The fastest way to block an email address

Most email services let you block a sender in one or two clicks. Open the message from the person you want to block, look for a menu icon (usually three dots or a downward arrow) near the top or bottom of the email, and select "Block" or "Block sender". The exact wording and location depend on which service you use — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all work slightly differently, but the principle is the same.

When you block someone, their future emails go straight to spam or a blocked folder instead of your inbox. You won't see notifications when they write, and in most services, you won't see their messages at all unless you go looking in the spam folder. The person sending the email has no way to know they've been blocked.

Blocking is permanent until you undo it. If you change your mind later, you can unblock the address through your email settings, and their messages will return to your inbox normally.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block an email address directly from any message they send you by clicking the menu icon and selecting "Block" or "Block sender".
  • Blocked emails go to your spam or blocked folder, and you won't receive notifications when that person writes.
  • The sender cannot tell they have been blocked, and blocking does not delete their past messages unless you delete them yourself.
  • You can unblock an address at any time through your email settings if you change your mind.
  • Some email services also let you block by domain (for example, blocking all addresses ending in @company.com) if you're receiving unwanted mail from many people at the same organization.

Blocking in Gmail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right of the message. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown. Gmail will move that message to spam and send all future emails from that address to your spam folder automatically.

To unblock someone in Gmail, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), click "See all settings", then go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Find the blocked address in the list and click "Unblock" next to it.

Blocking in Outlook and Outlook.com

Open the message from the person you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon at the top right of the email. Select "Block" or "Junk" depending on your version, then confirm. Outlook will move the message to your Junk folder and filter future emails from that sender to the same place.

To unblock in Outlook, go to Settings (the gear icon), then "View all Outlook settings". Click "Mail" in the left menu, then "Junk email". You'll see a list of blocked senders. Find the address you want to unblock and click the X next to it.

Blocking in Yahoo Mail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon at the top of the message. Select "Block sender". Yahoo will move that message and all future emails from that address to your Spam folder.

To unblock in Yahoo Mail, click the gear icon in the top right, then "Settings". Go to "Blocked addresses" in the left menu. Find the address you want to unblock and click "Unblock".

Blocking in Apple Mail

Open the message from the person you want to block. Click the flag icon or the three-dot menu at the top right of the email. Select "Block this contact" or "Block sender" (the exact wording varies by device). Apple Mail will move the message to trash and filter future emails from that address to a blocked folder.

To unblock in Apple Mail on a Mac, go to Mail in the menu bar, then "Preferences". Click "Junk Mail" and look for a list of blocked senders. Select the address and click "Remove". On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, scroll to Mail, then "Blocked Contacts", find the address, and swipe left to delete it.

What happens when you block someone

Blocked emails go to your spam or junk folder, not your inbox. You won't see a notification when they write, and you won't be reminded that they exist. If you want to check whether someone has tried to contact you, you can look in your spam folder, but most people never do.

Blocking does not delete the person's past emails. If you want to remove their old messages from your inbox, you need to delete them yourself. Blocking only stops new messages from reaching you.

The person you block cannot tell that you've blocked them. Their email will appear to send normally on their end — they won't get a bounce-back message or any other notification. They may eventually notice you're not replying, but the email system itself gives them no signal.

Blocking by domain instead of individual address

If you're receiving unwanted emails from many people at the same company or organization, some email services let you block the entire domain instead of blocking each person one at a time. In Gmail, you can create a filter that sends all emails from a specific domain (for example, @unwantedcompany.com) to spam. Go to Settings, click "Filters and Blocked Addresses", then "Create a new filter". Type the domain in the "From" field, click "Create filter", and select "Skip the inbox (Archive it)" or "Delete it".

Outlook and Yahoo Mail have similar options in their settings, though the exact steps vary. If you're blocking a domain, check your email service's help documentation for the specific steps, since the process is more technical than blocking a single address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block an email address without opening the message?

In most email services, you need to open the message or right-click on it in your inbox list to see the block option. Some services let you hover over the sender's name in your inbox and click a menu, but opening the message is the most reliable method across all platforms.

What's the difference between blocking and marking as spam?

Blocking sends that specific address's future emails to spam or a blocked folder. Marking a single message as spam tells your email service that this type of message is unwanted, which can help train your spam filter, but it doesn't block the sender. Blocking is more direct and permanent.

If I block someone, can they still see my replies to their old emails?

Blocking only affects emails they send to you going forward. If you've already replied to one of their messages, they will see your reply. Blocking does not hide your past correspondence from them.

Can I block an email address on my phone?

Yes. Open the email app on your phone, find the message from the sender you want to block, tap the menu icon (usually three dots), and select "Block" or "Block sender". The process is the same on iPhone, Android, and other devices, though the exact menu location may vary slightly.

What if someone creates a new email address after I block them?

You'll need to block the new address separately. There's no way to block someone across all possible email addresses they might create. If someone is repeatedly contacting you from new addresses after you've asked them to stop, that may be harassment, and you should contact your email service's support team or local authorities for guidance.