Mail Shepherd Help.

Mail Shepherd 3.0 for the Mac App Store (build 535) · Updated October 24, 2026

Mail Shepherd’s goal is to keep unwanted mail completely out of your iCloud mailbox by helping you quickly identify, block and delete it.

Mail Shepherd works directly with iCloud Mail, using an app-specific password you make for it on your Apple Account page; it never needs your Apple Account password. It reads only each message’s headers, never the message itself, and it doesn’t use Apple Mail, so Mail doesn’t need to be open. There’s no Mail Shepherd server or account: your password, your lists and the logs stay on this Mac.

New to Mail Shepherd? Start with Getting Started. Something not working? See Troubleshooting.

Start here

Getting Started Add your iCloud account and run your first Sweep and Review.
What’s New Changes in this version.

Using Mail Shepherd

Settings Your iCloud accounts, Mail’s Blocked Sender List, spoof checks and other settings, and Contacts.
Sweep Clean up Trash, Junk and your Inbox in iCloud.
Review Blocked Look over and delete mail from blocked senders and Blocked Domains.
Review Junk Look over the rest of your junk, and delete, allow or block it.
Message Details A message's details, and blocking, allowing or deleting it.
Blocked Senders Every blocked sender, from Mail Shepherd and from Mail’s Blocked Sender List.
Blocked Domains Block whole domains.
Allowed Domains Always allow domains your contacts use.
Automate Sweep on a schedule, and see what each Auto-Sweep changed.
Action Log Everything Mail Shepherd changed, and every problem.

Fix a problem

Troubleshooting What the messages mean and how to fix them.
FAQ Common questions about Mail Shepherd.
Get Support Email us, with your version filled in.

Reference

Glossary The words Mail Shepherd uses.
Icons What each icon means.
Keyboard Shortcuts Keys that save time.
Privacy What Mail Shepherd reads, changes and keeps.
Deleting and Safety How Mail Shepherd keeps your mail safe.

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