Where Gmail stores your blocked messages
When you block someone in Gmail, their messages don't disappear — they go to a folder called Blocked and Reported. You can open this folder anytime to see what you blocked, unblock a sender if you change your mind, or check whether you blocked the right person by mistake.
Gmail keeps blocked messages separate from your trash and spam folders. This means a blocked email won't clutter your inbox or your spam folder, but you can still retrieve it if you need to. The folder stays in your sidebar on the left side of the screen, below your other labels.
Key Takeaways
- Blocked emails land in the Blocked and Reported folder, which you can find in your Gmail sidebar on the left.
- You can open this folder at any time to review what you blocked without those messages reaching your inbox.
- If you blocked someone by mistake, you can unblock them directly from the Blocked and Reported folder.
- Unblocking a sender does not automatically move their old messages back to your inbox — they stay in Blocked and Reported unless you move them yourself.
- On mobile, the Blocked and Reported folder appears in your label list, though the layout differs slightly from desktop.
How to open the Blocked and Reported folder on desktop
On a computer, log into Gmail and look at the left sidebar. Scroll down past your main folders (Inbox, Sent Mail, Drafts, Trash, Spam). You will see Blocked and Reported listed there. Click on it to open the folder and see all messages from people you have blocked.
If you don't see Blocked and Reported in your sidebar, it may be hidden. Click the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the top left of the sidebar, then look for More at the bottom of the list. Click More and search for Blocked and Reported in the expanded menu. Click the star icon next to it to add it back to your sidebar.
Once you open the folder, you will see a list of all blocked messages, sorted by date. Each message shows the sender's name or email address, the subject line, and when it arrived. You can click on any message to read it, though it will still remain in the blocked folder.
How to access blocked emails on mobile
On Gmail's mobile app (iPhone or Android), tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left. Scroll down to find Blocked and Reported in your label list. Tap it to see all blocked messages.
If Blocked and Reported doesn't appear in your label list, tap More labels at the bottom of the menu. Look for Blocked and Reported and tap the toggle next to it to turn it on. It will then appear in your main label list for faster access.
Unblocking a sender from the blocked folder
If you blocked someone by mistake or want to receive their messages again, you can unblock them directly from the Blocked and Reported folder. Open the folder, find the sender you want to unblock, and click on their message. At the top of the message, you will see an Unblock button. Click it.
On mobile, open the message from the blocked sender, tap the three dots (more options) at the top right, and select Unblock sender. Once you unblock someone, their future emails will go to your inbox normally. However, messages already in the Blocked and Reported folder will stay there unless you manually move them.
Moving blocked messages back to your inbox
Unblocking a sender does not automatically restore their old messages to your inbox. If you want to see those past messages again, you need to move them yourself. Open the Blocked and Reported folder, select the messages you want to move (click the checkbox next to each one, or click the checkbox at the top to select all), then click the move icon (a folder with an arrow) and choose Inbox.
On mobile, open the message, tap the three dots, and select Move to. Choose Inbox from the list. You can move messages one at a time or select multiple messages and move them together, depending on how many you want to restore.
What happens when you block someone
When you block a sender in Gmail, three things happen at once: their messages stop appearing in your inbox, any future emails from them go directly to Blocked and Reported, and they cannot see whether you have read their messages or when you were last active in Gmail. However, blocking does not prevent them from sending you emails — it only hides them from you.
The person you blocked will not receive a notification that you blocked them. If they send you a message, it will arrive on their end as if it was sent normally, but you will not see it in your inbox. This is different from spam filtering, which can sometimes trigger warnings on the sender's side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who blocked me in Gmail?
No. Gmail does not tell you if someone has blocked you. If a person stops responding to your emails, they may have blocked you, but you have no way to confirm it from Gmail's interface. You would need to ask them directly or try contacting them through another method.
If I unblock someone, will they know?
No. Unblocking a sender is silent — they receive no notification. They will only know you unblocked them if you tell them or if you start responding to their emails again.
Do blocked emails take up storage space?
Yes. Messages in the Blocked and Reported folder count toward your Gmail storage limit, just like messages in any other folder. If you want to free up space, you can delete blocked messages permanently by selecting them and clicking the delete icon (trash can).
What's the difference between blocking and reporting spam?
Blocking stops one specific sender from reaching your inbox. Reporting spam tells Gmail that a message is unwanted and helps train Gmail's filters to catch similar messages from other senders. You can do both at once — Gmail offers a "Block and report spam" option when you block someone.
Can I block an entire domain instead of just one email address?
Gmail's block feature works on individual email addresses only, not entire domains. If you want to block all messages from a company domain, you would need to create a filter using Gmail's filter tool, which can catch messages based on the sender's domain name.