Block a sender in Hotmail or Outlook.com
To block an email address in Hotmail or Outlook.com, open the message from the sender you want to block, then click the three dots (more actions) at the top right of the email. Select Block from the menu. The sender's future emails will go straight to your Junk folder, and you won't see notifications for them.
If you've already deleted the message, you can still block the sender. Go to your Junk folder, find any message from that address, open it, and use the same three-dot menu to block. Outlook will remember the block even if you empty your Junk folder later.
Blocked senders stay blocked until you remove them from your blocked list. You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, then Mail, then Junk Email, and removing their address from the Blocked Senders list.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking a sender in Hotmail or Outlook.com sends their future emails directly to Junk without notifications.
- You can block a sender from an open email using the three-dot menu, or from your Junk folder if you've already deleted it.
- Blocked addresses stay on your blocked list until you manually remove them in Settings.
- Blocking does not delete past emails from that sender — they remain in your mailbox unless you delete them yourself.
- If a blocked sender uses a different email address, you will need to block that address separately.
Where to find the block option
The block button is in the same place for every email in Hotmail or Outlook.com. Open any message, then look at the top right corner. You'll see a row of icons: a trash can, a folder icon, and three vertical dots. Click the three dots to open a dropdown menu.
The word Block appears near the top of that menu. Click it once, and Outlook will confirm that the sender has been blocked. You'll see a message saying "Sender blocked" or similar language depending on your account region.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block a sender, every email from that address goes to your Junk folder automatically. You won't receive a notification when they send you mail. If you check your Junk folder, you'll see their messages there, but they won't pop up in your inbox or trigger any alerts.
Blocking only affects that exact email address. If the sender creates a new email account and writes to you from a different address, those messages won't be blocked — you'll need to block the new address separately. This is why blocking works best for unwanted mail from known addresses rather than as a complete spam solution.
How to view and manage your blocked senders list
To see everyone you've blocked, click the gear icon in the top right corner of Outlook.com and select View all Outlook settings. Then click Mail in the left sidebar, then Junk email.
Under the "Blocked senders" section, you'll see a list of every address you've blocked. To unblock someone, find their address in the list and click the X or trash icon next to their name. They'll be removed from your blocked list when ready, and their future emails will return to your inbox (or Junk, depending on other filters).
Blocking vs. reporting spam
Blocking and reporting spam are two different actions. When you block someone, only your account stops receiving their emails — Outlook doesn't take action against the sender. When you report an email as spam or phishing, you send information to Microsoft about the message, which helps protect other users.
For unwanted mail from a real person (like a coworker or acquaintance), blocking is usually the right choice. For unsolicited bulk mail, phishing attempts, or scams, reporting as spam or phishing is more useful. You can do both: report the message as spam, then block the sender.
Blocking emails on mobile Hotmail or Outlook apps
The process on the Outlook mobile app (for iPhone or Android) is similar but slightly different. Open the email you want to block, then tap the three dots at the top or bottom of the message. Look for an option labeled Block or Block sender and tap it.
On some versions of the mobile app, you may need to swipe left on the email in your inbox to reveal a block option. If you don't see a block button, try opening the email first, then using the three-dot menu. Blocked senders on mobile sync with your Outlook.com account, so blocks you create on your phone appear in your web inbox and vice versa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the blocked sender know I blocked them?
No. Outlook doesn't notify senders when you block them. They won't receive a bounce-back message or any indication that their email was blocked. Their message straightforward goes to your Junk folder without triggering a notification on your end.
Can I block an email address if I've already deleted the message?
Yes. Check your Junk folder or Deleted Items folder for any message from that sender, open it, and use the three-dot menu to block. If you've permanently deleted everything from that sender, you can also add the address manually to your blocked list through Settings > Mail > Junk email > Blocked senders.
What if someone keeps emailing me from different addresses?
You'll need to block each address separately. If the sender is using a pattern (like firstname.lastname@domain.com, then firstname+lastname@domain.com), you can create a mail rule in Settings to automatically send all mail from that domain to Junk, though this is more aggressive than blocking individual addresses.
Does blocking delete old emails from that sender?
No. Blocking only affects future emails. Any messages you've already received from that sender stay in your mailbox. If you want to remove them, you'll need to delete them yourself or create a rule to move them to a specific folder.
Can I block an entire domain instead of just one email address?
Hotmail and Outlook.com don't have a built-in block-by-domain feature in the standard block menu. However, you can create a mail rule through Settings to automatically send all mail from a specific domain to Junk. This is more powerful than blocking but also affects legitimate senders from that domain.