How to stop junk mail

Can I stop junk mail through USPS?

Refusing a piece of mail is different from unsubscribing from the sender's list. USPS permits refusal of eligible unopened mail, with exceptions. That handles the piece you received, not every future advertisement. Read our guide to Refused and Return to Sender before putting anything back in the mail.

USPS Hold Mail is a temporary pause for all mail delivered to an eligible address, including letters and packages. It lasts 3 to 30 days. It is not a junk-mail filter, and the held mail is delivered or collected afterward.

To reduce future advertising, change the mailing list rather than the delivery schedule. The FTC's junk-mail guidance points to marketing preferences and the credit bureaus' prescreening opt-out. Choose the right opt-out below, or use a sender-specific guide for a catalog that keeps coming.

Start with the piece in your hand

Use the detailed instructions that match the mailer, recipient, or sender:

Choose the right opt-out for your mail

Catalogs and mail addressed to you

For a catalog you no longer want, look for the sender's mailing-preferences form or customer-service contact on its official website. Ask to remove the name and address printed on the mailing label. Include a customer or source number if the sender asks for it. Keep the request and any reply so you can follow up.

Catalog Choice is a free nonprofit option: search for a sender, then follow its opt-out process. Junk Mail Magic offers a photo-based alternative when you prefer help with sender lookup and preparing the request.

Prescreened credit-card and insurance offers

Use OptOutPrescreen, the credit bureaus' opt-out service. The FTC explains that an online request can opt you out for five years; a permanent opt-out requires returning a signed form. This covers offers based on prescreened credit-bureau lists, not every promotion from a bank or insurer.

Complete that process on the official site. Do not upload identity documents or send Social Security numbers to Junk Mail Magic. A request to an individual sender is not the same as opting out of credit-bureau prescreening.

Unsure about the personal details the form asks for? Our credit-offer guide explains which identity details are optional and gives the official phone alternative.

Broader marketing preferences

DMAchoice, operated by the Association of National Advertisers, lets you register preferences for participating marketers. It charges a processing fee. It can reduce covered promotional mail, but it is not a universal block on all senders. Check its current terms before registering. Our opt-out comparison separates broad preference services from individual sender requests.

Flyers marked “Current Resident”

Some neighborhood mail goes to an area rather than a named person. There may be no personal mailing-list entry to remove. Check with the sender about its delivery program before spending a request on this type of mail. Do not assume a name-based unsubscribe will stop it. Our Current Resident mail guide explains the difference.

Bills, notices, and mail for someone else

Set aside bills, legal documents, government notices, and anything important. Only submit mail addressed to you or someone you are authorized to help. An unwanted envelope is not necessarily an advertising mailing.

How to unsubscribe using a photo

Junk Mail Magic uses the piece of mail in front of you to identify the sender and prepare a specific removal request. Here is the workflow in the app:

1. Photograph one mailer. Keep the sender name and your full mailing label readable. Use good light and avoid glare. A close photo of the label is more useful than a distant shot of a pile.
2. Review the details. Check the sender and recipient information before submitting. If the photo is unclear or does not look like mail, retake it instead of submitting unrelated information.
3. Submit the request. Sign in and send the selected photos. We prepare the opt-out using the available sender contact route. Check the service email for the processing result.

You can add multiple separate photos to a batch within your allowance. Five mailers in one photograph are not supported as five requests. One photo per mailer keeps each request tied to the right sender and address.

Your first request is free, with no card required. A one-time pack costs $9.99 for 20 requests. The optional monthly plan is $7.99 for 20 requests per billing period and renews until canceled. Monthly credits do not roll over. You can cancel future renewals from Account. Compare the plans.

What happens after an unsubscribe request?

A submitted request is not confirmation that the sender has removed you. Mail already printed or in transit may still arrive for several mailing cycles, and the sender controls its response. Junk Mail Magic cannot guarantee that every sender will stop mailing.

Keep any sender confirmation alongside the date of your request. If the same mail keeps arriving, compare the mailing label and sender details with the original request. A different name, address variation, or sender may need separate attention. Contact our support team when you need help with a Junk Mail Magic request.

What information does the service use?

The photo may contain your name, postal address, and customer number. Processing providers help analyze it, and the relevant sender receives the information needed for removal. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms before submitting. You do not need to send your whole mail pile to begin.