The fastest way to block an email address

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots in the top right corner of the message — this opens a menu. Select Block [sender's name] from that menu. Gmail will then send all future emails from that address to your spam folder automatically.

That is the complete process. Once you block someone, you will not see their emails in your inbox, and they will not know they are blocked. Gmail does not notify blocked senders, and the block applies only to your account — other people in your household or workplace can still receive from that address.

If you change your mind later, you can unblock the address by going to Settings, opening the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, finding the blocked address in the list, and clicking Unblock next to it.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking takes one click from any email: open the message, click the three dots, and select Block.
  • Blocked emails go to spam automatically and do not appear in your inbox.
  • You can block multiple addresses from the same sender if they use different email accounts.
  • Unblocking is just as fast — go to Settings, find the address under Filters and Blocked Addresses, and click Unblock.
  • The sender will not be notified that you blocked them.

Blocking from the spam folder

If an email has already landed in your spam folder, you can block the sender directly from there without opening the message. Click the checkbox next to the email, then click the three dots that appear above the list. Select Block [sender] from the menu.

This method works the same way as blocking from your inbox — future emails from that address will go straight to spam. It is useful if you want to block someone without reading their message first.

Blocking multiple addresses from the same person

Some senders use more than one email address. If someone keeps contacting you from different accounts, you will need to block each address separately. Open an email from the new address, click the three dots, and select Block. Repeat this for each address they use.

Gmail does not have a way to block all variations of a name or domain at once through the standard block feature. If you receive emails from many addresses at the same domain (like someone.else@company.com, another.person@company.com), you may want to create a filter instead, which can catch patterns rather than exact addresses.

Creating a filter for more control

A filter in Gmail lets you handle emails based on words, sender patterns, or other details. To create one, go to Settings and click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. At the bottom, click Create a new filter. Type the sender's address or a pattern you want to catch — for example, you could filter anything from @unwanteddomain.com.

Once you set up the filter, choose what happens to matching emails. You can send them to spam, delete them, or skip your inbox and mark them as read automatically. Filters are more flexible than blocking because you can target multiple addresses at once or catch emails based on subject lines or keywords.

The difference between blocking and filtering: blocking is when ready and requires no setup, while filtering takes a few more steps but gives you more options for what happens to the emails.

What happens to blocked emails

When you block someone, their emails do not disappear from your account — they go to your spam folder. You can still see them there if you need to, but they will not clutter your inbox or trigger notifications on your phone or computer.

If you ever need to read a blocked email, open your spam folder, find the message, and click it. You can also unblock the sender at any time, which will stop sending their future emails to spam and treat them like any other sender.

Blocking on mobile Gmail

The process is nearly identical on your phone. Open the email from the sender you want to block, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select Block. On both iPhone and Android, the menu looks the same and works the same way.

If you are using the Gmail app and the three-dot menu does not appear, swipe left on the email (iPhone) or long-press it (Android) to reveal more options, then look for Block or Report spam.

Reporting spam versus blocking

Gmail offers two separate actions: Block and Report spam. Blocking stops that sender's emails from reaching your inbox. Reporting spam tells Gmail that the message is unwanted and helps train Gmail's filters to catch similar emails for all users.

You can do both at once. When you report an email as spam, Gmail usually offers to block the sender in the same action. If you only want to block without reporting, just use the Block option. If you want to help Gmail improve its spam detection, report the email first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block an email address if I have not received a message from them yet?

No — Gmail requires you to have received at least one email from the address before you can block it. If you want to prevent emails from someone you have not heard from, create a filter instead. Go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, and create a new filter with their address, then choose to send their emails to spam.

Will the person know I blocked them?

No. Gmail does not notify blocked senders, and they will not receive a bounce-back message or any other indication that you blocked them. Their emails will straightforward go to your spam folder without any feedback to them.

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

The standard block feature works only on individual email addresses. To block all emails from a domain like @unwanteddomain.com, create a filter instead. In Settings, go to Filters and Blocked Addresses, create a new filter, and type the domain pattern in the From field.

What if I blocked someone by mistake?

Go to Settings, click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, find the address in the Blocked Addresses list, and click Unblock next to it. Their future emails will then go to your inbox normally again, and you will see any messages they sent while they were blocked if you check your spam folder.

Does blocking on Gmail block them on other Google services?

No. Blocking someone in Gmail only affects email. They can still contact you through Google Meet, Google Chat, or other Google services. If you want to block them across multiple services, you may need to adjust settings in each app separately.