The fastest way to block someone in Outlook

Open the email from the person you want to block. Right-click on their name or email address at the top of the message, then select Block Sender from the menu. Outlook moves all future emails from that address to your Junk folder automatically.

If you are using Outlook on the web (outlook.com or outlook.office.com), open the email and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Block, then confirm. The sender's future messages go straight to Junk.

On Outlook for Mac, right-click the sender's name and choose Block Contact. On the Outlook mobile app for iPhone or Android, swipe left on the email (iPhone) or long-press it (Android), then tap the block icon.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking sends future emails from that address to your Junk folder, but does not delete messages already in your inbox.
  • The block works only for the exact email address you selected — someone can still email you from a different address.
  • You can unblock a sender anytime by going to Settings and removing them from your blocked list.
  • Blocked senders cannot see that you blocked them, and Outlook does not notify them.

Where to find your blocked senders list

In Outlook on the web, click the gear icon in the top right, then View all Outlook settings. Go to Mail > Junk email. You will see a section called Blocked senders and domains with a list of everyone you have blocked.

In Outlook for Windows, click File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Junk Email. The Blocked Senders tab shows your full list. In Outlook for Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > Junk Email > Blocked.

How to unblock someone

Find the blocked sender in your blocked list using the steps above. Click or select their email address, then click Remove or the trash icon. Confirm the removal. Their emails will no longer go to Junk automatically.

Unblocking does not restore old emails that went to Junk — you will need to check your Junk folder and move them back to your inbox manually if you want to see them.

What happens to emails after you block someone

Emails from a blocked sender still arrive on Outlook's servers, but they bypass your inbox and go directly to the Junk folder. You can still see them if you open Junk and search for the sender's name. Blocking is not the same as deleting — the messages stay in Junk for 30 days by default before Outlook removes them.

If you want to delete blocked emails when ready instead of letting them sit in Junk, you can set up a rule. In Outlook on the web, go to Settings > Mail > Rules and create a rule that automatically deletes messages from that sender. In Outlook for Windows, use File > Options > Quick Access Toolbar > Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts.

Blocking a domain instead of one email address

If you are getting spam from multiple addresses at the same company or domain, you can block the entire domain. In Outlook on the web, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email > Blocked senders and domains. Click Add and type the domain name (for example, spamcompany.com). All emails from anyone at that domain will go to Junk.

In Outlook for Windows, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Junk Email > Blocked Senders. Click Add and enter the domain. You can remove it the same way if you change your mind.

When blocking does not stop the emails

Spammers sometimes use a new email address for each message, so blocking one address does not stop them. If you are getting repeated spam from different addresses, look for a pattern in the sender names or subject lines. You can create a rule that catches emails matching that pattern and sends them to Junk or deletes them.

If the emails are coming from someone you know but you do not want to block them completely, you can create a rule that moves their emails to a specific folder instead of blocking them. This way you can read them when you have time, but they do not clutter your inbox.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them in Outlook?

No. Outlook does not send a notification to blocked senders, and there is no way for them to know you blocked them. Their emails straightforward go to your Junk folder instead of your inbox.

Will blocking delete emails already in my inbox from that person?

No. Blocking only affects future emails. Messages already in your inbox stay there. If you want to remove old emails from that sender, you have to delete them manually.

What is the difference between blocking and unsubscribing?

Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list, usually through a link at the bottom of the email. Blocking sends all future emails from that address to Junk. Use unsubscribe for legitimate newsletters you no longer want, and blocking for unwanted senders or spam.

Can I block emails by subject line or keyword?

Blocking works only by sender address or domain. To filter by subject line or keywords, create a rule instead. In Outlook on the web, go to Settings > Mail > Rules and set conditions based on the subject or message content.

If I block someone and they email me from a different address, will that be blocked too?

No. Each email address is blocked separately. If someone emails you from a new address, it will go to your inbox unless you block that address too. If this happens repeatedly, consider blocking the entire domain instead.