Block email tracking apple mail

The eternal quest for email privacy!

Apple Mail, like many other email clients, can track emails to see if they've been opened or read. This is done by embedding a small image or pixel in the email, which is loaded when the email is opened. This allows the sender to track whether the email has been opened and when.

If you want to block email tracking in Apple Mail, here are a few methods you can try:

Method 1: Disable loading remote content

  1. Open Apple Mail and go to Mail > Preferences > Viewing.
  2. Uncheck the box next to "Load remote content in messages".
  3. Click "OK" to save the changes.

This will prevent Apple Mail from loading remote content, including tracking pixels, in your emails.

Method 2: Use a third-party email client

If you're not tied to using Apple Mail, you can try using a third-party email client like Mozilla Thunderbird or Microsoft Outlook, which offer more advanced features for blocking email tracking.

Method 3: Use a browser extension

You can also use a browser extension like uBlock Origin or Ghostery to block tracking pixels in your browser. These extensions can detect and block tracking pixels, including those used in email marketing campaigns.

Method 4: Use a email client with built-in tracking protection

Some email clients, like ProtonMail or Tutanota, offer built-in tracking protection features that can block tracking pixels and other forms of email tracking.

Method 5: Use a script

If you're comfortable with scripting, you can use a script like this one to block tracking pixels in Apple Mail:

  1. Open Apple Mail and go to Mail > Preferences > Rules.
  2. Click the "+" button to create a new rule.
  3. Set the condition to "Message contains" and enter the following text: img src="https://[tracking pixel URL]".
  4. Set the action to "Move message to" and select a folder to move the tracked emails to.
  5. Click "OK" to save the rule.

This script will move any emails containing tracking pixels to a designated folder, effectively blocking the tracking.

Keep in mind that while these methods can help block email tracking, they may not be foolproof. Some email marketers may use alternative methods to track email opens, such as using JavaScript or other techniques.