The fastest way to block an email sender depends on which service you use

Most email services let you block a sender in one or two clicks — usually by opening the message, finding a menu (often three dots or a down arrow), and selecting "Block" or "Block sender". Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have this feature built in. The blocked sender's messages go straight to spam or a blocked folder, and you won't see notifications from them.

Blocking works best for individual senders you recognize and want to stop hearing from. It does not stop someone from sending you mail — it just hides their messages from your inbox. If you are being harassed or threatened, blocking is a safety tool, but it is not a substitute for reporting the behavior to your email provider or, if needed, to law enforcement.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a sender takes seconds in Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail — open the message, tap the menu, and select "Block".
  • Blocked messages go to spam or a blocked folder; the sender does not know they are blocked.
  • Blocking one address does not block similar addresses, so someone can get around it by using a different email account.
  • For persistent unwanted mail from legitimate companies, unsubscribe links (usually at the bottom of the email) are more effective than blocking.
  • If you are being harassed, report the sender to your email provider in addition to blocking them.

How to block in Gmail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. In the top right, click the three vertical dots (the menu icon). Select "Block [sender's name]". Gmail will move that sender's future messages to spam automatically.

If you want to unblock someone later, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), click "See all settings", go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, find the blocked address, and click "Unblock" next to it.

How to block in Outlook (web and desktop)

In Outlook on the web, open the message and click the three dots in the top right. Select "Block" or "Block sender". On the Outlook desktop app for Windows or Mac, right-click the message and choose "Block" or "Junk" > "Block Sender".

Blocked senders in Outlook go to your Junk folder. To unblock, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email, find the blocked sender's address in the "Blocked Senders" list, and remove it.

How to block in Yahoo Mail and Apple Mail

In Yahoo Mail, open the message, click the three dots, and select "Block sender". In Apple Mail on Mac or iPhone, open the message, tap or click the sender's name at the top, and select "Block this Contact" (on iPhone) or use the Mail menu and choose "Block Sender" (on Mac).

Both services move blocked mail to spam or a junk folder. To unblock in Yahoo, go to Settings > Blocked addresses. To unblock in Apple Mail, go to Mail > Preferences > Junk Mail (Mac) or Settings > Mail > VIP (iPhone) and remove the contact from your blocked list.

Why blocking does not always work

Blocking stops messages from one specific email address. If someone is sending you unwanted mail from multiple addresses — for example, noreply@store.com, support@store.com, and newsletter@store.com — you would need to block each address separately. This is common with marketing emails from large companies that use different addresses for different types of messages.

For this reason, unsubscribing is often more effective than blocking. Most legitimate marketing emails have an "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom. Clicking it removes you from that sender's mailing list entirely, so you stop receiving mail from all their addresses at once. Blocking is better for personal harassment or emails from accounts you do not recognize.

What happens when you block someone

When you block a sender, their messages arrive at your email service, but your email app hides them from you. They typically go to a spam or blocked folder that you can review if needed. The sender does not receive a notification that they have been blocked — their message just disappears from your inbox without a bounce-back or delivery failure message.

This means blocking is a one-way action. The sender can still send you mail; they just will not know whether you are reading it. If you want to communicate that you do not want contact, you may need to reply to them directly or report them to your email provider.

Blocking versus reporting spam and harassment

Blocking and reporting are different actions. Blocking hides messages from you. Reporting tells your email provider that a sender is sending spam, phishing attempts, or harassment, so the provider can take action against the sender's account.

Most email services let you report a message as spam or phishing at the same time you block. In Gmail, you can click the three dots and select "Report spam" or "Report phishing". In Outlook, right-click and choose "Junk" > "Phishing" or "Junk" > "Spam". Reporting helps protect other users by flagging bad actors to your email provider. If you are being threatened or harassed, report it to your provider and consider reporting it to law enforcement as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. When you block a sender, their messages still go through to your email service — they just do not appear in your inbox. The sender will not receive a bounce-back message or any notification that they have been blocked. They may suspect it if you stop responding, but they cannot confirm it through the email system.

If I block someone, can they create a new email address and contact me again?

Yes. Blocking applies only to the specific email address you blocked. Someone can create a new account and send you mail from that address. If the same person keeps contacting you from different addresses, report each message to your email provider and document the pattern. Most providers can take action against a person's account or IP address if they see a pattern of harassment.

What is the difference between blocking and unsubscribing?

Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list, usually through a link at the bottom of the email. It stops all mail from that sender's service. Blocking hides messages from one address only. For marketing emails from companies, unsubscribe is faster. For personal unwanted contact, blocking is better.

Will blocking stop phishing emails?

Blocking will hide phishing emails from you, but it does not stop them from arriving. Reporting a message as phishing to your email provider is more important — it helps them identify and shut down the phishing operation. Always report phishing before or instead of just blocking.

Can I block an entire domain, like all emails from @example.com?

Most consumer email services do not have a built-in domain block feature. You would need to block each address individually. Some email clients and third-party filters offer domain-level blocking, but it is not standard in Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or Apple Mail. If you are receiving many unwanted emails from one domain, reporting them as spam may cause your provider to filter that domain automatically.