What blocking by email actually does
Blocking someone by email means telling your email provider to automatically send their messages to spam or delete them without showing you a notification. The blocked person can still send you messages — they just won't reach your inbox, and you won't see them arrive. Different email providers handle this slightly differently, but the result is the same: you stop seeing their messages.
This is different from unsubscribing from a mailing list, which stops legitimate newsletters. Blocking is for people whose messages you don't want to see at all. It's also different from marking a single message as spam, which trains your email system but doesn't block future messages from that sender.
One important thing to know: if someone is harassing you through email, blocking them is a first step, but it may not be enough. If the harassment is serious or ongoing, you may need to report it to your email provider or to law enforcement. Blocking just removes their messages from your view.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking sends all future messages from that person to spam or a blocked folder, but they can still send messages — they just won't know you're not reading them.
- Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail all have block features built in, and the process takes less than a minute once you find the message.
- You can block someone from an old message they sent you, or by typing their email address directly into your provider's block list.
- If someone is harassing you, blocking is a first step, but serious cases should also be reported to your email provider or local authorities.
How to block someone in Gmail
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 and click it. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select "Block [person's name]" from that menu.
Gmail will move that message and all future messages from that address to your spam folder automatically. If you want to block someone without opening their email first, you can go to your Gmail settings. Click the gear icon in the top right, select "See all settings," then go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. Click "Create a new filter," type the email address you want to block, and select "Delete it" or "Skip the inbox (Archive it)" from the options.
How to block someone in Outlook or Hotmail
Open an email from the person you want to block. At the top of the message, click "Junk" and then select "Block." Outlook will move that message and all future ones from that address to your junk folder. You can also block someone before opening their email: right-click on their name in your inbox and select "Block" from the menu that appears.
If you want to see or manage your blocked list in Outlook, go to Settings (the gear icon), then "Mail," then "Junk email." You'll see a section called "Blocked senders" where you can add email addresses manually or see everyone you've already blocked.
How to block someone in Yahoo Mail
Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots menu icon on the right side of the message. Select "Block sender" from the dropdown. Yahoo will send their future messages to spam automatically.
To manage your blocked list or block someone without opening their email, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), then "Privacy and security," then "Blocked addresses." You can type in any email address you want to block, and Yahoo will add it to your list.
How to block someone in Apple Mail
Open the email from the person you want to block. Click "Mail" in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then select "Block Sender." Apple Mail will move that message and all future messages from that address to your junk folder.
If you use iCloud Mail on the web, open the email and click the three dots menu, then select "Block Sender." The process is the same whether you're using the Mail app on your Mac or the web version.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block someone, their messages go to your spam or junk folder instead of your inbox. You won't get a notification when they send you an email. If you want to check whether they've tried to contact you, you can look in your spam folder, but most people never do.
The blocked person doesn't receive a notification that you've blocked them. They may figure it out if they never get a reply and their messages keep bouncing back, but your email provider won't tell them directly. If they create a new email address and contact you from that, you'll see those messages unless you block the new address too.
If you change your mind and want to unblock someone, you can do that through your email provider's settings. In Gmail, go to Filters and Blocked Addresses and click "unblock" next to their name. In Outlook, go to Junk Email settings and remove them from the Blocked Senders list. The process is similar in Yahoo and Apple Mail.
When blocking isn't enough
Blocking works well for unwanted emails from people you know or spam from companies. But if someone is threatening you, sending repeated messages after you've asked them to stop, or harassing you in other ways, blocking alone may not solve the problem.
If the harassment is serious, report it to your email provider. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple all have abuse reporting systems. Open the message, click the report spam or report abuse button, and describe what's happening. Your provider can investigate and take action against the sender's account if the behavior violates their terms of service.
If you feel unsafe or the harassment involves threats, contact local law enforcement. Keep copies of the threatening messages before you delete them — they may be needed as evidence. Some police departments have cybercrime units that handle email harassment cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person I blocked tell that I've blocked them?
No. They won't receive a notification from your email provider. They might suspect it if you stop replying and their messages seem to disappear, but they have no way to know for certain unless they create a new email address and test whether that one reaches you.
What if someone keeps contacting me from different email addresses?
Block each new address as it arrives. If this pattern continues, report it to your email provider as harassment. Most providers will investigate repeated contact from multiple addresses and may suspend the person's account if they find a pattern of abuse.
If I block someone, can they still see old emails I sent them?
Yes. Blocking only stops their future messages from reaching you. It doesn't delete emails you already sent them or change anything on their end. If you want to remove old conversations, you'll need to delete them from your own account.
Does blocking someone on email block them on other platforms too?
No. Blocking in Gmail, Outlook, or any email provider only affects that email account. If you want to block someone on social media, messaging apps, or other platforms, you'll need to block them separately in each one.
Can I block an entire domain or company?
Most email providers don't have a built-in way to block an entire domain at once. You can block individual email addresses, but if you're getting spam from many addresses at the same company, you may need to create a filter rule. In Gmail, you can create a filter that catches emails from anyone with that company's domain name and automatically deletes them.