The fastest way to block someone on Yahoo Mail

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions menu) at the top right of the message. Select Block from the dropdown menu. Yahoo will move future emails from that address to your spam folder automatically.

If you have already deleted the email, you can still block the sender. Go to your Settings (gear icon, top right), then Blocked addresses under the Privacy section. Click Add email address and type in the address you want to block. That person's emails will go straight to spam from that moment forward.

Blocking works on both the Yahoo Mail website and the Yahoo Mail app on your phone. The block applies to your account only — the sender will not be notified that you blocked them, and they can still send you messages. Those messages straightforward will not appear in your inbox.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block someone directly from their email by clicking the three dots and selecting Block, or through Settings under Blocked addresses.
  • Blocked emails go to your spam folder, not deleted, so you can review them later if you change your mind.
  • The person you block will not know they are blocked, and they can still send emails — you just will not see them in your inbox.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, finding their address in your blocked list, and clicking Remove.

What happens when you block someone

Once you block an address, Yahoo routes all incoming messages from that sender to your Spam folder. You will not see a notification when they email you. The blocked person can still send messages to your account — there is no bounce-back or rejection notice sent to them.

Blocking is one-way. If you block someone, they can still read your emails if they have already received them, and they can still see your Yahoo profile if it is public. Blocking only controls what lands in your inbox, not what they can see or do elsewhere.

How to unblock someone later

Go to the gear icon in the top right corner of Yahoo Mail and select Settings. Click on Privacy in the left sidebar, then Blocked addresses. Find the address you want to unblock and click the X or Remove button next to it.

Once you unblock someone, their future emails will go to your inbox normally again. Any emails they sent while they were blocked will still be in your spam folder — unblocking does not move those messages back to your inbox automatically. You can move them manually if you want to review them.

Blocking versus other ways to filter email

Blocking sends all mail from one address to spam. Creating a filter (also in Settings under Filters) lets you do more — you can send emails from certain addresses to a specific folder, mark them as read automatically, or delete them entirely. Filters work on patterns too, so you can filter all mail from a domain (like @company.com) rather than one person.

Unsubscribing works only for mailing lists and newsletters that include an unsubscribe link. Blocking works for any email address, including personal accounts and addresses that do not send newsletters. If someone is sending you unwanted personal emails, blocking is usually the right choice.

If you receive a large volume of unwanted mail from many addresses, filters may save you time. If one person is bothering you, blocking is simpler and faster.

When blocking might not be enough

Blocking stops emails from reaching your inbox, but it does not stop the sender from knowing your email address works. If someone is harassing you, blocking alone may not make them stop trying to contact you through other means — phone calls, social media, or different email addresses.

If the unwanted contact is threatening, abusive, or part of a pattern of harassment, consider reporting the emails to Yahoo. Open a blocked email from your spam folder, click the three dots, and select Report phishing or Report spam. Yahoo uses these reports to identify accounts that violate their terms of service and may suspend or close them.

For serious harassment, you may also want to contact local law enforcement or seek help from an organization that handles online safety. Blocking is a tool for managing your inbox, not a complete solution to harassment.

Blocking on Yahoo Mail mobile app

Open the email from the person you want to block. Tap the three dots at the top right of the message. Select Block sender. The app will confirm the block and move the message to spam.

To view or manage your blocked addresses on mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), go to Settings, then Privacy, and select Blocked addresses. You can add or remove addresses from this screen the same way you would on the website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

No. Yahoo does not send a notification to the sender. They will not receive a bounce-back message or any indication that you blocked them. If they email you and you do not respond, they may suspect you blocked them, but Yahoo does not tell them directly.

Can I block an entire domain instead of one email address?

Blocking works on individual email addresses only. If you want to block all mail from a domain (like @example.com), use Filters instead. Go to Settings, click Filters, and create a rule that sends all mail from that domain to spam or deletes it.

What if someone creates a new email address and keeps contacting me?

Block each new address as it arrives. If the pattern continues, report the emails as spam or phishing. Yahoo tracks repeat offenders across multiple accounts and may take action against the person's account. For ongoing harassment, contact local law enforcement.

Do blocked emails get deleted or just hidden?

Blocked emails go to your spam folder, not deleted. You can still read them if you check your spam folder later. If you want to permanently delete them instead, use a filter to delete mail from that address rather than blocking it.

Can I block someone without opening their email?

Yes. Go to Settings, click Privacy, then Blocked addresses. Click Add email address and type in the address you want to block. You do not need to receive an email from them first.