Block a sender in Outlook on the web

Open the email from the sender you want to block. At the top of the message, click the three dots (more actions menu), then select Block. Outlook will move that sender's future emails to your Junk folder automatically.

If you want to block a sender without opening their email, right-click the message in your inbox and choose Block from the menu. The sender goes to your blocked list when ready, and you won't see their messages in your inbox again.

To see who you've blocked or unblock someone, go to Settings (the gear icon), then Mail, then Junk email. Look for the Blocked senders section. You can add senders manually here too — just type their email address and click the plus sign.

Block a sender in Outlook desktop (Windows or Mac)

Right-click the email from the sender you want to block. Select Junk, then Block Sender. Outlook will send all future emails from that address to your Junk folder.

You can also open the email and go to the Home tab at the top. Click Junk (it's in the toolbar), then select Block Sender from the dropdown menu.

To manage your blocked senders list, click File at the top left, then Options. Go to Mail in the left panel, then Junk Email. Click the Blocked Senders tab to see everyone you've blocked or to add new addresses manually.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a sender in Outlook sends their future emails to your Junk folder instead of your inbox.
  • On the web, click the three dots on an email and select Block; on desktop, right-click and choose Junk then Block Sender.
  • You can block senders manually by adding their email address to your blocked senders list in Settings or Options.
  • Unblocking a sender is just as quick — go to your blocked senders list and remove their address.
  • Blocked emails still arrive on Outlook's servers; they straightforward skip your inbox and go to Junk instead.

The difference between blocking and unsubscribing

Blocking a sender stops their emails from reaching your inbox, but they can still send them. Unsubscribing, by contrast, tells a sender's system to remove your address from their mailing list — no more emails at all. Use unsubscribe for legitimate newsletters and marketing emails you no longer want. Use block for unwanted senders, spam, or people you don't want to hear from.

Most legitimate emails have an unsubscribe link at the bottom. If you see one, click it first before blocking. If there's no unsubscribe option or the sender is harassing you, blocking is the right move.

What happens to blocked emails

When you block a sender, their emails go to your Junk folder. They don't disappear — you can still find them if you need to. This matters if you block someone by mistake or if you later need proof of what they sent you.

Blocked senders can't tell they've been blocked. They won't receive a notification, and from their perspective, the email went through normally. If they're trying to reach you, they may not realize you're not seeing their messages.

Block a domain instead of a single address

If you're getting spam from multiple addresses at the same company or domain, you can block the entire domain. In your blocked senders list, add the domain name with an asterisk — for example, *@spammydomain.com. This blocks every email address from that domain at once.

Be careful with this approach. If you block a large domain like gmail.com or outlook.com, you'll block legitimate senders too. Use domain blocking only when you're sure you don't need emails from anyone at that organization.

Unblock a sender if you change your mind

On the web, go to Settings, then Mail, then Junk email. Find the sender in the Blocked senders list and click the minus sign next to their name. They're unblocked when ready.

On desktop, click File, then Options, then Mail, then Junk Email. Go to the Blocked Senders tab, find the address, and click Remove. Their emails will start arriving in your inbox again on the next sync.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a blocked sender know I blocked them?

No. Blocked senders receive no notification. Their emails appear to send normally from their perspective — they just won't see a reply or know that you're not reading them.

Can I block an entire email domain?

Yes. In your blocked senders list, type the domain with an asterisk before it, like *@example.com. This blocks every address from that domain. Use this carefully, since you might block legitimate senders by accident.

Do blocked emails get deleted?

No. Blocked emails go to your Junk folder, not the trash. You can still read them if you check Junk, and you can recover them if you unblock the sender.

What if someone keeps emailing me from different addresses?

Block each address as it appears, or block the domain if all the addresses come from the same company. If the harassment continues, consider reporting it to Outlook or your email provider.

Can I block someone and still see if they've emailed me?

Not automatically. Blocked emails go to Junk, so you won't see them in your inbox. You'd have to check your Junk folder to know they sent something. Some email clients let you create rules that flag certain senders, but blocking itself hides them from your main view.