Block a Hotmail sender in Outlook.com

Open the email from the Hotmail address you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions menu) at the top right of the message. Select Block from the dropdown menu. Outlook will move future emails from that sender to your Junk folder automatically.

If you are already in your inbox, you can also right-click the sender's name and choose Block directly without opening the message. The block takes effect when ready — emails from that address will arrive in Junk rather than your inbox from that moment forward.

Blocked senders stay blocked until you remove them. You can see your full block list by going to Settings (the gear icon), then Mail, then Junk email, and looking for the Blocked senders tab.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the three-dot menu on any Hotmail email and select Block to send future messages from that sender to Junk.
  • Blocked emails go to your Junk folder, not deleted, so you can review them later if needed.
  • You can unblock a sender at any time from your Blocked senders list in Junk email settings.
  • Blocking works on the sender's email address, so a person using a different address can still reach you.
  • Outlook also lets you create rules to automatically delete, move, or flag emails based on sender, subject line, or keywords.

What happens when you block a Hotmail address

When you block a sender, Outlook does not delete their emails — it routes them to your Junk folder instead. This means you can still find and read the messages if you need to, but they will not clutter your inbox or trigger notifications.

The blocked sender does not receive a notification that you blocked them. From their perspective, the email was sent normally. They will not know whether it reached your inbox, went to Junk, or was deleted.

Unblock a Hotmail sender if you change your mind

Go to Settings (gear icon) and select Mail. Click Junk email, then the Blocked senders tab. Find the address you want to unblock and click the X next to it. That sender's emails will return to your inbox starting with the next message they send.

Unblocking is when ready. You do not need to restart Outlook or refresh your browser — the change takes effect right away.

Block multiple Hotmail addresses at once

If you are receiving unwanted emails from many addresses, blocking them one at a time can be slow. Instead, create a mail rule to handle groups of senders. Go to Settings, then Mail, then Rules. Click Add new rule and set it to move emails from specific addresses or containing certain words to Junk or delete them entirely.

Rules are more powerful than blocking because they can target patterns. For example, you can create a rule that sends all emails with "unsubscribe" links to Junk, or all messages from addresses ending in a certain domain. Rules run automatically on incoming mail.

Use Safe Senders and Safe Domains to prevent blocking mistakes

If you accidentally block someone you trust, or if legitimate emails keep landing in Junk, add them to your Safe Senders list. Go to Settings, Mail, Junk email, and click the Safe Senders tab. Enter the email address or domain you want to trust. Emails from that sender will skip Junk and go straight to your inbox.

You can also add entire domains to your safe list. For example, adding @company.com will may support all emails from anyone at that company reach your inbox, even if individual senders have been blocked.

Report Hotmail spam instead of just blocking

If the email is spam or phishing, blocking alone does not help Microsoft improve its filters. Open the message, click the three-dot menu, and select Report. Choose whether it is Junk, Phishing, or Abuse. Microsoft uses these reports to train its spam detection system and may take action against the sender's account.

Reporting is especially important for phishing emails that try to steal passwords or personal information. It protects other Outlook users by flagging dangerous senders to Microsoft's security team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block an entire Hotmail domain instead of one address?

Outlook does not have a built-in block-by-domain feature, but you can create a mail rule to catch all emails from a domain. Go to Rules, add a new rule, and set it to move emails where the sender's address contains @domain.com to Junk. This works for any domain pattern you want to exclude.

Will a blocked Hotmail sender know I blocked them?

No. Blocked senders receive no notification. Their emails are straightforward routed to your Junk folder without any feedback to them. They may assume you did not see the message or that it was lost.

What is the difference between blocking and reporting?

Blocking stops emails from reaching your inbox — they go to Junk instead. Reporting tells Microsoft the email is spam or phishing so the company can investigate the sender and improve its filters. You can do both at the same time.

Can I block emails based on subject line or keywords instead of sender?

Yes, use mail rules instead of blocking. Create a rule that moves emails containing specific words or phrases to Junk. This is useful for blocking newsletters, promotional emails, or messages about topics you do not want to see, regardless of who sends them.

If I block someone, will they see a delivery failure message?

No. Blocked emails are not rejected — they are silently moved to your Junk folder. The sender's email client will show the message as delivered successfully, even though it never reached your inbox.