Yes, you can block emails in Gmail, and it takes one click
Gmail has a built-in block feature that stops emails from a sender from reaching your inbox. When you block someone, their messages go straight to spam, and you won't see notifications for them. The block stays in place until you remove it — Gmail doesn't automatically unblock after a set time.
The fastest way is to open an email from the sender you want to block, click the three-dot menu in the top right, and select "Block [sender name]". Gmail will ask you to confirm, and that's done. You can also block someone from your spam folder or from a conversation thread.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking a sender sends all their future emails to spam automatically, and you won't get notifications for them.
- You can block someone in three clicks from any email they sent you, or from the spam folder.
- Blocked senders can still see that their emails were sent — Gmail doesn't tell them they're blocked.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings and finding them in your blocked senders list.
- Blocking works on Gmail's website and in the Gmail app on your phone, but the steps are slightly different on mobile.
How to block someone from an open email
Open any email from the person you want to block. In the top right corner of the email, you'll see three vertical dots (the menu button). Click it.
A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Look for "Block [sender's name]" — it's usually near the bottom of the list. Click it. Gmail will show a confirmation message asking if you're sure. Click "Block" again to confirm.
Once blocked, that sender's emails will go to spam from that moment forward. Emails they already sent you will stay in your inbox unless you move them manually, but new messages will bypass your inbox entirely.
How to block someone from your spam folder
If you've already marked someone as spam but want to make sure they stay blocked, you can block them directly from the spam folder. Go to your Spam folder, find an email from that sender, and open it.
Click the three-dot menu and select "Block [sender's name]". This does the same thing as blocking from your inbox — it ensures their future emails go to spam. Blocking someone who is already in spam is useful if you want to prevent them from ever reaching your inbox by accident.
How to block someone from a conversation thread
If you're in a back-and-forth conversation and decide you want to block the other person, you don't have to open a single email. In the conversation thread, click the three-dot menu at the top right of the thread (not the individual email).
Select "Block [sender's name]" from the menu. All future emails from that person will go to spam, but the conversation history will stay in your inbox so you can refer back to it if needed.
How to block someone on the Gmail mobile app
The process is similar on your phone, but the menu location is slightly different. Open an email from the sender you want to block. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the email.
Scroll down in the menu and tap "Block [sender's name]". Confirm when Gmail asks. On both iPhone and Android, the block takes effect when ready, and their future emails will go to spam.
How to unblock someone you've blocked
If you change your mind about blocking someone, you can unblock them through Gmail Settings. On the Gmail website, click the gear icon in the top right corner and select "See all settings".
Go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Their emails will start reaching your inbox again when ready.
On the mobile app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left, scroll down to "Settings", tap your email account, and select "Blocked senders". Find the person and tap "Unblock".
What happens when you block someone
When you block a sender, Gmail automatically sends their emails to your spam folder. You won't see them in your inbox, and you won't get notifications when they send you something. The blocked sender doesn't receive any notification that they're blocked — their email will appear to send normally from their end.
Blocking is different from unsubscribing. If you block someone, they can still send you emails; they just won't reach you. If you unsubscribe from a mailing list, you're asking the sender to remove you from their distribution list. For marketing emails, unsubscribing is often the better choice because it removes you from future sends.
If someone is harassing you or sending threatening messages, blocking is a good first step, but you may also want to report the email as spam or phishing. Gmail's report feature helps protect other users from the same sender.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block an entire email domain instead of just one person?
Gmail's block feature only works for individual email addresses, not entire domains. If you want to block all emails from a company domain, you'll need to create a filter in Settings. Go to "Filters and Blocked Addresses", click "Create a new filter", enter the domain (like @example.com), and choose to delete or skip those emails automatically.
What if someone blocks me — will I know?
No, Gmail doesn't notify you when someone blocks you. Your emails will appear to send normally, but they'll land in their spam folder. You won't receive a delivery failure message or any other indication that you've been blocked.
If I block someone and they email me from a different address, will that be blocked too?
No, blocking only affects the specific email address you blocked. If they send you an email from a different account, it will reach your inbox normally. If you want to block multiple addresses from the same person, you'll need to block each one separately.
Can I block emails by subject line or keyword instead of by sender?
Gmail's block feature doesn't work by subject line or keyword — only by sender. To filter emails by content, create a filter in Settings instead. Go to "Filters and Blocked Addresses", click "Create a new filter", enter the keyword in the "Has the words" field, and choose to delete or skip those emails.
Does blocking someone on Gmail block them on other Google services?
No, blocking someone in Gmail only affects Gmail. It doesn't block them from contacting you through Google Meet, YouTube, or other Google services. You would need to block them separately in those services if you want to prevent contact there too.