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 arrive.

That's the complete process. Once blocked, emails from that address go straight to your spam folder. You can unblock the person later by going to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked Addresses tab, finding their name, and clicking "Unblock".

Key Takeaways

  • The block button is in the three-dot menu at the top of any email — you do not need to go to Settings first.
  • Blocked senders' emails land in spam, not deleted, so you can review them later if you change your mind.
  • Blocking one email address does not block similar addresses like firstname.lastname@domain.com if you only blocked firstname@domain.com.
  • You can unblock someone anytime through Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses, then the Blocked Addresses tab.
  • If someone is harassing you from multiple addresses, blocking each one individually is slower than creating a filter rule that catches variations.

When blocking is not enough: using filters instead

If the person is emailing you from multiple addresses or keeps creating new ones, blocking each address one at a time becomes tedious. A filter rule catches emails based on keywords, sender patterns, or subject lines instead of a single address.

Go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Create a new filter. Type the sender's name, a phrase they always use, or a domain (like @company.com) in the "From" field. Click "Create filter". Choose "Skip the inbox" and "Mark as spam" to send matching emails to spam automatically. This catches variations of the same sender without you having to block each address separately.

Blocking someone who is spoofing your own email address

Sometimes you receive an email that appears to come from your own Gmail address. This is called spoofing — the sender is forging the "From" line to look like it came from you. Blocking your own address does not work because Gmail knows it is actually coming from somewhere else.

Instead, create a filter. Go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Create a new filter. In the "From" field, type your own email address. Click "Create filter", then choose "Skip the inbox" and "Mark as spam". Gmail will catch emails that claim to be from you and send them to spam, even though the real sender is someone else.

What happens to blocked emails

Blocked emails do not disappear — they go to your spam folder. You can still read them if you check spam, and you can still search for them using Gmail's search bar. Gmail does not delete them unless you manually delete them or your spam folder auto-purges after 30 days.

This matters if you block someone by mistake or if you need to review old messages later. You are not erasing the conversation; you are just hiding it from your inbox and turning off notifications.

Blocking does not stop someone from seeing your replies

If you have already replied to someone before blocking them, they can still see your old messages. Blocking only stops their new emails from reaching your inbox. It does not delete the conversation history or prevent them from reading what you sent before you blocked them.

If you need to delete a conversation entirely, you have to manually delete the thread. Open the conversation, click the trash icon, and confirm. That removes it from your inbox, but the other person still has their copy of the emails.

Blocking someone on a shared Gmail account or workspace

If you use Gmail through Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) at your job or organization, blocking works the same way for your personal inbox. However, your organization's administrator may have set policies that override your block — for example, they might force you to receive emails from certain domains even if you block them.

If blocking is not working and you suspect your organization is overriding it, contact your IT department or administrator. They can tell you whether your workspace has rules that prevent blocking certain senders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?

No. Gmail does not send a notification to the blocked person. Their emails straightforward go to your spam folder silently. They have no way to know you blocked them unless you tell them or they notice you stopped responding.

If I block someone, will they still see emails I sent them before?

Yes. Blocking only affects new emails coming to you. Old messages you sent to them remain in their inbox. Blocking does not delete past conversations or hide your old replies from them.

Can I block an entire domain instead of one person?

Gmail's block button only works on individual email addresses. To block all emails from a domain (like @spam-company.com), create a filter instead. In the "From" field, type @spam-company.com, then select "Skip the inbox" and "Mark as spam".

What if I accidentally blocked someone I need to hear from?

Go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked Addresses tab. Find the person's name and click "Unblock". Their emails will stop going to spam and start arriving in your inbox again. Check your spam folder to see if any of their recent emails are still there.

Does blocking in Gmail block them on other Google services?

No. Blocking someone in Gmail only affects Gmail. They can still contact you through Google Meet, Google Chat, YouTube, or other Google services. You have to block them separately in each service if you want to block them everywhere.