Looking to archive, move, delete or mark multiple emails — and not waste time opening them one by one? Managing your iPhone inbox need not be a headache even when emails have piled up. Find out here how to select multiple emails fast in iPhone Mail so you can take control of your emails with ease and efficiency.
First, Darkness After 26 Innings
Even daylight saving time could no more prolong the Dodgers play the Braves on May 1, 1920.
Dark clouds and dusk put an end to twenty-six innings of futility, and the game remained undecided at 1:1. The Dodgers had gained an advantage in the fifth inning, but the Braves came back to equalize in the sixth. After that, nothing.
Among them, the pitchers threw some five hundred balls, though, in possibly still the longest game in Major League Baseball history.
Now, does it seem like you need to juggle five hundred balls for hours only to select more than one email in iPhone Mail? It does not have to be that way:
How to Select Multiple Emails Fast on an iPhone
Want all? How to Select All Emails
Time needed: 1 minute
To quickly select multiple emails on an iPhone in iOS Mail:
- Open the iPhone Mail folder in which you want to select emails in bulk.
- Tap with two fingers on one message you want to select.
One-finger alternative: As an alternative, tap the Edit button.
- Add individual emails to selection: tap any message to add it to or remove it from the selection
- Add a range of messages: swipe with two fingers over a range to toggle its selection status quickly.
Scroll: As you reach the top or bottom of the display, iPhone Mail will scroll the message list and keep selecting; you can also scroll with the iPhone scroll bar.
I want to lift just one finger: You can also swipe over the selection circles in front of messages with one finger to change their selection status.
Super-fast range selection: See below for an even faster way to select a range of emails.
Undo: You can always tap a message’s checkmark to remove it from the selection. - Act on the selected messages in bulk.
Here’s what: You can delete them in bulk or mass-archive, for example.
Their word: Apple include information on organizing emails in the Mail User Guide.
Inbox under control?
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Select a Range of Messages in One Go
To select a range of (multiple9 emails in one swipe with iPhone mail:
- Go to the folder where you want to select multiple emails.
- Tap with two fingers on the first message you want to check for further action leaving the fingers on the screen.
Up and down: You can start with the topmost message or the one at the bottom, selecting multiple emails works either way. - Swipe in the direction of your desired selection with the two fingers.
- Let go to finish the selection.
Remove individual emails: See above for removing individual emails (or a range) from the selection.
Add to the selection: You can also use all techniques outlined above to select further emails. - Act on your selection.
See fewer emails, but better: How to Change the Font Size in iPhone Email
How to Select Multiple Emails Fast on an iPhone: FAQ
Can I select multiple emails with a filter active in iPhone Mail?
Yes.
Selecting multiple messages works just the same with a filter active in the current folder. You will only select from the emails allowed by the filter, of course.
Can I select multiple messages in iPhone Mail search results?
Yes.
Swiping to select ranges and using the Edit button or tapping with two fingers works with search results — even across all email folders. Note that you cannot select all messages using a button in search results, though.
How can I quickly deselect all messages?
To remove all messages from your selection in one go:
- Tap Cancel while selection circles are visible in front of messages.
- Tap Edit to start selecting anew or use the quick selection steps above.
(Tested with iPhone Mail on iOS 15–18 and 26; first published January 2022, last updated November 2025)