# What Is RFC 8058 & How to Implement One-Click Unsubscribe

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## Table of contents

- What is RFC 8058?
- Why does RFC 8058 compliance matter?
- How to implement RFC 8058
- Bulk email sender guidelines by Google and Yahoo
- Conclusion

Managing email subscriptions shouldn’t feel like a chore, yet for many users, the process of unsubscribing from unwanted emails is unnecessarily tedious. It starts with searching for the unsubscribe button in the email and ends with choosing the reason for unsubscribing, maybe even filling up an entire form in some cases, and then clicking on the CTA on a distant landing page. But it doesn’t just affect the recipients.


Most of the time, the mark as spam button is just staring at the face of the recipients and it just seems easier to mark your email as spam than to take the trouble of going through the entire process of unsubscribing. This not only makes you lose an email from your email list but also hurts your reputation, even if you’re not acting as a spammer.

**RFC 8058**, titled Signaling One-Click Functionality for List Email Headers, addresses this issue by introducing a standardized approach for simplifying the unsubscribe process. In this article, we’ll learn more about RFC 8058, how it works and how it’s implemented.

## What is RFC 8058?

RFC 8058, also known as "Signaling One-Click Functionality for List Email Headers," is a standard by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that makes unsubscribing from mailing lists easier.

This standard defines a mechanism that includes a header in the emails that enables one-click unsubscriptions. When a user wants to opt out of an [email list](https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/email-list/), they can click the "Unsubscribe" button in email clients that support this feature.

![Unsubscribe button](https://res.cloudinary.com/mailmodo/image/upload/f_auto,q_100/v1731794722/strapi/13_fe63f8de99.png)

## Why does RFC 8058 compliance matter?

RFC 8058 aims to improve the user experience for the recipients and reduce false spam reports. It offers significant benefits:

-   **Protects sender reputation:** Following RFC 8058 shows email clients that you’re a trustworthy sender who respects user preferences. This protects the sender's reputation from false spam complaints against you and maintains your email deliverability.
-   **Improves user experience:** It makes it easy for recipients to unsubscribe from mailing lists, reducing frustration and making it easy to manage their inboxes. This builds trust and shows your audience that you value their choices.
-   **Reduces spam complaints:** Adopting RFC 8058 helps [reduce spam complaints](https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/spam-complaint/) as users are more likely just to unsubscribe using one-click to report you as spam. This decreases the overall spam complaints that ESPs receive.
-   **Meets legal requirements:** Laws like the [CAN-SPAM Act](https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/can-spam/) and [GDPR](https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/gdpr/) require simple unsubscribe options. Compliance helps avoid legal issues and fines.
-   **Reduces manual effort:** It not only makes it easy for the recipients to unsubscribe but also reduces the manual effort required on the sender’s end by automating the process.

## How to implement RFC 8058

To enable one-click unsubscriptions, you must include a List-Unsubscribe header field and a List-Unsubscribe-Post header field in the email. It may also contain other URIs, such as MAILTO. However, the List-Unsubscribe header must contain all the information to identify the recipient and the list from which the recipient needs to be removed.

Let’s take a look at some examples of implementation and discuss how each of them works.

### 1. Simple implementation

When a recipient clicks the unsubscribe link, a POST request is sent to your server, automatically removing them from your mailing list. The opaque identifier in the URL ensures that the recipient’s email address stays private.

**Header in the email:**

List-Unsubscribe: ```<https://example.com/unsubscribe/opaquepart>```

List-Unsubscribe-Post: ```List-Unsubscribe=One-Click```

**Resulting POST request:**

POST /unsubscribe/opaquepart HTTP/1.1

Host: example.com

Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded

Content-Length: 26

List-Unsubscribe=One-Click

In Gmail, this is the popup that shows up when you click on the unsubscribe button.

![Simple implementation of RFC 8058](https://res.cloudinary.com/mailmodo/image/upload/f_auto,q_100/v1731794722/strapi/12_f97d1e2ed0.png)

### 2. Complex implementation

Here, when a recipient clicks the unsubscribe link, an email is generated that gets sent to the specified address (e.g.,`unsubscribemeplease@example.com`). Your system must then manually process the request by removing the recipient from your list.

**Header in the email:**

List-Unsubscribe:

```<mailto:listrequest@example.com?subject=unsubscribe>```,

```<https://example.com/unsubscribe.html?opaque=123456789>```

List-Unsubscribe-Post: ```List-Unsubscribe=One-Click```

**Resulting POST request:**

POST /unsubscribe.html?opaque=123456789 HTTP/1.1

Host: example.com

Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded

Content-Length: 26

List-Unsubscribe=One-Click

In Gmail, this is the popup that shows up when you click on the unsubscribe button.

![Complex implementation of RFC 8058](https://res.cloudinary.com/mailmodo/image/upload/f_auto,q_100/v1731794722/strapi/14_0c63ecb646.png)

**Note:** If your current list-unsubscribe link requires a secondary action within a preference center, you will need to remove all secondary click-action processes to make sure this works for you.

## Bulk email sender guidelines by Google and Yahoo

The implementation of a one-click unsubscribe button is also a part of big [email providers](https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/email-providers/) like Google and Yahoo's bulk sender guidelines. It also contains some other best practices that must be followed to maintain email deliverability. Here's a breakdown of their new requirements and what you can do to meet the standards for delivering emails effectively and maintaining a good sender reputation.

-   Authenticate your emails using DKIM, SPF and DMARC
-   Reduce spam rate and keep spam complaint rate under 0.3%
-   Allow recipients to unsubscribe with one click and process unsubscribe requests within 2 days
-   Comply with RFC 5322 standard
-   Have a PTR record
-   Encrypt your emails using TLS encryption

<div class="highlight-gray"> <p> <strong>💡 Related guide: <a href=https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/email-sender-guidelines/></strong>All About Bulk Email Sender Guidelines 2024 by Gmail and Yahoo</a></p> </div>

## Conclusion

To sum up, RFC 8058 helps make the unsubscribe process easier and more user-friendly. By adding the list-unsubscribe headers, email senders can offer a quick, one-click option for unsubscribing. This not only helps users opt out without hassle but also keeps your sender reputation strong and your emails out of the spam folder.

With big email providers like Gmail and Yahoo supporting this, following RFC 8058 guidelines is a smart choice for anyone looking to improve their email marketing and user experience. For more information, you can refer to the complete doc of [RFC 8058](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8058).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I use the Mailto method to unsubscribe from email lists under RFC 8058?

While the Mailto method works for some inbox providers, it does not comply with Gmail and Yahoo’s updated unsubscribe policies as of 2024. These platforms now require the use of the URL method for one-click unsubscribes. It is best to implement the List-Unsubscribe-Post or URL method for better compliance and user experience.

### How does RFC 8058 improve my email deliverability?

RFC 8058 ensures that recipients can easily unsubscribe from your email list without marking your emails as spam. By offering a straightforward, one-click unsubscribe method, you align with best practices that improve deliverability. A clean, engaged list reduces the risk of your emails being marked as spam, which helps maintain high inbox placement rates.

### What are the main differences between the List-Unsubscribe-Post header and the List-Unsubscribe header?

The List-Unsubscribe header provides a general method for unsubscribing, either via a URL or Mailto link. The List-Unsubscribe-Post header, however, specifies that unsubscribing can occur with just a single click, making it ideal for sender requirements. The Post method is more secure, as it triggers unsubscribes through an HTTPS POST request rather than a GET request.

### Does implementing RFC 8058 help with compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR?

Yes, RFC 8058 plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations, such as GDPR, by providing an easy way for message recipients to opt out of communications. The regulation emphasizes the importance of respecting user preferences, and offering a simple, immediate unsubscribe process directly aligns with this principle.

### How can I test whether my List-Unsubscribe header is working properly?

To ensure your List-Unsubscribe header is functioning as intended, you should test it across multiple mailbox providers like Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook. Click the unsubscribe link in your test emails to verify that it triggers the correct action (unsubscribing the subscribers without additional steps). It's also essential to use email testing tools to check header formatting and functionality in different inboxes.

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---

**Author: Sneha Arora**

Sneha Arora is a writer and content strategist who turns ideas into words that connect. With 3+ years of experience and her own content agency, she helps brands tell stories, craft engaging blogs, and keep their voice fresh and authentic.

