While this is typically called a safelist, the modern term is safelist.

The safelisting procedure differs slightly different from one email service to the next.

However, there are several effective ways tosafelist your friends in Gmail.

Laptop with email illustration

Atomic Imagery / Getty Images

Add Email Addresses to Contacts

Open your contacts list in Gmail.

The fastest method is just to visit theGoogle Contacts link.

On the Google Contacts page, selectCreate contactand fill out theCreate new contact form.

Create New Contact box in Gmail

Google will send any incoming emails from your contact list directly to your inbox.

There’s a quick way to fix that as well.

Open your Spam box by selectingSpamfrom the navigation bar, and find your friend’s email.

Gmail message in Spam box with the Spam X box highlighted

You’ll see a Spam label at the top of the email.

Click thexnext to the label to remove it.

From your inbox screen, selectSettings(gear icon).

The Settings gear in Gmail

SelectFilters and Blocked Addressesfrom the navigation links at the top.

SelectCreate a new filter.

In theSearch mailform, enter either an entire domain you want to safelist or a specific email address.

The “See All Settings” button in Gmail

Use domains to safelist anyone from a specific company.

When you’re done, selectCreate filter.

On the next form, selectNever send it to Spam.

Gmail settings with “Filters and blocked addresses” highlighted

Finally, clickCreate filter.

Once you’re done, you’ll see the new filter show up in the list of filters.

How to Safelist Yahoo Emails

Safelisting an email address in Yahoo is similar to Gmail.

Gmail settings with “Create a new filter” highlighted

Either add the email address to your Yahoo contacts orcreate a filter.

SelectNew Contactin the left navigation pane.

Complete theAdd Contactform with your friend’s name and email address.

Gmail settings Create Filter dialog with “Create Filter” highlighted

SelectSaveto save the new contact.

Yahoo will no longer place incoming emails from this email address to your Spam box.

Select theGear iconin the upper right corner of your inbox and click or tapMoreSettings.

Gmail filter settings with “Never send it to spam” and “Create Filter” highlighted

SelectFiltersfrom the left navigation menu thenAdd new filters.

SelectSavetwice to activate the new filter.

The filter now appears in the list of filters in theFilterswindow.

Screenshot of the Add Contact form in Yahoo Mail

This filter move the incoming email from that address directly to your Inbox by default.

Outlook Safelist Procedure

If you’re an Outlook Online user, safelsiting your friends is similar.

Add Contacts to safelist friends or use the Safe Senders feature.

Screenshot of More Settings in Yahoo Settings

Add Contacts in Outlook.com

Adding contacts is just as easy as Gmail or Yahoo.

Open your Outlook Online contacts by clicking theApplications iconat the upper left corner of the window then select thePeopleapplication.

bang out theFirst Name,Last Name, andEmail Address.

Screenshot of Add new filters in Yahoo Settings

When you’re done, selectCreateto create the new contact.

Any email address listed in your Outlook contacts won’t go to the Spam folder.

UnderSafe senders and domains, click or tapAdd.

Screenshot of adding a new filter in Yahoo

In the pop-up field, add an email address or entire domain to add to your Safe Senders list.

Press theEnterkey when you’re done.

Click theSavebutton to finish.

Screenshot of adding a contact in Outlook Online

Any email from an address or domains in the Safe Senders list go directly to your Inbox.

For this reason, many people may need to safelist their friends using that service.

If you sign up for it, Xfinity provides customers with a free email account.

Screenshot of the import contacts feature in Xfinity email

There are several ways to safelist your friends with Xfinity.

To add an Xfinity contact, log into your email account and selectAddress Bookin the top menu.

Then, select theCreate Contacticon.

Screenshot of settings in Xfinity Mail

Complete and save the form.

When you click onAddress Book, you’ll see anImport contactslink in the left navigation pane.

Select thegear iconin the upper right corner and click or tapSettings.

Screenshot of adding new rules in Xfinity Mail

SelectFilter Rules, underMailin the left navigation pane, then theAdd New Rulebutton.

Make theRule Nameyour friend’s name.

In theContainsfield, punch in the email address or domain to safelist.

Screenshot of adding a new rule in Xfinity Mail

Select theAdd actionlink thenKeep.

Save the new rule.

Once you’re done, you’ll see your new filter show up underMail Filter Rulesin Xfinity Mail configs.

Screenshot of adding an action to a rule in Xfinity Mail

Every other incoming email will be discarded.

However, enabling this feature prevents anyone else from ever being able to send you an email.