The fastest way to block someone in Gmail

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the email. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown. Gmail will move that sender's future emails to spam automatically, and you won't see notifications when they write.

That's the complete process. Once blocked, emails from that address go straight to your spam folder. You can still see them if you check spam, but they won't clutter your inbox or trigger alerts on your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • The block button is in the three-dot menu at the top of any email from that sender.
  • Blocked emails land in spam automatically; they don't disappear entirely.
  • You can unblock someone later by finding their email in spam and clicking "unblock".
  • Blocking works on the email address itself, so someone using a different address can still reach you.
  • Gmail's block feature is separate from marking a single email as spam — blocking affects all future mail from that sender.

What happens when you block an email address

When you block someone, Gmail sends their emails to your spam folder from that moment forward. Emails they sent before you blocked them stay in your inbox unless you delete them manually. The sender doesn't get a notification that you blocked them — the email just fails to arrive in their mind as "delivered" in the normal sense, though Gmail's system won't tell them why.

If the person emails you from a different address, that new address won't be blocked. Blocking is tied to the specific email address, not the person. So if someone uses their work email, personal email, and a throwaway account, you'd need to block each one separately.

How to unblock an email address

Go to your spam folder and find an email from the person you want to unblock. Open it and click the three dots. Select "unblock [sender's name]". Their future emails will go to your inbox again instead of spam.

If you've deleted all their emails and can't find one in spam, you can also unblock through Gmail settings. Click the gear icon in the top right, go to "See all settings", then the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. You'll see a list of blocked senders with an "unblock" option next to each one.

Blocking vs. marking as spam — which one to use

Marking a single email as spam tells Gmail that one message is unwanted, but future emails from that sender still arrive in your inbox. Blocking sends all future emails from that address to spam automatically. Use "mark as spam" for a one-time unwanted email. Use "block" when you never want to hear from someone again.

If you block someone and later change your mind, unblocking is when ready and reversible. There's no penalty for blocking and unblocking the same address multiple times.

Blocking email addresses on Gmail's mobile app

Open the email on your phone or tablet. Tap the three dots in the top right corner. Tap "Block [sender's name]". The process is identical to the desktop version — the email goes to spam, and future messages from that address do the same.

You can also unblock from mobile the same way: find an email from that sender in spam, tap the three dots, and tap "unblock".

When blocking doesn't solve the problem

If someone is harassing you from multiple email addresses, blocking each one individually becomes tedious. In that case, consider creating a filter instead. Go to settings, "Filters and Blocked Addresses", and create a new filter that catches emails containing certain words or phrases in the subject line or body. You can have those emails skip your inbox and go to spam automatically.

If the harassment is severe or threatening, take screenshots of the emails and report them to Gmail. Click the three dots on the email and select "Report phishing" or "Report spam". Gmail's abuse team reviews reports and can take action against accounts that violate their policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. Gmail doesn't notify the sender that you blocked them. Their emails straightforward won't arrive in your inbox. They might notice you're not responding, but they won't get a message saying "this person blocked you".

Will blocking delete emails I already received from them?

No. Blocking only affects future emails. Any messages from that sender that are already in your inbox stay there unless you delete them yourself. You can delete old emails from someone before or after blocking them.

What if someone creates a new email address to contact me after I block them?

You'll see emails from the new address in your inbox because it's technically a different sender. You can block that address too, but if someone is determined to contact you through multiple accounts, blocking alone won't stop them. Consider creating a filter or reporting the behavior to Gmail.

Does blocking someone in Gmail affect other Google services?

Blocking in Gmail only affects Gmail. The person can still contact you through Google Meet, Google Chat, or other Google products. If you need to block them across multiple services, you may need to adjust settings in each one separately.

Can I block an entire domain instead of one email address?

Gmail's block feature works on individual email addresses only. To block all emails from a domain (like everyone@company.com), create a filter in settings that matches the domain pattern and sends those emails to spam.