Where to find your junk folder and what's actually in it
Your junk folder (also called spam or trash) is a separate folder that email programs automatically send suspected spam to, instead of letting it clog your inbox. The location depends on which email service you use. In Gmail, it's labeled "Spam" and sits in the left sidebar below your inbox. In Outlook, it's called "Junk Email" and appears in the folder list on the left. In Apple Mail, it shows as "Junk" in your mailbox list. Yahoo Mail calls it "Spam" and puts it in the left navigation.
Your email program decides what goes there using filters — rules that look for common spam patterns like unknown senders, suspicious links, or certain keywords. These filters catch a lot of actual spam, but they also catch legitimate emails sometimes. A message might land in junk because the sender's domain is new, because you've never emailed them before, or because the message contains words that spam often uses (like "confirm your account" or "verify now").
Key Takeaways
- Check your junk folder weekly because legitimate emails — password resets, shipping notifications, account confirmations — often end up there by mistake.
- The location of your junk folder depends on your email service: Gmail calls it "Spam", Outlook calls it "Junk Email", and Apple Mail calls it "Junk".
- When you find a legitimate email in junk, mark it as "not spam" so future emails from that sender go to your inbox instead.
- Be cautious opening attachments or clicking links in junk folder emails, even if they look legitimate, because scammers sometimes disguise phishing emails as trusted senders.
How to open and search your junk folder in Gmail
In Gmail, click "Spam" in the left sidebar. You'll see all emails that Gmail's filter sent there. Scroll through the list to look for emails you were expecting — shipping confirmations, password resets, or messages from people you know. If you spot one you need, click it to open it and read the full message.
To search for a specific email in your junk folder, click the search box at the top of Gmail, then click the down arrow to expand search options. Under "Search the following labels", select "Spam" from the dropdown. Type the sender's name or a word from the subject line, then press Enter. Gmail will show you only spam folder emails that match your search.
Once you find a legitimate email, click it to open it. Then look for the button that says "Report not spam" — it usually appears near the top of the message. Click it, and Gmail will move the email back to your inbox and learn to send future emails from that sender to your inbox too.
How to open and search your junk folder in Outlook
In Outlook (both the web version and the desktop app), click "Junk Email" in the folder list on the left side. You'll see all emails Outlook flagged as spam. Scroll through to find emails you were expecting. Click any message to read it fully.
To search within your junk folder in Outlook web, use the search box at the top and type the sender's name or subject. The results will show emails from all your folders, so look for the ones marked as being in "Junk Email". In Outlook desktop, click the junk folder first, then use the search box — it will search only within that folder.
When you find a legitimate email, right-click it and select "Mark as not junk" or "Not junk". Outlook will move it to your inbox and adjust its filter so that sender's future emails arrive in your inbox. In the web version, you may see a button at the top of the message that says "Not junk" — click that instead.
How to open and search your junk folder in Apple Mail and Yahoo
In Apple Mail on Mac or iPhone, click "Junk" in your mailbox list on the left (or swipe left on iPhone to see more folders). Scroll through the list to find emails you need. Click a message to read it. To mark it as legitimate, click the message, then look for a button or menu option that says "Not Junk" or "Mark as Not Junk". Apple Mail will move it to your inbox and learn from it.
In Yahoo Mail, click "Spam" in the left sidebar. Scroll through or use the search box at the top to find a specific sender or subject. Click the email to open it. At the top of the message, you'll see a button labeled "Not Spam" — click it to move the email to your inbox and train Yahoo's filter.
Spotting scams that hide in your junk folder
Your junk folder contains real spam, but it also contains phishing emails — messages that look like they're from your bank, PayPal, Amazon, or another trusted company but are actually from scammers. These emails often ask you to "confirm your account", "verify your identity", or "update your payment method". They land in junk because they contain suspicious links or because the sender's email address is slightly wrong.
Before you click any link or read any attachment from a junk folder email, check the sender's actual email address. Hover over the sender's name to see the full email address. Scammers often use addresses that look similar to the real company — like "amaz0n-security@verify.com" instead of an actual Amazon address. If the address looks wrong or unfamiliar, delete the email. Do not click the link or read the attachment.
If you think an email is legitimate but you're not sure, go directly to the company's website by typing the web address yourself into your browser — do not click the link in the email. Log into your account and check whether there's actually a problem. Real companies like Amazon and your bank will never ask you to confirm sensitive information by clicking a link in an email.
Setting up filters so legitimate emails stop going to junk
If you keep finding emails from the same sender in your junk folder, you can create a filter to send all their future emails to your inbox automatically. In Gmail, open an email from that sender, click the three dots menu, and select "Filter messages like this". Check the box next to "Never send to spam", then click "Create filter". From now on, emails from that sender go straight to your inbox.
In Outlook web, open an email from the sender you want to trust. Click the three dots menu at the top, select "Create rule", and choose "Always move to Inbox". In Outlook desktop, right-click the sender's email, select "Junk", then "Never Block Sender". In Apple Mail, open the email and go to Mail menu > Preferences > Rules, then create a rule that moves emails from that sender to your inbox. In Yahoo Mail, open the email, click the three dots, and select "Add to contacts" — Yahoo automatically trusts emails from your contacts.
How often you should check your junk folder
Check your junk folder at least once a week. Many important emails end up there — shipping notifications, password reset links, account confirmations, and messages from people you haven't emailed before. If you're waiting for a specific email and don't see it in your inbox after a few hours, check junk first before assuming it never arrived.
If you use your email for online shopping, banking, or account signups, check junk more often. These services send legitimate emails that sometimes trigger spam filters. The longer an email sits in junk, the more likely you are to miss time-sensitive information — like a shipping important date or a password reset link that expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover an email I permanently deleted from my junk folder?
It depends on your email service and how long ago you deleted it. Gmail keeps permanently deleted emails in a "Trash" folder for 30 days — click "Trash" in the left sidebar and look for the email there. Outlook keeps deleted emails for 93 days in the "Deleted Items" folder. Apple Mail and Yahoo have similar recovery windows. After that time passes, the email is gone permanently.
Why do emails from people I know keep going to junk?
This usually happens if the person is using a new email address, if their email account was compromised and is now sending spam, or if their email provider's reputation is poor. Mark their emails as "not spam" each time, and after a few messages, your email program will learn to trust them. If it keeps happening, ask them to check their email settings or contact their email provider.
Is it safe to open attachments from emails in my junk folder?
Be cautious. Real spam often contains malware in attachments. If you don't recognize the sender or weren't expecting the attachment, do not open it. If the email looks legitimate but you're unsure, contact the sender through another method (like a phone call) to confirm they sent it before opening any file.
What should I do if I find a phishing email in my junk folder?
Leave it in junk and delete it. Do not click any links or read attachments. If you want to report it to help your email provider improve its filter, most services have a "Report phishing" or "Report spam" button — use that instead of replying to the email.
Can I turn off my junk filter so nothing goes to spam?
You can, but it's not recommended. Your junk filter catches hundreds of actual spam emails every month. Turning it off means your inbox will fill with scams, phishing emails, and unwanted advertisements. Instead, check your junk folder weekly and mark legitimate emails as "not spam" so they go to your inbox in the future.