Block a sender in three clicks

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more options) in the top right of the message. Select Block "[sender's name]" from the menu. Gmail moves all future emails from that address to spam automatically.

That is the fastest way. If you want to block someone but do not have an email from them yet — for example, you know a scammer's address but have not received anything — you can block them from your contacts list instead. Open Contacts, find the person, click the three dots next to their name, and choose Block.

Blocked senders do not know they are blocked. Their emails still arrive at Gmail's servers, but they land in your spam folder instead of your inbox. You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, finding the blocked address in your Blocked and unsubscribed addresses list, and clicking Unblock.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a sender takes three clicks: open their email, click the three dots, and select Block.
  • Blocked emails go to spam automatically; the sender does not receive a notification.
  • You can block someone from your Contacts list even if you have not received an email from them.
  • Unblocking is reversible — go to Settings and find the address in your Blocked and unsubscribed addresses list.
  • Blocking works only for that exact email address; if a scammer uses a different address, you will need to block that one separately.

Where blocked emails go and what you can still see

When you block someone, their emails move to your spam folder. You can still read them if you go looking — Gmail does not delete them. Open the spam folder, find the message, and you can read it or report it to Gmail as phishing or abuse if it is a scam.

The blocked sender's emails will not trigger notifications on your phone or computer. They will not show up in your inbox count. If you have Gmail open in a browser tab, you will not see a new message indicator when they send something. This is useful if someone is sending you repeated unwanted messages and you want to stop seeing alerts.

Block multiple addresses from the same person or organization

Scammers and spammers often use many email addresses. If you block one address and keep getting emails from similar ones — like spam@company.com, noreply@company.com, support@company.com — you will need to block each address separately. There is no way to block an entire domain at once in Gmail.

If the emails are coming from a legitimate company whose messages you no longer want, look for an unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email instead of blocking. Unsubscribe removes you from their mailing list. Blocking is better for unwanted personal messages or obvious scams.

Difference between blocking, unsubscribing, and marking as spam

Blocking stops all future emails from one address and sends them to spam. Use this for people sending you unwanted personal messages or obvious scams.

Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list — newsletters, promotional emails, notifications from services you signed up for. Every legitimate marketing email has an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Click it and you should stop receiving that sender's emails within a few days. This is the right choice for emails from real companies you just do not want anymore.

Marking as spam tells Gmail that one message is unwanted and helps train Gmail's filters to catch similar messages in the future. It does not block the sender. Use this when you get a phishing email or a scam you have not seen before — marking it helps Gmail recognize the same trick when it arrives in other people's inboxes.

Unblock a sender if you change your mind

Click the gear icon in the top right of Gmail and select See all settings. Go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Scroll down to Blocked and unsubscribed addresses and you will see a list of everyone you have blocked.

Find the address you want to unblock and click the Unblock button next to it. That person's emails will no longer go to spam — they will arrive in your inbox like any other message. You can block them again later if you change your mind.

What blocking does not do

Blocking in Gmail only affects your account. If someone is harassing you across multiple platforms — email, text, social media — you will need to block them on each service separately. Gmail blocking does not prevent someone from creating a new email address and contacting you again.

If you are being harassed or threatened, blocking is a first step but may not be enough. Save copies of the messages, take screenshots, and consider reporting them to Gmail as abuse. If the harassment is serious or involves threats, contact local law enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the person I block know I blocked them?

No. They will not receive a notification. If they try to email you, the message will arrive at Gmail's servers and go to spam, but they will not see any error message or bounce-back notification. From their perspective, the email was sent normally.

Can I block someone without opening their email?

Yes. Go to your Contacts, find the person, click the three dots next to their name, and select Block. You can also block an address from your spam folder by clicking the three dots on the message and selecting Block.

What if a blocked sender uses a different email address?

Blocking only stops that exact address. If someone creates a new email account and emails you from it, you will see that message in your inbox. You will need to block the new address separately. If this is happening repeatedly, report the messages as phishing or abuse to Gmail.

Can I block all emails from a company's domain?

Gmail does not have a built-in way to block an entire domain. You can only block individual email addresses. If you are getting repeated unwanted emails from different addresses at the same company, block each one as it arrives, or look for an unsubscribe link if it is a legitimate business.

Will blocking stop text messages or calls from someone?

No. Gmail blocking only affects email. If someone is contacting you by text or phone, you will need to block them through your phone's settings or your phone carrier. Those are separate from email blocking.