The fastest way to block an email address in Gmail

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three vertical dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the email. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown menu. Gmail will move that sender's future emails to spam automatically, and you won't get notifications when they arrive.

That's the complete process. Once you block someone, their emails go straight to your spam folder. You can still see them if you look in spam, but they won't clutter your inbox or trigger notifications on your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking an email address takes three clicks: open the email, click the three-dot menu, and select "Block [sender's name]".
  • Blocked emails go to spam automatically, but you can still read them in your spam folder if you need to.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, then Filters and Blocked Addresses, and clicking "Unblock" next to their name.
  • Blocking only affects that one email address — if someone sends from a different address, those emails will still reach your inbox.
  • Gmail's block feature is different from reporting spam; blocking stops future emails, while reporting helps Gmail improve its spam detection.

Where to find the block option if you don't see it when ready

The three-dot menu appears in the top right corner of an open email, next to the archive button (the down arrow). If you're on a phone or tablet, the menu might look slightly different — it's still three dots, but sometimes positioned on the right side of the screen.

If you're looking at your inbox list instead of opening an email, you can right-click on the sender's name (on a computer) and look for block options there. On a phone, long-press the email and look for a menu with more actions.

What happens after you block someone

Their emails arrive in your spam folder instead of your inbox. You won't see a notification badge or alert on your phone when they send something. If you ever need to read a blocked email, you can open your spam folder and find it there — blocking doesn't delete anything.

The person who is blocked has no way of knowing they've been blocked. Their email sends normally from their perspective. They won't receive a bounce-back message or any notification that you blocked them.

How to unblock someone if you change your mind

Go to Gmail Settings (the gear icon in the top right, then "See all settings"). Click the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. Scroll down to the "Blocked addresses" section and find the person's name. Click "Unblock" next to their address.

Once you unblock them, their future emails will go back to your inbox normally. Any emails they sent while they were blocked will still be in your spam folder, but you can move them back to your inbox manually if you want to read them.

Blocking versus reporting spam — which one to use

Use block when you know the sender personally or recognize the address — someone harassing you, an ex-partner, a former colleague you don't want to hear from. Blocking is personal; it only affects your account.

Use report spam when you don't recognize the sender or suspect the email is a phishing attempt, scam, or unsolicited marketing. Reporting helps Gmail's systems learn what spam looks like, which protects other users too. You can report spam by clicking the three-dot menu and selecting "Report spam" instead of "Block".

You can do both at once if you want — report the email as spam and then block the address. There's no downside to doing both.

What blocking does not do

Blocking only stops emails from that exact address. If someone has multiple email addresses, they can still email you from a different one. Blocking also doesn't prevent them from seeing your emails if they're already in a conversation with you — it only stops their new messages from reaching you.

Blocking doesn't hide your email address from them or prevent them from finding you elsewhere. It's a one-way filter on your inbox, not a privacy tool. If you're concerned about someone's behavior beyond email, consider whether you need to take additional steps like changing your email address or reporting the person to a platform administrator.

Blocking email addresses on Gmail's mobile app

Open the email you want to block. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap "Block [sender's name]". The process is the same as on a computer, just with touch instead of clicks.

If you're using Gmail on a phone's web browser instead of the app, the steps are identical to the computer version. The three-dot menu is still in the top right, and "Block" is still in the dropdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block an entire domain instead of just one email address?

Gmail's block feature works on individual email addresses only, not whole domains. If you're getting spam from many addresses at the same domain, you can create a filter instead. Go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, click "Create a new filter", and use the "From" field to catch emails from anyone at that domain, then choose to delete or skip them.

Will a blocked person know I blocked them?

No. They won't receive any notification, bounce-back message, or indication that you blocked them. Their email sends normally from their side. The only way they would know is if you told them or if they noticed you stopped responding.

Can I block someone if I've already deleted their email?

Yes. Go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, and click "Create a new filter". Type the person's email address in the "From" field and click "Create filter". Choose "Delete it" or "Skip the inbox" to block future emails from them, even if you don't have an existing email to block from.

What's the difference between blocking and unsubscribing?

Unsubscribe removes you from a mailing list — it's for newsletters and marketing emails where there's an official way to stop receiving them. Blocking stops all emails from a specific address. Use unsubscribe for legitimate mailing lists; use block for people or addresses you don't want to hear from at all.

If I block someone and then unblock them, will I see their old emails?

No. Emails they sent while they were blocked stay in your spam folder. When you unblock them, only their new emails go back to your inbox. You can manually move old emails from spam back to your inbox if you want to read them, but Gmail doesn't do this automatically.