Blocking a sender stops their messages from reaching your inbox
When you block someone in Yahoo Mail, their messages go straight to your Spam folder instead of your inbox. You can block a single sender in seconds, and Yahoo remembers that block even if they send from a slightly different address. Blocking is different from unsubscribing — it works on anyone, not just marketing lists, and it takes effect when ready on all future mail.
The block applies only to your account. The sender won't know they're blocked, and they won't receive a bounce-back message. If you change your mind, you can unblock them later by removing them from your blocked list.
Key Takeaways
- Open any message from the sender you want to block, click the three-dot menu, and select Block to send all their future mail to Spam.
- Blocked senders' messages still arrive on Yahoo's servers but skip your inbox — you can view them in Spam if you need to later.
- Blocking works on individual addresses, so if a sender uses multiple email addresses, you may need to block each one separately.
- You can see your full list of blocked senders in Settings and unblock anyone at any time.
How to block a sender from an open message
Open the email from the person you want to block. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the message — it's usually next to the archive and delete buttons. Click it.
A dropdown menu appears. Select Block from the list. Yahoo will ask you to confirm: "Block [sender's address]?" Click Block again. That sender's future messages will now go to your Spam folder automatically.
How to block a sender from your inbox list
You don't have to open a message to block someone. In your inbox, hover your mouse over any message from the sender you want to block. A row of icons appears to the right of the message — you'll see a trash icon, an archive icon, and a three-dot menu icon.
Click the three-dot menu icon. Select Block from the dropdown. Confirm the block when Yahoo asks. All future messages from that address will go to Spam.
Managing your blocked senders list
To see everyone you've blocked, go to your Yahoo Mail settings. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of your inbox and select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Security and privacy.
Scroll down until you see Blocked addresses. This list shows every sender you've blocked. To unblock someone, find their address in the list and click the X button next to their name. They'll be removed from your blocked list, and their messages will start arriving in your inbox again.
What happens to blocked mail
When you block a sender, their messages don't disappear — they go to your Spam folder. You can still read them there if you need to, and you can move them back to your inbox if you change your mind about the block. This is useful if you block someone by mistake or if you later decide you want to see their messages again.
Blocked messages count toward your Spam folder storage, so if your Spam folder is full, older blocked messages may be automatically deleted. Yahoo typically keeps Spam folder messages for 30 days before removing them permanently.
Blocking multiple addresses from the same sender
Some senders use different email addresses to send you messages. If you block one address and still receive mail from a similar address (like firstname.lastname@company.com versus firstname@company.com), you'll need to block the second address separately. Open a message from the new address and block it the same way you blocked the first one.
If someone is sending from many different addresses, blocking individual addresses becomes tedious. In that case, consider using Yahoo's filter rules instead — you can create a rule that catches messages based on the sender's name or domain rather than their exact address. This is covered in your email organization settings under Filters.
The difference between blocking and filtering
Blocking sends a sender's mail to Spam automatically. Filtering lets you create custom rules for what happens to messages — you can send them to a specific folder, mark them as read, or delete them without seeing them at all. Filters are more powerful if you want to organize mail by topic or sender type rather than just hide it.
For a single unwanted sender, blocking is faster. For patterns (like all messages from a company domain, or all messages with certain words in the subject line), filters give you more control. You can use both at the same time — block the senders you never want to hear from again, and filter the mail you want to organize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the sender know I blocked them?
No. Blocked senders receive no notification, and their messages don't bounce back to them. From their perspective, the message was sent normally. They won't know it went to your Spam folder unless you tell them.
Can I block an entire domain instead of one address?
Blocking works on individual email addresses only. If you want to block all mail from a domain (like all addresses ending in @company.com), use a filter rule instead. Go to Settings, click Filters, and create a rule that matches the domain in the sender's address.
What if I blocked someone by mistake?
Go to Settings, click Security and privacy, and find Blocked addresses. Click the X next to the person's name to unblock them. Their future messages will arrive in your inbox again, and any messages already in your Spam folder will stay there unless you move them.
Do blocked messages take up storage space?
Yes, blocked messages in your Spam folder count toward your account storage. If you want to free up space, you can permanently delete messages from your Spam folder. Yahoo typically removes Spam folder messages after 30 days automatically.
Can I block someone who uses a different email address each time?
You can block each address individually, but if someone is using many addresses, blocking becomes impractical. Instead, create a filter rule that catches messages based on the sender's name or a phrase they always include. This stops the mail without requiring you to block dozens of addresses.