Gray...mail?

Graymail is the ever-growing amount of newsletters, deals and updates that fill your inbox. Sometimes you love it, sometimes you hate it. Here's how graymail happens.

The Typical Inbox

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

14,235

14,600

14,965

15,148

15,330

Why is this happening?

Because we're signing up for more newsletters and notifications. In fact, newletters alone have increased by 300% over the past year.

What your inbox looks like today

Your inbox is already made up of 50% newletters and deals – and growing all the time.

50% 17% 14% 9% 6% 2% 2%

Newletters and Deals

Social Updates

People-To-People

Groups and Other Notifications

Shopping Offers

Other Email

True Spam

Only about 3% of the typical inbox is true spam. Here's the difference:

Spam Graymail

Unsolicited

User gave permission to receive either directly or indirectly (via auto opt-in)

Misleading or fraudulent sources

Legitimate, reputable sources; user can opt-out at any time

Content of no value; often malicious or illegal

Valuable content, however relevancy, interest and priority fluctuates

Less than 3% of inbox

Up to 80% of inbox

Got a minute?

That's all it takes. In just 60 seconds you can slice through the clutter, find what you want, and get your inbox back into shape.

Automate

Set up your inbox to automatically manage your mail – graymail or not. Expired deals are automatically gone, your bills go straight into folders.

See the features

Find Stuff Faster

Hotmail has great tools to help you navigate your inbox and bypass all the graymail. Set up InstantActions or Flag a message to the top of your inbox to find it fast.

See the features

Advanced

Create an Alias account to catch your unwanted mail, or aggregate your other addresses to take advantage of other exception Hotmail features.

See the features

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Conquer Graymail in 60 seconds

With powerful new tools like Sweep, Categories and Flags, you can quickly unclutter your inbox. See how. >

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