Blocking stops someone from sending you email and removes their messages from your inbox

When you block a contact in Outlook, that person's emails no longer arrive in your inbox. Messages they send go to your Junk folder instead, and you won't see notifications for them. Blocking does not delete their past emails — those stay in your mailbox unless you delete them yourself. The person who is blocked does not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if their emails stop getting responses.

Blocking is different from unsubscribing. Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list, usually a newsletter or marketing email. Blocking stops one specific person from reaching you at all. You can block anyone — a contact in your address book, someone who emailed you once, or a sender you don't recognize.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking moves a sender's emails to your Junk folder and stops notifications, but does not delete their past messages.
  • The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, or Outlook on your phone.
  • You can unblock someone later by going to your Junk folder settings and removing them from the blocked list.
  • Blocked senders cannot tell they are blocked, but they may notice if you stop responding to their emails.

How to block someone in Outlook on the web

Open your inbox at outlook.com or outlook.office.com. Find an email from the person you want to block. Right-click on the sender's name or the email itself, and select Block from the menu. Outlook will move that email to Junk and add the sender to your blocked list.

If you do not see a Block option in the right-click menu, look for the three dots (more actions menu) at the top right of the email. Click those dots and select Block from the dropdown. After you block someone, Outlook will ask if you want to move their past emails to Junk as well — you can choose yes or no.

How to block someone in Outlook desktop

Open Outlook on your computer. Find an email from the person you want to block. Right-click on their name or the email and select Block Sender. Outlook will move that email to Junk and add them to your blocked senders list.

Alternatively, click on the email to open it. At the top of the message, look for the Junk button or menu. Click it and select Block Sender. The sender will be added to your blocked list when ready, and their future emails will go to Junk.

How to block someone on Outlook mobile

Open the Outlook app on your phone. Find an email from the person you want to block. Swipe left on the email (iPhone) or long-press it (Android). A menu will appear with options including Block or Block Sender. Tap that option to add them to your blocked list.

On some versions of Outlook mobile, you may need to tap the three dots next to the email and select Block Sender from the menu instead. After blocking, their emails will go to Junk on all your devices.

How to unblock someone you blocked by mistake

Open Outlook and go to your Junk folder. Look for the email from the person you want to unblock. Right-click on their name or the email and select Unblock Sender or Not Junk. They will be removed from your blocked list, and their future emails will arrive in your inbox normally.

In Outlook on the web, you can also go to Settings (the gear icon), then Mail, then Junk email. You will see a list of blocked senders. Find the person you want to unblock and click the X or delete button next to their name. In Outlook desktop, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Safe Senders to manage your blocked list.

What happens to emails after you block someone

When you block a sender, their new emails go to your Junk folder automatically. You can still see them there if you check Junk, but you will not get a notification or see them in your main inbox. Emails they sent before you blocked them stay where they were — in your inbox or other folders — unless you move or delete them yourself.

If you block someone and then unblock them later, their emails will start arriving in your inbox again. Outlook does not automatically move their old Junk emails back to your inbox, so you may need to move them manually if you want to see them.

When to block versus when to report spam

Block someone when you know who they are and straightforward do not want to hear from them — a person you know, a business you do not want to contact you, or someone who keeps emailing after you asked them to stop. Report as spam or phishing when you do not recognize the sender and suspect the email is fraudulent, a scam, or malware. Reporting helps Outlook improve its spam filters for everyone.

To report spam in Outlook on the web, right-click the email and select Report phishing or Report spam. In Outlook desktop, click the email and go to Junk > Report Phishing or Junk > Report Spam. You can block and report the same sender if you want to do both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked sender tell that I blocked them?

No, Outlook does not notify someone when you block them. However, if you stop responding to their emails and they know you use Outlook, they may suspect you blocked them. There is no way for them to confirm it from their end.

Will blocking someone delete their old emails from my inbox?

No, blocking only affects new emails. Their past messages stay in your inbox or other folders. Outlook will ask if you want to move old emails to Junk when you first block them, but you can choose to keep them where they are.

What is the difference between blocking and marking as spam?

Blocking stops one specific person from reaching you. Marking as spam tells Outlook that the email is unwanted and helps train the spam filter. You can do both — block the sender and report the email as spam.

Can I block an entire domain or email address pattern?

Outlook does not have a built-in feature to block all emails from a domain like @example.com. You can only block individual email addresses. If you receive many unwanted emails from the same domain, you may need to block each sender separately or use rules to move them to Junk automatically.

If I unblock someone, will their old emails come back to my inbox?

No, unblocking only affects new emails. Their old messages stay in Junk or wherever they were moved. You can manually move them back to your inbox if you want to see them again.