Block a sender in AOL Mail in three steps

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right of the message, then select Block sender. AOL will move that sender's future emails to your spam folder automatically.

If you have already deleted the email, you can still block the sender. Go to your spam folder, find an email from that sender, open it, and use the same three-dot menu to block them. Once blocked, any new messages from that address will skip your inbox.

Blocked senders cannot tell they have been blocked, and blocking does not delete their past emails — it only stops new ones from reaching your inbox. You can unblock a sender at any time by going to your AOL Mail settings.

Key Takeaways

  • The block sender button is in the three-dot menu of any email, and blocks all future messages from that address to your spam folder.
  • You can block a sender even after deleting their email by opening it from your spam folder first.
  • Blocking does not delete past emails from that sender — only stops new ones from arriving in your inbox.
  • You can unblock a sender through your AOL Mail settings if you change your mind later.
  • Blocking a sender is different from reporting spam, which also alerts AOL to suspicious activity.

Where to find your blocked senders list

To see everyone you have blocked, open AOL Mail and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then choose Blocked addresses from the left menu. This page shows every sender you have blocked and lets you unblock them if needed.

The blocked addresses list is the only place in AOL Mail where you can manage multiple blocks at once. If you want to unblock someone, find their email address on this list and click the X next to their name. They will be able to send you emails again when ready.

Report spam instead of just blocking

If an email is not just unwanted but actually spam or a scam, use the Report spam option instead of block. Open the email, click the three-dot menu, and select Report spam. This tells AOL that the message is suspicious, which helps protect other users and improves AOL's spam filters over time.

Reporting spam does two things at once: it moves the email to your spam folder and alerts AOL's security team. Blocking only stops that sender from reaching you. If you receive phishing emails, fake invoices, or messages trying to trick you into clicking a link, report spam rather than block.

Block email addresses that look similar to real ones

Scammers sometimes create addresses that look almost identical to legitimate companies — for example, "paypa1.com" instead of "paypal.com" or "amaz0n.com" instead of "amazon.com". If you receive an email from an address that looks off, block it when ready.

Check the sender's full email address carefully before opening any links or attachments. Hover over the sender's name to see the complete address. If it does not match the official domain of the company it claims to be from, block and report it as spam.

Use rules to block entire domains

If you are receiving spam from many addresses at the same domain (like "spammer.com"), you can block the entire domain instead of blocking each address one at a time. Go to Settings, select Blocked addresses, and look for the option to add a blocked domain. Type the domain name (for example, "spammer.com") and AOL will block all email from any address at that domain.

Blocking a domain is more powerful than blocking individual addresses, so use it only when you are certain you do not want any email from that entire domain. If you later realize you need to receive mail from someone at that domain, you will have to unblock the whole domain and then block individual addresses instead.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block a sender, their emails go directly to your spam folder instead of your inbox. You can still see them if you check your spam folder, but they will not alert you with a notification. The sender does not receive a message saying they have been blocked — their email straightforward disappears from your inbox.

If a blocked sender tries to contact you from a different email address, that new address will not be blocked automatically. You will need to block each address separately. This is why blocking works best for unwanted mail from people you know, but may not stop determined spammers who use multiple addresses.

Unblock a sender if you change your mind

Go to Settings, select Blocked addresses, find the sender you want to unblock, and click the X next to their name. They can send you emails again right away. Unblocking does not restore their past emails to your inbox — those remain in spam — but new messages from them will arrive normally.

If you unblock someone by mistake, you can block them again using the same three-dot menu method. There is no limit to how many times you can block and unblock the same sender.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block an email address if I have already deleted the message?

Yes. Check your spam folder for an email from that sender, open it, and use the three-dot menu to block them. If you have permanently deleted emails, you can still go to Settings and add the address to your blocked list manually.

Will a blocked sender know I blocked them?

No. Blocked senders do not receive any notification. Their emails straightforward go to your spam folder, and they have no way to know whether you blocked them, marked them as spam, or just never read their message.

What is the difference between blocking and reporting spam?

Blocking stops a sender from reaching your inbox. Reporting spam does that and also tells AOL the message is suspicious, which helps improve spam filters for everyone. Use report spam for phishing, scams, or fake invoices, and use block for mail you straightforward do not want to see.

Can I block someone if I do not know their full email address?

If you have received an email from them, open it and block them using the three-dot menu — you do not need to type anything. If you want to block someone without an email from them, you will need their complete email address to add them to your blocked list manually in Settings.

If I block a domain, can I still receive mail from one person at that domain?

No. Blocking a domain blocks all addresses at that domain. If you need to receive mail from one person there, unblock the domain first, then block only the specific addresses you do not want.