The fastest way to block a sender

The quickest method depends on which email service you use, but all three major platforms let you block a sender in one or two clicks. In Gmail, open the email, click the three dots in the top right, and select "Block [sender's name]". In Outlook (web or desktop), right-click the email and choose "Block" or "Junk", then "Block Sender". In Apple Mail, select the email and go to Mail menu > Junk Mail > Add Sender to VIP List (or use the flag icon to mark as junk repeatedly, which trains the filter). Once blocked, future emails from that sender go straight to your spam or junk folder — you won't see them in your inbox.

Blocking works at the email address level, so if someone sends from multiple addresses, you'll need to block each one separately. If you're getting mail from a domain (like all messages from @company.com), most services offer a "block domain" option that catches everything from that organization at once.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all have one-click block features accessible from the email itself or through right-click menus.
  • Blocked emails go to spam or junk folders, not deleted, so you can review them later if needed.
  • Blocking stops mail from one email address; if the sender uses multiple addresses, you must block each one.
  • Most services let you block an entire domain at once, which is faster if you're receiving unwanted mail from many people at the same organization.
  • You can unblock a sender at any time by finding them in your blocked list and removing them.

Blocking in Gmail

Open any email from the sender you want to block. In the top right corner of the email, click the three vertical dots (the menu icon). A dropdown menu appears with several options. Click "Block [sender's name]" — Gmail shows you the exact address it will block so you know what you're doing.

Once you confirm, Gmail moves all current and future emails from that address to your spam folder automatically. If you change your mind, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right of Gmail), click "See all settings", go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab, find the blocked sender in the list, and click "Unblock" next to their name.

To block an entire domain in Gmail, use the same three-dot menu but look for "Block [domain name]" if the sender is from a company email. If that option doesn't appear, you can create a filter instead: go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Create a new filter, type the domain in the "From" field (like @company.com), and select "Delete" or "Skip the Inbox" to send all mail from that domain to spam.

Blocking in Outlook (web and desktop)

In Outlook on the web, right-click the email from the sender you want to block. A context menu appears. Click "Junk" and then "Block Sender". Outlook when ready moves that email and all future ones from that address to your Junk folder. You'll see a confirmation message at the top of the screen.

In Outlook desktop (Windows or Mac), the process is similar: right-click the email, hover over "Junk", and click "Block Sender". The sender is added to your blocked list right away. To see all blocked senders or unblock someone, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email. Click "Blocked Senders" and you'll see a list of every address you've blocked. Click any name and select "Remove from list" to unblock them.

To block an entire domain in Outlook, you can add the domain to your blocked senders list manually. Go to Settings > Mail > Junk email > Blocked Senders, click "Add", type the domain (like @company.com), and click "Add". All mail from anyone at that domain will go to Junk from that point forward.

Blocking in Apple Mail

Apple Mail doesn't have a single "block" button like Gmail or Outlook, but you can achieve the same result by marking emails as junk repeatedly. Select an email from the sender, then click the flag icon in the toolbar and choose "Mark as Junk". Do this for a few emails from the same sender, and Apple Mail learns to send future messages from that address to your Junk folder automatically.

For faster blocking, you can create a rule. Open Apple Mail, go to Mail menu > Preferences, click "Rules", and click "Add Rule". Set the condition to "From" and type the sender's email address. Under "Perform the following actions", choose "Move Message" and select your Junk folder. Click "OK" and all future emails from that address go straight to Junk.

To block an entire domain, create a rule the same way but use a partial match. In the "From" field, type just the domain part (like @company.com), and Apple Mail will catch all addresses from that domain. If you need to unblock someone, go back to Mail > Preferences > Rules, find the rule you created, and click "Delete".

What happens after you block someone

Blocked emails don't disappear — they go to your spam or junk folder where you can still see them if you need to. This matters because occasionally a legitimate sender's address gets spoofed (faked) by spammers, and you might block the real person by accident. By keeping blocked mail in a folder rather than deleting it, you can review it later and unblock if necessary.

The sender won't know they've been blocked. They won't receive a bounce-back message or any notification. Their emails straightforward won't appear in your inbox, and if they check delivery status, most services won't tell them whether the message was blocked or just unread.

When blocking isn't enough

If you're receiving dozens of emails from different addresses that look similar (like noreply@offers-today.com, noreply@deals-today.com), blocking each one individually takes time. Instead, block the domain or create a filter that catches variations. In Gmail, you can use a filter with the search operator "from:*@offers-today.com" to catch any address from that domain. In Outlook and Apple Mail, blocking the domain directly is faster.

If someone is harassing you through email or you suspect fraud, blocking is a good first step, but consider reporting the sender to your email provider as well. Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all have "Report phishing" or "Report spam" options in the same menu where you block. Reporting helps the company identify patterns and protect other users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked sender tell I've blocked them?

No. Blocked senders receive no notification and see no bounce-back message. Their emails straightforward fail to reach your inbox. They may suspect something if you stop responding, but the email system itself won't tell them they're blocked.

What if I block someone by accident?

You can unblock them anytime. In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses and click "Unblock". In Outlook, go to Settings > Junk email > Blocked Senders and click "Remove from list". In Apple Mail, delete the rule you created under Mail > Preferences > Rules. Future emails from that sender will reach your inbox again.

Does blocking stop emails I've already received?

No. Blocking only affects new emails going forward. Emails already in your inbox stay there. You'll need to delete them manually or move them to a folder if you want them out of sight.

Can I block someone without opening their email?

Yes. In Gmail and Outlook, you can right-click an email in your inbox list without opening it and select block from the menu. In Apple Mail, select the email in the list and use the flag or create a rule. You don't have to read the message to block the sender.

What's the difference between blocking and unsubscribing?

Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list (usually a newsletter or marketing email), while blocking stops all emails from a sender regardless of whether they're marketing or personal. If an email has an "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom, use that first — it's the sender's intended way to stop receiving mail. Use blocking for unwanted personal emails or senders who don't offer an unsubscribe option.