Where to find the block button in your email provider

The fastest way to block an email address depends on which email service you use. Most providers put the block option directly in the message itself — you do not need to dig through settings.

In Gmail, open the message from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots in the top right corner of the email, then select "Block [sender's name]". Gmail will automatically send future messages from that address to spam and delete any that are already in your inbox.

In Outlook (including Hotmail), open the message and click the three dots at the top. Select "Block" from the dropdown menu. Outlook will move future emails to your junk folder and hide the sender's name if they try to contact you again.

In Apple Mail on iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the message and tap the trash icon, then tap "Report Junk". On Mac, right-click the message and choose "Mark as Junk". Apple learns from your choices and blocks similar messages automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Most email providers have a block button in the message itself — look for three dots or a menu icon at the top of the email.
  • Blocking sends future messages to spam automatically; it does not delete messages already in your inbox unless you delete them manually.
  • Some providers let you block entire domains (like all addresses ending in @example.com) rather than just one person.
  • If you block someone by mistake, you can unblock them in your email settings — the process takes less than a minute.

What happens when you block an email address

When you block someone, your email provider stops delivering their messages to your inbox. Instead, blocked emails go straight to your spam or junk folder. The sender does not receive a notification that you blocked them — they will not know unless they notice you stop replying.

Blocking is different from unsubscribing. An unsubscribe button removes you from a mailing list (usually for newsletters or promotional emails). Blocking prevents one specific person or address from reaching you at all. If you block someone and they send you a message, they will not see a bounce-back error — the message straightforward disappears into your spam folder.

Blocking an entire domain instead of one address

If you are getting unwanted emails from multiple addresses at the same company or domain, you can block the entire domain instead of blocking each address one by one. This is useful when you are receiving spam from variations of the same sender (like noreply@company.com, support@company.com, and sales@company.com).

In Gmail, you can create a filter to block a whole domain. Go to Settings, then Filters and Blocked Addresses, and click "Create a new filter". Type the domain name (for example, @unwanteddomain.com) in the "From" field, then click "Create filter" and select "Delete it" or "Skip the inbox".

In Outlook, go to Settings, then Mail, then Junk Email. Add the domain to the "Blocked Senders" list. In Apple Mail, you can create a rule by going to Mail preferences, Rules, and setting up a filter for any address containing the domain name.

Unblocking an address if you change your mind

If you block someone by mistake or want to receive their emails again, you can unblock them in your email settings. The process is quick and does not require you to contact your email provider.

In Gmail, go to Settings, then Filters and Blocked Addresses. You will see a list of every address you have blocked. Click "Unblock" next to the address you want to restore. In Outlook, go to Settings, Mail, Junk Email, and find the address in your Blocked Senders list, then click the minus sign to remove it. In Apple Mail, go to Preferences, Junk Mail, and uncheck the sender's address if it appears there.

When blocking is not enough

Blocking works well for individual senders, but it does not stop someone from creating a new email address and contacting you again. If you are being harassed by someone who keeps creating new accounts to reach you, blocking alone will not solve the problem.

In that case, you have other options. You can report the messages as spam or abuse to your email provider — most providers take harassment seriously and may take action against the sender's account. You can also change your email address entirely if the harassment is severe. If the harassment involves threats or is connected to a crime, contact local law enforcement.

Blocking emails on your phone versus your computer

Blocking works the same way whether you use your phone or computer, but the steps look slightly different because of how each device displays email. On your phone, you usually swipe or tap and hold a message to see the block option. On your computer, you click a menu button to find it.

One important difference: if you block someone on your phone, the block applies to your entire account across all devices. You do not need to block them again on your computer. The same is true in reverse — blocking on your computer blocks them on your phone too.

Blocking versus filtering and rules

Blocking and filtering are related but work differently. Blocking sends a specific sender's messages to spam. Filtering lets you set up rules for what happens to emails based on words, sender, subject line, or other details.

You might use filtering if you want to organize emails rather than block them completely. For example, you could create a filter that automatically sorts emails from a certain sender into a folder, marks them as read, or adds a label. Blocking is simpler if you just want the emails to disappear — filtering gives you more control over what happens to them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, their messages go to spam silently. They do not receive a notification, bounce-back message, or any indication that you blocked them. They will only know if they notice you stop replying or if they try to contact you through another method.

If I block someone, will they see my out-of-office message?

No. Blocked messages never reach your email system, so your out-of-office reply will not trigger. The sender will not know you have an out-of-office message set up.

What happens to emails I already received before I blocked someone?

Blocking only affects future emails. Messages you already received stay in your inbox unless you delete them manually. If you want to remove old emails from a blocked sender, you will need to find and delete them yourself or use a filter to move them to trash.

Can I block an email address if I do not know who it is?

Yes. You do not need to know who sent the email to block it. Open the message and use the block option in your email provider. The address will be blocked whether or not you recognize the sender.

If I block a domain, can I unblock one specific address from that domain?

It depends on your email provider. In Gmail, you can create an exception by setting up a filter that allows certain addresses through while blocking the rest of the domain. In Outlook and Apple Mail, you would need to unblock the entire domain and then block individual addresses instead.