Summary
Receiving emails after unsubscribing through Gmail's unsubscribe button can stem from various issues. Companies may delay processing requests up to 10 days, as allowed by CAN-SPAM. Some maintain separate email lists, requiring individual unsubscriptions. Technical problems with Gmail's button or improper sender implementation can also hinder the process. List-Unsubscribe headers are not universally supported, and their effectiveness depends on correct sender setup. Emails scheduled before unsubscribing may still be sent. 'Graymail,' or unwanted marketing emails, can persist. If issues continue, marking emails as spam is advisable. Legitimate senders should honor requests promptly; if not, reporting is an option.
Key findings
- Processing Delays: CAN-SPAM allows up to 10 days for unsubscribe processing.
- Multiple Lists: Companies often use multiple lists requiring separate unsubscriptions.
- Technical Issues: Gmail unsubscribe button or sender implementation may have technical faults.
- Header Support: List-Unsubscribe header support isn't universal and depends on sender setup.
- Pre-scheduled Emails: Emails scheduled prior to unsubscribing may still be delivered.
- Graymail: 'Graymail' (unwanted marketing emails) can persist even after unsubscribing.
- Non-Compliance: Some senders may not implement the list-unsubscribe-post functionality correctly, rendering the unsubscribe function ineffective.
Key considerations
- Allow Processing Time: Wait up to 10 days for processing.
- Check Multiple Lists: Unsubscribe from all relevant lists.
- Mark as Spam: Mark persistent emails as spam.
- Verify Sender: Ensure the sender is legitimate and honors requests; report otherwise.
- Check Functionality: Be sure that the unsubscribe is working, by checking back later.
- Consider 24-hour Delay: Allow a period of 24 hours for systems to update.
What email marketers say
8 marketer opinions
Several factors contribute to receiving emails after unsubscribing via Gmail. Some companies delay processing unsubscribe requests (up to 10 days as permitted by CAN-SPAM). Others maintain separate email lists, requiring separate unsubscribe actions for each. Technical issues with the Gmail unsubscribe button or improper processing by the sender can also cause the problem. In some instances, emails may be pre-scheduled before the unsubscribe request is processed, requiring a short waiting period. If the issue persists, consider marking the email as spam, especially if the sender seems untrustworthy.
Key opinions
- Processing Delays: Companies may take up to 10 days to process unsubscribe requests, as allowed by CAN-SPAM.
- Multiple Lists: Large companies often maintain separate email lists, requiring individual unsubscribe actions.
- Technical Issues: The Gmail unsubscribe button may not always function correctly due to technical glitches or sender-side problems.
- Pre-scheduled Emails: Emails scheduled before the unsubscribe request may still be delivered.
Key considerations
- Waiting Period: Allow up to 10 days for unsubscribe requests to be fully processed.
- Check All Lists: If a company sends multiple types of emails, unsubscribe from each list individually.
- Mark as Spam: If emails continue after a reasonable waiting period, and the sender seems untrustworthy, mark the email as spam.
- Legitimacy: Consider if the email is legitimate, as real companies usually honor the requests immediately.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Reddit suggests that some companies have separate lists for different types of communications. Unsubscribing from one doesn't unsubscribe you from all.
30 May 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view
Email marketer from Quora User explains that many large companies maintain several mailing lists. Opting out from one list does not guarantee you'll be removed from all their lists.
16 Jun 2022 - Quora
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Several factors may lead to receiving emails after unsubscribing. The list-unsubscribe-post functionality may be implemented incorrectly by senders, rendering the unsubscribe request ineffective. 'Graymail,' or marketing emails that aren't technically spam but unwanted, can also contribute. If a company doesn't honor unsubscribe requests promptly, it's recommended to report them, as legitimate senders should respect your choice.
Key opinions
- Incorrect Implementation: List-unsubscribe-post may be implemented incorrectly, leading to non-functional unsubscriptions.
- Graymail: Unwanted marketing emails (graymail) can persist even with unsubscribing.
- Dishonored Requests: Some senders may not honor unsubscribe requests promptly.
Key considerations
- Verify Unsubscribe Functionality: Confirm that the unsubscribe mechanism is actually functional.
- Identify Graymail: Recognize and manage graymail by ensuring you unsubscribe correctly.
- Report Non-Compliance: If a sender consistently fails to honor unsubscribe requests, consider reporting them.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that list-unsubscribe-post is new and poorly understood. Some have added the headers without implementing the POST functionality correctly, leading to non-interactive unsubs not working.
1 Sep 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that the issue might be 'graymail' – marketing emails that aren't spam but that you don't necessarily want. Unsubscribing is the key, but make sure it's a real unsubscribe link to avoid problems.
1 Mar 2022 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
6 technical articles
Receiving emails after unsubscribing can occur for several reasons. The CAN-SPAM Act allows companies up to 10 business days to process unsubscribe requests. List-Unsubscribe headers, used by senders, may not be universally supported by email clients and depend on proper sender implementation. Even after unsubscribing, marking emails as spam helps Gmail improve filtering. Proper interpretation and respect for List-Unsubscribe headers are crucial, but reliant on sender implementation. While using these headers improves deliverability, it's not a guarantee. Honoring unsubscribe requests is essential for maintaining sender reputation.
Key findings
- CAN-SPAM Delay: Companies have up to 10 business days to process unsubscribe requests per the CAN-SPAM Act.
- Header Support: List-Unsubscribe header support varies across email clients and relies on proper sender implementation.
- Gmail Filtering: Marking emails as spam after unsubscribing aids Gmail in improving its filtering capabilities.
- Header Importance: Correct interpretation and use of List-Unsubscribe headers are vital, dependent on the sender.
- Deliverability Improvement: Using List-Unsubscribe headers improves deliverability but doesn't guarantee immediate cessation of emails.
- Reputation Impact: Promptly honoring unsubscribe requests is essential for maintaining a positive sender reputation.
Key considerations
- Allow Processing Time: Understand that companies may take up to 10 days to process your unsubscribe request.
- Client Compatibility: Be aware that List-Unsubscribe headers may not be universally supported.
- Report Spam: Continue marking unwanted emails as spam to improve Gmail's filtering.
- Check Sender Compliance: Be aware that senders are legally obliged to honour unsubscribe requests. You can report them if they don't.
Technical article
Documentation from RFC2369 explains that the best practise for email providers is to respect and correctly interpret the list-unsubscribe header, to ensure that when people request to unsubscribe through that method, they are effectively unsubscribed from the list. However, this relies on the sender properly implementing it.
6 Jan 2025 - RFC
Technical article
Documentation from Litmus explains that using List-Unsubscribe headers can improve email deliverability and sender reputation. It's not a guaranteed solution to prevent emails after unsubscribing, but it is a step to follow for responsible email sending.
17 Aug 2021 - Litmus
Can spam filters trigger email unsubscribes and how to prevent it?
How are Gmail and Yahoo enforcing unsubscribe requests, and what factors do they consider for compliance?
How can I avoid the unsubscribe link on Gmail when sending email campaigns?
How do Gmail and Yahoo's new one-click unsubscribe requirements work?
How do mailbox providers handle unsubscribe requests and multiple mailing lists from the same sender?
How should I handle unsubscribe requests for customers with multiple email preferences under one account according to Yahoogle's Feb 2024 requirements?
