How to Add Folders to Email on the iPad
Updated 10/16/2011 for iOS 5
Apple has finally provided a way for iPad and iPhone users to add folders to their email with the release of iOS 5. In order for you to use this feature you will need to set up iCloud on your iOS device and get your free me.com email address that comes with iCloud.
If you do not have your me.com email account set up, you can go to Settings-> Mail, Contacts, Calendars-> Add Account-> tap iCloud and enter the required information.
After you have your iCloud email account it is easy to add and delete email folders.
- Just open the Mail app and tap on iCloud under Accounts on the left of the screen.
- Tap Edit at the top of the screen.
- Tap New Mailbox at the bottom of the screen.
- Name your new Folder and tap Save.
Your folder should now show up in your iCloud email account. To move mail into the new folder, tap the folder icon with the down arrow at the top of the screen while viewing an email message. Then tap the new folder on the left. You email should now be inside of your newly created folder.
You can also create new folders and manage your iCloud email account on any computer by visiting iCloud.com
Alternative Ways to Use Folders on the iPad
There are a few alternatives for users who really appreciate this feature. They all involve web based email. The best way I have found to this is with Gmail.
It’s extremely simple to add other email accounts to Gmail. Users can add just about any PoP3 and other web based email accounts to Gmail within a few minutes. Here are instructions for adding accounts to Gmail.
Gmail calls it labels instead of folders but it does the same thing. You click on a email, then select labels, then create a label (folder) or select one from the list.
Once you have your Gmail set up with the folders you want, you can add the Gmail account to your iPad mail app or you can view Gmail from Safari.
To add a Gmail account tap Settings, tap “Mail, Contacts, Calendars,” tap Add Account. then select Gmail. All you have to enter is your email address, password, a name and description of the account. The server settings and port is added for you.
All your Gmail folders or labels will show up in your iPad mail app. Here’s a few that I have added.
Gmail also looks great from Safari. They have designed the Gmail interface for the iPad and it’s similar to the iPad mail app. Here is a screenshot of Gmail in Safari.
Yahoo Mail is another good alternative. It also allows other email accounts to be added and email folders can be used with Yahoo Mail on your iPad. Yahoo mail also has a interface designed for the iPad but I prefer Gmail because of how easy it is to set up.
For users who really want to see this feature added to the iPad without having to use Gmail or Yahoo Mail, send Apple some feedback here.
The bad news is that all dealings with talk talk are problematic, in my experience. We have recently dropped our talk talk email in favour of iCloud. My advice would be do the same.
Although email can be a good option, many email clients prefer that you don’t attach a folder directly to an email.
Really frustrated. How can I set up new mailboxes using talktalk?