Unblocking an email address takes one minute
To unblock someone in Gmail, open Settings, go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, find the address you blocked, and click Unblock next to it. The person can then send you emails normally, and their messages will land in your inbox instead of the spam folder. You do not need to restart Gmail or clear your cache — the change takes effect when ready.
If you blocked someone by mistake, or if circumstances have changed and you want to hear from them again, unblocking is straightforward. The steps are the same whether you use Gmail on a computer or the Gmail app on a phone.
Key Takeaways
- Open Gmail Settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right, then select See all settings.
- Click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab to see everyone you have blocked.
- Find the address you want to unblock and click the Unblock button next to their name.
- Once unblocked, their future emails will arrive in your inbox like any other message.
- Unblocking does not restore deleted emails from that person — it only stops Gmail from filtering their new messages.
How to find your blocked addresses list
Gmail does not show you a blocked list on the main screen. You have to go into Settings to see it. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of Gmail, then select See all settings from the dropdown menu.
Once Settings opens, you will see several tabs across the top: General, Labels, Inbox, Accounts and Import, Filters and Blocked Addresses, and others. Click on Filters and Blocked Addresses. This tab shows every email address you have blocked, listed by the date you blocked them.
Unblocking a specific address
Scroll through the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab until you find the person you want to unblock. Their email address will be listed with a small Unblock button to the right of it. Click that button.
Gmail will ask you to confirm: "Are you sure you want to unblock [email address]?" Click Unblock again to confirm. That is all. The address is now unblocked, and any emails they send you from that point forward will go to your inbox normally.
What happens after you unblock someone
Once you unblock an address, Gmail stops treating that person's emails as spam or blocked mail. Their new messages will arrive in your inbox like anyone else's. However, unblocking does not restore old emails from that person that you deleted or that Gmail filtered while they were blocked.
If you want to see old messages from them, you can search for their email address in Gmail's search bar at the top. Type their address in quotes — for example, "john@example.com" — and Gmail will show you any messages from that person that still exist in your account, even if they are in the Trash or Spam folder.
Blocking someone again if you change your mind
If you unblock someone and later decide you want to block them again, you can do it from any email they send you. Open one of their messages, click the three-dot menu icon in the top right of the email, and select Block [name]. You can also go back to Settings and add them to your blocked list manually.
Each time you block or unblock an address, the change is when ready. You do not have to wait for Gmail to process anything or refresh the page.
Unblocking on the Gmail app for phone
The process is slightly different on the Gmail app for Android or iPhone. Open the app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left. Scroll down and tap Settings, then select your email account. Tap Blocked addresses to see your list.
Find the address you want to unblock and tap the trash or delete icon next to it. The app will confirm the unblock. After that, emails from that person will come through normally on your phone.
Why you might want to unblock someone
People block addresses for different reasons — spam, unwanted contact, or a misunderstanding. If the situation has changed, unblocking lets you receive their emails again without having to create a new email account or ask them to use a different address.
Unblocking is also useful if you blocked someone by accident. Gmail does not warn you before blocking, so it is straightforward to hit the block button when you meant to do something else. The good news is that fixing it takes less than a minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I unblocked them?
No. Gmail does not send a notification when you unblock someone. They will not know unless you tell them. If you blocked them by mistake and want to explain, you will need to reach out through another method first.
Can I block multiple addresses at once?
You have to block addresses one at a time through Gmail. Open each email from the person you want to block, click the three-dot menu, and select Block. There is no bulk-block feature in Gmail's settings.
What if I block an email address but they send from a different address?
Blocking only affects the specific email address you blocked. If someone sends from a different address, those emails will come through normally. You would need to block each address separately.
Does unblocking restore emails they sent while they were blocked?
No. Unblocking only stops Gmail from filtering their future emails. Old messages that arrived while they were blocked stay deleted or in spam. You can search for their address to see if any messages still exist in your Trash or Spam folder.
Can I block someone without opening their email?
Not directly from the inbox list. You have to open at least one email from them first, then use the three-dot menu to block. Alternatively, you can go to Settings and add their address manually in the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.