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 that appears. Outlook moves all future emails from that address to your Junk folder automatically.
If you are using Outlook on the web (the version you access through a browser), click the three dots at the top right of the email, then choose Block. The result is the same — that sender's messages go straight to Junk from now on.
You do not need to do anything else. The block takes effect when ready, and you will not see notifications when blocked emails arrive.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click the sender's name in any email and select Block Sender to send all their future messages to Junk.
- On Outlook.com or Outlook on the web, click the three-dot menu and choose Block instead.
- Blocking does not delete emails already in your inbox — only new ones go to Junk.
- You can unblock someone later by going to Settings and removing them from your blocked senders list.
- Blocked emails still arrive on your account; they just skip your inbox and go to the Junk folder.
Where to find your blocked senders list
If you want to see everyone you have blocked or remove someone from the list, open Outlook and go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Safe Senders & Blocked Senders. Click the Blocked Senders tab to view the full list.
To unblock someone, highlight their email address in the list and click Remove. They will be able to send you emails again, and their messages will no longer go to Junk automatically.
On Outlook on the web, click the gear icon in the top right, then View all Outlook settings > Mail > Junk email. You will see a field labeled Blocked senders where you can add addresses manually or remove ones you have already blocked.
What happens to emails from blocked senders
When you block someone, their emails do not disappear — they go to your Junk folder instead of your inbox. This means you can still find them if you need to, but they will not interrupt your work or send you notifications.
If a blocked sender uses a different email address, Outlook will not recognize it as the same person. You would need to block that new address separately. Blocking only works on the exact email address you specify, not on the person behind it.
Emails that were already in your inbox before you blocked the sender stay where they are. Blocking only affects new messages going forward.
Blocking someone who uses multiple email addresses
If someone is contacting you from several different email addresses, you will need to block each one individually. There is no way to block an entire domain or all addresses from one person at once in Outlook.
The fastest approach is to open each email from that person, right-click their name, and select Block Sender. Repeat this for every address they use. After you have blocked all of them, any new emails from any of those addresses will go to Junk.
If the person keeps creating new addresses to contact you, consider setting up a rule instead. Rules let you automatically delete or move emails based on words in the subject line or message body, which can catch variations on an address more effectively than blocking alone.
Setting up a rule to handle unwanted emails
A rule in Outlook is an automatic action that applies to incoming emails based on conditions you set. Rules are more powerful than blocking because they can catch emails based on subject lines, keywords, or sender patterns rather than exact addresses.
To create a rule, go to File > Options > Mail > Rules & Alerts > New Rule. Choose explore rule on messages I receive, then set your conditions. For example, you could create a rule that moves all emails containing a certain phrase in the subject line directly to Junk or deletes them.
Rules are useful when someone is using multiple addresses or when you want to filter emails based on content rather than sender. You can have multiple rules active at the same time, and they run automatically on every incoming email.
Blocking in Outlook on your phone or tablet
On the Outlook mobile app for iPhone or Android, open an email from the person you want to block. Tap the three dots at the top right of the message, then select Block Sender. The process is the same as on desktop — future emails from that address go to Junk.
You cannot manage your blocked senders list directly from the mobile app. If you need to unblock someone or view your full list, you will need to use Outlook on your computer or go to Outlook.com in a web browser.
What blocking does not do
Blocking someone in Outlook does not send them a message or notify them that they have been blocked. They will not know you blocked them unless you tell them. Their emails will straightforward arrive in your Junk folder instead of your inbox, so they may assume you are not responding.
Blocking also does not prevent someone from seeing your emails if they are already in your contacts or if you have replied to them before. It only affects emails they send to you going forward. If you want to stop communicating with someone entirely, you may need to take additional steps like removing them from your contacts or asking them directly to stop emailing you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block an email address without opening an email from them first?
Yes. Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Safe Senders & Blocked Senders, click the Blocked Senders tab, and type the email address directly into the field. Click Add to block them without needing an email from them.
If I block someone, will they know I blocked them?
No. Blocking is silent. They will not receive a notification, and their emails will straightforward go to your Junk folder. They may wonder why you are not responding, but Outlook does not tell them they have been blocked.
Can I block an entire company or domain?
Outlook does not have a built-in way to block all addresses from a domain like @company.com. You would need to block each individual address, or create a rule that catches emails based on keywords or sender patterns instead.
What if a blocked sender emails me from a different address?
Outlook will not recognize it as the same person. You will need to block that new address separately. If someone keeps using new addresses to contact you, a rule based on subject line keywords or message content may work better than blocking individual addresses.
Can I temporarily unblock someone and then block them again?
Yes. Go to your blocked senders list, find their address, click Remove, and their emails will start arriving in your inbox again. To block them again later, open one of their emails and select Block Sender, or add them back to the blocked list manually.