The fastest way to block an email in Gmail
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the email. Select Block "[sender name]" from the dropdown. Gmail will move that sender's future emails to spam automatically, and you won't see notifications from them.
That's the complete process. Once blocked, any email from that address goes straight to your spam folder. You can unblock the sender later by going to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked addresses, finding their name, and clicking Unblock.
If you're on Gmail's mobile app (Android or iPhone), the process is nearly identical: open the email, tap the three dots at the top, and select Block sender. The result is the same — future emails land in spam.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking an email sender takes three clicks: open the email, click the three-dot menu, and select Block.
- Blocked senders' emails go to your spam folder automatically, and you won't receive notifications from them.
- You can unblock a sender anytime through Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked addresses.
- Blocking works the same way on Gmail's website, Android app, and iPhone app.
- Blocking only affects emails from that exact address — if someone uses a different email address, those messages won't be blocked.
What happens when you block someone in Gmail
When you block a sender, Gmail routes their emails to your spam folder instead of your inbox. You won't see a notification badge or alert when they send you something. The emails still arrive on Gmail's servers, but you have to actively check your spam folder to see them — they won't interrupt your workflow.
The block is permanent until you undo it. Gmail doesn't notify the sender that you've blocked them, and blocking doesn't prevent them from sending emails to you. It only changes where those emails land and whether you get notified about them.
If the same person sends you an email from a different address, that new address won't be blocked. Blocking is specific to the exact email address you selected, not to the person behind it. This matters if someone has multiple email accounts or if you're dealing with a sender who switches addresses intentionally.
Blocking emails from a sender you haven't opened yet
You don't have to open an email to block its sender. In your inbox list, right-click (or long-press on mobile) the email from the sender you want to block. A menu will appear with the option to block. Select it, and that sender joins your blocked list without you ever reading their message.
This approach is useful when you see a suspicious subject line or recognize a sender you want to avoid. You can block them before their email clutters your inbox or before you accidentally click a link inside it.
Using Gmail filters as an alternative to blocking
Gmail's block feature is the simplest option for most people, but filters give you more control if you need it. A filter can automatically delete emails, send them to a specific folder, or mark them as read — without moving them to spam.
To create a filter, go to Settings (gear icon) > See all settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Create a new filter. Type the sender's email address in the "From" field. Click Create filter. Then choose what Gmail should do with their emails: delete them, archive them, mark them as read, or move them to a folder you choose.
Filters are useful if you want to keep emails from a sender but organize them automatically, or if you want to delete them entirely instead of moving them to spam. Blocking is faster if you straightforward want emails out of your sight.
Unblocking a sender if you change your mind
Open Gmail Settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right and selecting See all settings. Go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Scroll down to the Blocked addresses section. Find the sender you want to unblock and click the Unblock button next to their name.
Once unblocked, their emails will no longer go to spam automatically. Future emails from that address will arrive in your inbox like any other message. Unblocking doesn't recover emails they sent while they were blocked — those remain in your spam folder, but you can retrieve them manually if needed.
Blocking emails that look like they're from Gmail or your bank
Phishing emails often pretend to come from Gmail, PayPal, your bank, or other trusted services. These are safe to block. Open the suspicious email, click the three dots, and select Block. Gmail will catch most of these automatically, but blocking adds an extra layer.
Before you block, check the actual sender address — not just the display name. Phishing emails often show "Gmail Support" or "PayPal" as the sender name, but the actual email address is something like support@paypa1.com (note the number 1 instead of the letter l). Block the real address, not the fake display name.
If you're unsure whether an email is real, don't click links inside it. Instead, go directly to the official website (Gmail.com, your bank's website, etc.) and log in there. Real companies never ask you to verify your password or payment information through email.
Blocking multiple emails from the same person or organization
If someone sends you emails from several different addresses, you'll need to block each address separately. Open each email and block it individually. There's no way to block all variations of an email address at once, but you can create a filter that catches multiple addresses if they follow a pattern.
For example, if someone keeps emailing you from addresses like john.smith@company.com, jsmith@company.com, and j.smith@company.com, you can create a filter for *@company.com (the asterisk is a wildcard). Go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Create a new filter, type that pattern in the From field, and choose to delete or archive all emails matching it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I've blocked them in Gmail?
No. Gmail doesn't notify the sender that you've blocked them. They can still send emails to your address, but those emails will go to your spam folder instead of your inbox. They have no way to know whether you blocked them, marked them as spam, or straightforward never read their message.
Will blocking someone stop them from seeing my emails?
No. Blocking only affects emails coming to you from that sender. If you've already sent them emails, they can still read them. If you send them an email in the future, it will reach their inbox normally. Blocking is one-way only.
What's the difference between blocking and marking as spam?
Blocking and marking as spam have the same when ready effect — the email goes to your spam folder and you won't be notified. The difference is that marking as spam helps train Gmail's filter to catch similar emails in the future, while blocking is specific to that one address. For most people, blocking is simpler and faster.
Can I block an entire domain instead of just one email address?
Gmail's block feature only works on individual email addresses. However, you can create a filter to catch all emails from a domain. Go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Create a new filter, type *@domain.com in the From field (replacing domain.com with the actual domain), and choose to delete or archive those emails.
Do blocked emails take up storage space in my Gmail account?
Yes. Blocked emails still count toward your Gmail storage limit because they sit in your spam folder. If you want to free up space, you can permanently delete them. Go to your Spam folder, select the emails from the blocked sender, and click Delete forever. They will be removed from your account entirely.