The fastest way to block an email address

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the email. Select Block "[sender name]" from the dropdown menu. Gmail will move that sender's future emails to spam automatically.

That's the complete process. Once blocked, you won't see emails from that address in your inbox, and Gmail treats them the same way it treats spam — they go to your spam folder instead. You can unblock the sender later if you change your mind by going to Settings and finding them in your blocked addresses list.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block a sender in three clicks by opening their email, clicking the menu icon, and selecting Block.
  • Blocked emails go to your spam folder automatically, not to a separate blocked folder.
  • You can view your list of blocked senders in Gmail Settings under Filters and Blocked Addresses.
  • Unblocking a sender is just as quick — find them in your blocked list and click Unblock.

Where to find your blocked senders list

Go to Gmail Settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner of your inbox, then select See all settings. Click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Scroll down to the section labeled "Blocked addresses" — this shows every sender you've blocked.

From this list, you can unblock anyone by clicking the Unblock link next to their email address. This takes effect when ready. If you unblock someone, their emails will no longer go straight to spam, though Gmail's spam filter may still catch them if they look suspicious.

Blocking emails from a mailing list or group

If you're getting unwanted emails from a mailing list, look for an Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email first. Clicking that removes you from the list entirely, which is better than blocking because it stops the emails at the source. Most legitimate mailing lists include this link by law.

If there's no unsubscribe link or it doesn't work, then block the sender's address. However, be aware that mailing lists sometimes send from slightly different addresses each time, so blocking one address might not stop all emails from that group. In that case, you may need to create a filter instead — go to Settings, click Filters and Blocked Addresses, and select Create a new filter to catch emails containing certain words in the subject line or sender field.

The difference between blocking and filtering

Blocking is straightforward and automatic — all future emails from that sender go to spam. Filtering gives you more control. You can create a filter that automatically deletes emails, sends them to a specific folder, marks them as read, or applies a label without sending them to spam.

Use blocking when you want to stop hearing from one specific person. Use filters when you want to organize emails by topic, automatically sort newsletters into a folder, or handle emails that come from many different addresses but share something in common (like a keyword in the subject line). Filters are also useful if you want to keep the emails but just get them out of your inbox.

What happens to emails after you block someone

Blocked emails go to your spam folder. They don't disappear entirely — you can still find them if you need to. Go to your spam folder, search for the sender's name or address, and read the email if necessary. You can also move a blocked email back to your inbox if you change your mind about blocking that person.

Gmail keeps emails in your spam folder for 30 days before deleting them permanently. If you realize you blocked someone by mistake, you have a month to unblock them and recover the emails. After 30 days, those emails are gone for good.

Blocking emails on mobile Gmail

Open the Gmail app on your phone or tablet. Find the email from the sender you want to block and tap it to open it. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Block [sender] from the menu. The process is identical to desktop Gmail.

You can also manage your blocked senders list on mobile. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left, scroll down to Settings, select your Gmail account, tap Blocked addresses, and you'll see everyone you've blocked. Tap any address to unblock it.

When blocking isn't enough

If you're getting emails from many different addresses that seem related — like a harassment campaign or spam ring using multiple accounts — blocking individual senders becomes tedious. Instead, create a filter that catches emails based on content. Go to Settings, click Filters and Blocked Addresses, select Create a new filter, and search for a word or phrase that appears in all the unwanted emails.

You can also report emails as spam or phishing before blocking them. Open the email, click the three vertical dots, and select Report spam or Report phishing. This helps Gmail's filters learn to catch similar emails in the future, protecting you and other users. Reporting is especially important if the emails look like they're impersonating a real company or asking for passwords or payment information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I've blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they don't receive a notification. Their emails straightforward go to your spam folder instead of your inbox. They have no way of knowing you blocked them unless you tell them.

Will blocking stop emails I've already received?

No. Blocking only affects future emails from that sender. Emails already in your inbox stay there. You can manually delete old emails from a blocked sender, or move them to trash or another folder.

What if the sender uses a different email address?

Blocking only stops emails from the exact address you blocked. If someone sends from a different email address, those emails won't be blocked. You'll need to block each address separately, or create a filter based on the sender's name or a phrase in their emails.

Can I block emails based on subject line instead of sender?

Yes, but you need to use a filter instead of the block feature. Go to Settings, click Filters and Blocked Addresses, select Create a new filter, and type the subject line words you want to catch. You can then set the filter to delete, spam, or label those emails automatically.

How do I unblock someone if I blocked them by mistake?

Go to Settings, click Filters and Blocked Addresses, scroll to the blocked addresses section, find the sender's name, and click Unblock next to it. Their future emails will no longer go to spam automatically.