The fastest way to block an email address

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more options) at the top right of the message. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the menu. Gmail will move all future emails from that address to spam and hide any older messages from your inbox.

That is the complete process. Once blocked, you will not see emails from that address unless you go looking in your spam folder. Gmail does not notify the sender that you blocked them.

If you have already deleted the email, you can still block the sender by going to Settings, clicking the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, and entering their email address manually. The result is the same.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking sends all future emails from that address to spam automatically, and you will not see notifications when they arrive.
  • The block applies only to the exact email address you specify — if someone uses a different address, those emails will still reach your inbox.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, finding their address in the Blocked Addresses list, and clicking Unblock.
  • Blocking does not delete old emails from that sender; it only hides them from your inbox view and stops new ones from arriving.

What happens to emails after you block someone

When you block an address, Gmail automatically sends all new emails from that sender to your spam folder. You will not receive a notification when they send you something. The emails are still there if you need to look at them — they just do not clutter your inbox or alert you.

Emails that arrived before you blocked the sender stay in your inbox unless you delete them yourself. Blocking only affects future mail. If you want to clean up old messages from that person, you can search for their address and delete or archive those messages separately.

Blocking someone who uses multiple email addresses

If someone is contacting you from different email addresses, you will need to block each address individually. Gmail does not have a way to block a person by name or block all addresses from a single domain automatically.

The workaround is to create a filter that catches emails matching certain words or phrases that person tends to use. Go to Settings, click Filters and Blocked Addresses, and select Create a New Filter. You can set it to automatically delete or skip the inbox for emails containing specific text. This works if the person has a recognizable writing style or always mentions certain topics.

Unblocking an address if you change your mind

Open Gmail Settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right and selecting See All Settings. Click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Scroll down to the Blocked Addresses section and find the person you want to unblock. Click the Unblock button next to their address.

Once you unblock them, their emails will no longer go to spam automatically. Any new messages from that address will arrive in your inbox like normal mail. Old emails that were sent to spam will stay there unless you move them back to your inbox manually.

When blocking is not enough

If someone is sending you threatening, harassing, or abusive emails, blocking alone may not be enough. Gmail's block feature stops emails from reaching you, but it does not stop the sender from trying or create any record for authorities.

Save copies of the threatening messages before blocking. You can forward them to Gmail's abuse team at abuse@gmail.com if the behavior is severe. If you believe you are in danger, contact local law enforcement and provide them with the emails as evidence. Many police departments have units that handle online harassment.

Blocking versus unsubscribing

Blocking is different from unsubscribing. When you unsubscribe from a mailing list, you are asking the sender to remove you from their distribution list — they can still send you emails if they choose to ignore the request. Blocking prevents any emails from that address from reaching your inbox, whether they are marketing messages or personal emails.

If you receive marketing or newsletter emails, look for an Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the message first. That is the proper way to stop those emails. Use blocking for personal contacts you do not want to hear from, not for commercial senders.

Blocking on Gmail mobile app

The process is similar on the Gmail app for iPhone or Android. Open the email from the person you want to block. Tap the three dots at the top right. Select Block [sender's name]. The app will confirm the block and move the email to spam.

To unblock on mobile, open Settings within the Gmail app, tap your account, scroll to Blocked Addresses, and find the person you want to unblock. Tap Unblock next to their name. The change takes effect when ready across all your devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?

No. Gmail does not send any notification to the sender. They will not receive a bounce-back message or any indication that you blocked them. They may eventually notice that you never reply to their emails, but Gmail itself keeps the block silent.

What if I block someone by mistake?

Go to Settings, click Filters and Blocked Addresses, find their address in the Blocked Addresses section, and click Unblock. Any emails they sent while blocked will still be in your spam folder. You can search for their address and move those messages back to your inbox if you want to read them.

Does blocking someone on Gmail block them on other Google services?

No. Blocking only affects Gmail. If you use Google Meet, Google Chat, or other Google products, that person can still contact you through those services. You would need to block them separately in each process if you want to prevent contact everywhere.

Can I block an entire domain or company email address?

Gmail does not have a built-in feature to block all addresses from a domain at once. You can block individual addresses or create a filter that catches emails from a specific domain and sends them to spam. Go to Filters and Blocked Addresses, create a new filter, and use the format *@companyname.com to catch all addresses from that domain.

Will blocking delete emails that person already sent me?

No. Blocking only affects new emails going forward. Old messages from that sender stay in your inbox unless you delete them. If you want to remove their old emails, search for their address and delete or archive those messages manually.