Fixing Incorrect Unread Badge Count - Airmail for iOS

If the Airmail app icon on your iPhone or iPad shows a red badge with unread messages that do not appear in your Inbox, the badge counter is most likely including unread messages from a folder, label, or account that is not visible in the main view. This guide walks through the steps to identify the source and reset the badge to the correct value.

Applies to: Airmail for iOS / iPadOS, free and Pro versions.

Step 1 - Check every account and folder

Open Airmail and tap the menu in the top-left corner to display the account list. Tap each account in turn, then check the Inbox, All Inboxes, Archive, and any custom labels or smart folders. The unread messages contributing to the badge are usually located in one of these folders. Mark them as read with a swipe or tap.

Step 2 - Verify which folders contribute to the badge

In Airmail, tap the gear icon to open Settings, then choose Notifications, and finally Badge. From here you can choose whether the badge should reflect only the Inbox unread count or include all folders. Choose the option that matches your workflow. If you keep the default All option, the badge will continue to include messages outside the Inbox.

Step 3 - Refresh the badge

After marking the messages as read, fully close Airmail by swiping up in the app switcher, then reopen it. iOS recalculates the badge on the next foreground launch.

Step 4 - Reset the badge from iOS Settings

If the badge is still stuck on an incorrect number, open the iOS Settings app and go to Notifications, then Airmail. Turn the Badges toggle off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. This forces iOS to clear and rebuild the counter.

Step 5 - Contact support if the issue persists

If the wrong badge count remains after the steps above, please reach out to our support team with the following information:

• iOS or iPadOS version
• - Airmail version (Settings - About)
• - Email account types in use (Gmail, iCloud, IMAP, Exchange, etc.)
• - A short screen recording showing the badge and the actual Inbox state, if possible

Our team will investigate and follow up with you.

Updated on: 05/17/2026