The fastest way to block an email address in Outlook

Open the email from the sender 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. You can also select the message in your inbox, go to the Home tab, click Junk, and choose Block Sender.

If you are using Outlook on the web, open the email, click the three dots (more actions) at the top right, and select Block. The sender goes into your blocked list when ready, and their messages skip your inbox.

Once you block someone, you can still see their emails if you go looking in your Junk folder — they are not deleted. You can unblock them later if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a sender's name in any email and select Block Sender to send all their future messages to Junk automatically.
  • Blocked emails still arrive in your Junk folder; they are not permanently deleted, so you can review them if needed.
  • On Outlook for the web, use the three-dot menu and select Block instead of right-clicking.
  • You can unblock a sender at any time by going to Settings and removing them from your blocked list.
  • Blocking works at the email address level, so if someone sends from a different address, that message will not be blocked.

Where blocked emails go and how to find them

When you block a sender in Outlook, their emails do not disappear — they land in your Junk folder instead of your inbox. This means you can still read them if you need to, but they will not interrupt your work or clutter your main email view.

To see your blocked emails, click the Junk folder in the left sidebar. You will see all messages from blocked senders mixed in with other spam. If you realize you blocked someone by mistake, you can move their email back to your inbox by right-clicking it and selecting Move, then choosing your inbox folder.

Some blocked emails may be permanently deleted after 10 days, depending on your Outlook settings. If you think you might need an email later, move it out of Junk before that window closes.

Blocking multiple addresses from the same person or organization

If someone is sending you emails from different addresses, you will need to block each one separately. Outlook blocks by exact email address, not by name or domain. So if a sender uses both john.smith@company.com and jsmith@company.com, blocking one will not stop the other.

When you notice a pattern — someone using multiple addresses to reach you — block each address as it appears. Check your Junk folder occasionally to catch new addresses from the same person before they pile up in your inbox.

If an entire organization is harassing you from many different addresses, contact your email administrator or consider setting up a rule that filters emails from that domain. This is more advanced than blocking and requires accessing Outlook's Rules feature, but it stops all addresses from a single domain at once.

How to unblock a sender you blocked by mistake

To unblock someone in Outlook for Windows or Mac, go to File, then Options (Windows) or Preferences (Mac). Click Mail, then Junk Email. You will see a tab called Blocked Senders with a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock, select them, and click Remove.

In Outlook on the web, click the gear icon in the top right corner, then View all Outlook settings. Go to Mail > Junk email and look for the Blocked senders and domains section. Find the address you want to unblock and click the trash icon next to it.

After you unblock someone, their emails will go back to your inbox normally. You may want to check your Junk folder first to see if there are messages from them waiting there, and move any you want to keep back to your inbox.

Blocking domains instead of individual addresses

If you want to block all emails from an entire company or website, you can block the domain instead of a single address. Go to your Junk Email settings (the same place where you unblock senders), find the Blocked Senders list, and look for an option to add a domain. Type the domain name — for example, @unwantedcompany.com — and Outlook will block every email address that ends with that domain.

This is useful when you are getting repeated spam from the same organization using different sender names. However, be careful: if you block a domain, you will also block legitimate emails from people at that company who might be trying to reach you. Only block a domain if you are certain you do not need any emails from it.

You can remove a blocked domain the same way you unblock an individual address — go to your Junk Email settings, find it in the Blocked Senders list, and click Remove.

What happens when you block someone on a shared or work account

If you are using Outlook through your workplace or school, blocking a sender affects only your account and your inbox. Other people who share the same email system will still receive emails from that person normally. Your block does not prevent the sender from reaching your organization — it only stops their messages from reaching you.

If you are being harassed or receiving threatening emails at a work account, tell your IT department or manager. They may be able to block the sender at the organization level, which stops them from reaching anyone in your company. Your personal block is useful for unwanted marketing or spam, but serious problems should go to your IT team.

On a shared computer where multiple people use the same Outlook account, blocking affects everyone who logs in with that account. If you share a work email with a colleague, discuss blocking decisions together before you do it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the blocked sender know I blocked them?

No. Outlook does not send a notification to someone when you block them. They will not receive a bounce-back message or any other alert. The only way they would know is if they check whether their emails are reaching you, which most senders do not do.

Can I block emails by subject line or content instead of by sender?

Blocking works by sender address only. If you want to filter emails by subject line or keywords, you need to create a rule instead. In Outlook, go to Home > Rules > Create Rule, and you can set it to move emails with certain words in the subject to Junk or another folder automatically.

What if a blocked sender creates a new email address to contact me?

Outlook only blocks the specific address you selected. If the sender creates a new email account, those messages will come through normally unless you block that address too. Block each new address as it appears, or contact your email provider if the harassment continues.

Do blocked emails take up storage space in my Junk folder?

Yes. Blocked emails sit in your Junk folder and count toward your mailbox storage limit. If you want to free up space, you can permanently delete them by emptying your Junk folder. Just make sure you do not need any of those emails first.

Can I block emails on my phone using the Outlook app?

Yes. Open the email, tap the three dots at the top, and select Block Sender. The process is the same on iPhone and Android. The sender goes into your blocked list across all your devices where you use Outlook.