Use the 'Report spam' button ruthlessly
If you find yourself deleting emails from the same senders over and over, report them as spam instead. This helps Gmail to recognize these and similar messages as junk, which over time can reduce how much clutter actually reaches your inbox. Select the email and click theReport spambutton at the top of your inbox to move the message to your spam folder. Gmail automatically deletes spam after 30 days.
Block external images to prevent tracking
Marketing emails typically have tracking pixels—invisible 1x1 images used to monitor online activity—embedded that let senders know when you open a message, which is why you should stop opening emails you don't want and use one of the above strategies to filter, delete, or block them instead. To add an extra layer of protection, you can keep external images from loading in emails unless you explicitly allow them. Go toSettings > See all settings. On theGeneraltab, scroll toImagesand selectAsk before displaying external images.
Keep your email address private and use aliases instead
An obvious way to keep junk from reaching your inbox is to avoid giving out your email address in the first place. You can create a second Gmail account to use solely for subscriptions, shopping, service sign-ups, etc. so any lists you are added to are directed straight to a separate inbox. Gmail also has unlimited aliases via "plus addressing," so you can easily see where spam is coming from. Or you can create burner accounts via "hide my email" services in browsers, password managers, or Apple iCloud.
