens before messages reach your account. Your spam folder is private to you — only you can see what is in it.