Users mobile devices often face an overcrowded mailbox when critical messages are drowned in a sea of spam and old notifications. Cleaning the drawer on a smartphone Android may not be an obvious task, since the application interface differs from the desktop version. In this article, we will look in detail at how to mass delete correspondence, freeing up space and putting things in order.
The deletion procedure all letters requires care so as not to accidentally erase important information about orders or documents. We will look at methods both through the official application and through the mobile version of the browser, which will give you complete control over the situation. Proper organization of space in Yandex Mail will speed up the operation of the device and help you quickly find the necessary contacts.
Preparation for mass cleaning of the mailbox
Before you start full sweep, you need to make sure that you have access to all important data. Deletion correspondence is irreversible unless you move it to the trash and empty it completely. It is recommended to create backup copies of important attachments in advance or forward valuable emails to another address.
Check the current amount of used space in your account settings. This will help you understand the scale of the task: do you need to delete only spam or will you have to clean inboxes as well. Sometimes the problem is solved by simply sorting by sender or date, which allows you to delete large groups of messages in a couple of clicks.
⚠️ Attention: Deleted messages end up in the Trash folder, where they are stored for another 30 days. To free up space on the server instantly, you need to empty the recycle bin itself after the main deletion.
Make sure your Internet connection is stable. When working with large volumes of data, a connection break may lead to a synchronization error, and some emails will remain in the mailbox. Use Wi-Fi to save mobile traffic, especially if there are a lot of letters with attachments in your mailbox.
Deleting letters through the official Yandex Mail application
The official client for Android provides a convenient interface for managing letters, but the mass deletion function is hidden in the selection menu. Open the app and go to your inbox. Press and hold your finger on any letter to activate the selection mode.
After activating the mode, a toolbar will appear at the top of the screen. Here you will see a checkmark icon in a circle or a menu with three dots. By clicking on it, you can select the option Select all or Select all read. This is a key point for quickly cleaning a large number of messages.
If only part of the messages is displayed in the list (for example, 50 pieces), scroll the list down to the end, to load the rest of the messages. Only after the list is fully loaded will the “Select All” command be applied to the entire contents of the folder, and not just to the visible part of the screen.
☑️ Deletion algorithm in the application
After selecting all the necessary items, click on the cart icon. The application will ask you to confirm the action. Agree to the deletion, and the selected messages will be moved to the archive of deleted messages. The process may take some time depending on the number of objects and network speed.
Cleaning through a mobile browser (full version of the site)
Sometimes the functionality of the application is not enough for complex filtering operations. In this case, it is better to use a mobile browser (Chrome, Firefox) and go to the full version of the site mail.yandex.ru. This method gives you access to the same tools as on your computer.
It is important not to fall into the simplified mobile version of the interface. If you see a simplified menu, look for "PC Version" or "Full Version" in your browser settings. This will forcefully load the desktop interface, where advanced mail management options are available.
| Action | Android application | Browser (PC mode) |
|---|---|---|
| Selecting all letters | Via the menu selection | Check above the list |
| Filtering by date | Limited | Full support |
| Search and deletion | Basic search | Advanced operators |
| Working speed | High | Depends on the network |
In the full version interface, there is a “Mark all” checkbox above the list of letters. By clicking on it, you will select all correspondence on the current page. Then a link will appear to “Select all emails in your inbox” - be sure to click this to cover thousands of messages, not just the first 30-50.
Why might the browser be slower?
When loading the full version of the site, more graphics and scripts are transferred to the phone than in the optimized application. This can cause lag on older smartphone models.
Using filters and search for targeted cleaning
Deleting absolutely everything is not always the best strategy. It is often more advisable to delete only letters from specific services or for a certain period. In the search bar, enter the operator from:newsletter@site.com or simply the sender's name to find the entire chain of messages.
After displaying the search results, use the same scheme: select one letter, select “All found” and send to the trash. This allows you to quickly get rid of advertising for online stores, notifications from social networks or old mailings without affecting personal correspondence.
You can combine search parameters for finer-tuning. For example, the query has:attachment older:2y will find all emails with attachments that are older than two years. This is a great way to delete heavy files that take up space in cloud storage Yandex Disklinked to mail.
⚠️ Attention: Search operators are case and language sensitive. Make sure to enter commands in Latin letters if you use special keys like
older:orsize:.
Final deletion and emptying the trash
After you have moved unnecessary emails to the trash, they still take up space on the server. To completely free up space, you need to go to the “Trash” (or “Deleted Items”) folder and empty its contents.
In the application, this folder is usually located in the side menu. Once logged in, use the “Empty Trash” button or select all messages and delete them again. The system will warn you that recovery will not be possible. Confirm the action.
Automatic cleaning: In the Yandex Mail settings, you can enable automatic deletion of letters from the trash bin after 1 day or a week, so as not to do it manually in the future.
Remember that after emptying the trash bin, you can no longer restore data using standard means. If you deleted something by mistake, you will have to contact the service's technical support, but even they do not guarantee the return of information. Therefore, the final deletion stage requires maximum concentration.
Solving common problems when deleting
Users may encounter a situation where the delete button is inactive or letters are not highlighted. This is often due to the fact that you are in Unread Only mode or have some kind of filter applied. Reset all filters by clicking on the cross in the search bar.
Another common problem is the application freezing when trying to delete thousands of emails at once. In this case, try breaking the operation into parts: delete letters in blocks of 500-1000 pieces. This will reduce the load on the smartphone's processor and prevent the app from crashing.
If emails are deleted but then appear again, check your synchronization settings. You may be using a third-party email client (for example, Gmail or Outlook), connected via IMAP, and a settings conflict is returning the deleted message. In this case, carry out cleaning strictly in the native Yandex application.
If the application crashes during mass deletion, go to the full version of the site through the browser - where requests are processed on the server side, not the phone.
Is it possible to restore letters after emptying the trash?
No using standard user tools. After emptying the recycle bin, emails are permanently deleted from the servers. Only in rare cases and for a short time after deletion, technical support can help, but there is no guarantee.
Why does the "Select all" button in the application not work?
This feature may not be available if you are in view of an individual email thread or if you are in edit mode for a specific message. Return to the general inbox list.
Will emails be automatically deleted from the Spam folder?
Yes, Yandex Mail automatically clears the Spam folder of emails that are older than 30 days. However, to instantly free up space, it is better to clear it manually.
Does clearing mail affect the speed of the phone?
Mail on the server itself does not affect the speed of the phone. However, if an application caches thousands of emails and pictures, this may take up the device's internal memory. Clearing the application cache after deleting letters will help free up space on your smartphone.