Many of us have signed up for a service, used it for a while, and then decided it wasn't for us. The expectation is simple: when you unsubscribe, the emails stop. Unfortunately, some platforms make this process incredibly difficult, almost as if they're deliberately trying to keep you engaged. Nextdoor, the neighborhood social network, often falls into this category for users trying to manage their email influx.
If you've found yourself inundated with notifications, digests, and alerts from Nextdoor long after you thought you unsubscribed, you're not alone. It can feel like an endless battle to regain control of your inbox. The good news is there are several strategies you can employ to minimize, or even completely stop, these unwanted emails.
Adjusting email notification settings
The most straightforward way to stop unwanted emails from Nextdoor is to adjust your notification preferences directly within your account settings on their website or app. While it might seem obvious, the complexity of Nextdoor's notification settings can make this a frustrating experience, as some users report needing to navigate multiple sections to truly opt out of everything.
Nextdoor's system often segregates email types into numerous categories, requiring you to individually turn off notifications for each one. This can include daily digests, urgent alerts, group messages, direct messages, and more. Missing even one category means you might continue to receive certain emails, perpetuating the cycle of unwanted communication.
Steps to adjust Nextdoor email settings
Log in: Log in to your Nextdoor account via a web browser or the mobile app.
Access settings: Click on your profile picture or initials, then select Settings.
Navigate to notifications: Look for a Notifications or Email Preferences section. Sometimes these are grouped under Email & notificationstopic.
Disable categories: Go through each category and toggle off all notifications, specifically focusing on email options. You may need to click into sub-categories.
Save changes: Ensure you save your changes before exiting. You can also review their official unsubscribe guide.
This granular control can be both a blessing and a curse. While it allows you to receive only essential updates, it also means a thorough sweep is required if you want to silence everything. Make sure you revisit these settings periodically, as companies sometimes introduce new email streams that might automatically re-opt you in.
The frustration arises when, despite your best efforts, Nextdoor emails continue to arrive. This can lead to a feeling of being spammed, even if the emails technically originate from a service you once signed up for. It highlights a common problem where subscriber management is more complex than it needs to be.
Using the in-email unsubscribe link
Every legitimate marketing email should include an unsubscribe link, usually found in the footer. Clicking this link is often the quickest way to stop a specific type of email. However, with Nextdoor, users often report that clicking the unsubscribe link only gives them the option to opt out of that particular email stream, not all communications from the platform.
This fragmented approach to unsubscribing means you might need to click multiple unsubscribe links across different types of emails before you achieve a quieter inbox. It's a common practice that can lead to significant user frustration and questions about email compliance standards like CAN-SPAM. If you keep receiving emails even after you've tried to opt out, you might be dealing with a similar issue to why you keep receiving emails after unsubscribing.
Single unsubscribe process
Efficiency: One click to unsubscribe from all marketing emails from the sender.
User experience: Clear, simple, and respectful of the recipient's preference.
Compliance: Adheres to best practices for email list management and regulations.
This method ensures that if a user wishes to stop receiving emails, they can do so comprehensively without confusion.
Fragmented unsubscribe process
Complexity: Each unsubscribe link only manages a subset of email types.
Persistence: Users continue to receive emails from other streams, even after unsubscribing from one.
Reputation risk: Can lead to increased spam complaints and harm sender reputation.
This approach, while not always illegal, can significantly damage trust and lead recipients to mark emails as spam, impacting deliverability for other senders. It also can land you on a blacklist or blocklist.
Even with fragmented unsubscribe processes, the legal requirement under CAN-SPAM is that your unsubscribe request must be honored within 10 business days. If you continue to receive emails after this period, you might consider reporting the sender.
This can be particularly annoying when you've already spent time trying to manage your preferences. The feeling that your choice is not being respected can lead to a breakdown in trust between the user and the platform.
Blocking, filtering, or deleting your account
If direct settings and unsubscribe links prove ineffective, you have a few more aggressive options. The simplest, albeit a bit blunt, is to mark Nextdoor emails as spam in your email client. This action signals to your email provider (like Gmail or Outlook) that these messages are unwanted, helping their filters learn and divert future emails to your junk folder. While effective for you, it can negatively impact Nextdoor's sender reputation.
Another option is to set up an email filter or rule in your inbox. This allows you to automatically delete or archive any email originating from Nextdoor. This method bypasses the sender's unsubscribe process entirely and gives you immediate control over what reaches your primary inbox. This is a powerful way to stop unwanted emails that bypass typical opt-out mechanisms.
Example email filterplain text
From: @nextdoor.com
Action: Delete forever
For residents in regions with strong data privacy laws, like the EU or California, you might consider leveraging regulations like GDPR or CCPA. These laws grant individuals the right to request access to their data and, crucially, to have it deleted or stop its processing. Contacting Nextdoor's Data Protection Officer (DPO) or privacy team and asserting your rights under these regulations can often lead to a swift resolution, as companies generally want to avoid compliance issues.
Contacting Nextdoor's privacy team
If you are an EU resident and wish to exercise your data rights under GDPR, you can contact Nextdoor EMEA Limited. According to their privacy policy, their email is privacy@nextdoor.com. You may also reach their Data Protection Officer at dpo@nextdoor.com. Clearly state your request to stop receiving all emails and to exercise your rights as a data subject.
Similarly, if you are a California resident, you can refer to CCPA guidelines. While the exact contact method for CCPA requests might vary, using the general privacy contact points (or a dedicated form on their site) is a good starting point. Be clear about your request to opt out of the sale of your personal information and to have your data deleted.
In extreme cases, if all else fails and you no longer wish to use Nextdoor at all, deleting your account entirely is the most definitive way to stop all email communications. This should be a last resort, as it means losing access to your neighborhood network and historical posts.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Actively manage all notification settings, especially for platforms like Nextdoor.
Use one-click unsubscribe links in emails, but verify their scope.
Report unwanted emails as spam to improve your inbox filtering.
Leverage data privacy regulations like GDPR or CCPA when applicable.
Common pitfalls
Assuming a single unsubscribe link stops all emails from a sender.
Ignoring new email streams that might re-engage you automatically.
Not thoroughly checking all notification categories in platform settings.
Not recognizing the difference between promotional and transactional emails.
Expert tips
Create specific email filters for persistent senders to automatically manage messages.
Consider contacting the sender's Data Protection Officer if standard unsubscribe methods fail.
Regularly review email privacy policies, especially for social platforms.
Remember that marking emails as spam helps train your email provider's filters.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they couldn’t get Nextdoor emails to stop and now they hit the spam button every time they see them.
2022-11-21 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks states that clicking unsubscribe on a Nextdoor email sometimes only gives the option for that specific email stream, not all of them.
2022-11-21 - Email Geeks
Reclaiming your inbox
Stopping unwanted emails from Nextdoor can be a multi-faceted challenge, but it's not insurmountable. The key is persistence and knowing which levers to pull. Start with the platform's internal settings and the in-email unsubscribe links. If those prove insufficient, leverage your email client's filtering capabilities.
For those covered by data privacy regulations, don't hesitate to assert your rights. Ultimately, taking control of your inbox means being proactive about managing subscriptions and understanding the tools available to you. While it might take a bit of effort, a cleaner, quieter inbox is well within reach.
Nextdoor account via a web browser or the mobile app.
CAN-SPAM. If you keep receiving emails even after you've tried to opt out, you might be dealing with a similar issue to why you keep receiving emails after unsubscribing.
Gmail or 
Outlook) that these messages are unwanted, helping their filters learn and divert future emails to your junk folder. While effective for you, it can negatively impact Nextdoor's sender reputation.
