![](https://help.apple.com/assets/5FCFC75C094622CE6D5EBC2F/5FCFC765094622CE6D5EBC37/en_US/fcdf74cf8457ce188a2aaa7cf1293c83.png)
Filter emails in Mail on Mac
You can use filters to show only certain email messages in a mailbox, such as those with attachments. Filters are applied only in the current Mail window.
![The Mail window showing the toolbar above the message list, where Mail indicates which filters, such as “Only from VIP,” are applied.](https://help.apple.com/assets/5FCFC75C094622CE6D5EBC2F/5FCFC765094622CE6D5EBC37/en_US/fedd59422d746609c2f334c443948332.png)
Turn filters on
In the Mail app on your Mac, click the Filter button
at the top of the message list or choose View > Filter > Enable Message Filter. You can also click and hold the Filter button, then choose Enable Message Filter from the menu that appears.
The Filter button changes color (for example, blue ) to indicate that the default filter (Unread) or filters you previously set are applied to the current mailbox. The filters are shown in the toolbar above the message list.
Set filters
In the Mail app
on your Mac, choose View > Filter or click and hold the Filter button.
Do one of the following:
Set a filter: Choose a filter (such as Only from VIP) from the menu. A checkmark appears next to the filter.
If you use more than one email account in Mail, you can filter a mailbox by account—for example, you can filter the Inbox for just your iCloud account to show unread.
Remove a filter: Choose an active filter from the menu. The checkmark next to the filter is removed.
Turn filters off
In the Mail app on your Mac, click the Filter button
at the top of the message list or choose View > Filter > Disable Message Filter. You can also click and hold the Filter button, then choose Disable Message Filter from the menu that appears.
The Filter button turns gray to indicate that no filters are applied.