Block a sender in Outlook on the web

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

If you want to block someone without opening their email, right-click their name in your inbox list and choose Block. You can also go to Settings > Mail > Junk email and type the email address directly into the "Blocked senders" field, then click Add.

Once blocked, emails from that address skip your inbox entirely. They go to Junk, and you won't see notifications for them. You can unblock the sender anytime by going back to Settings > Mail > Junk email, finding their address in the blocked list, and clicking the trash icon next to it.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to block someone in Outlook on the web is to open their email, click the three dots, and select Block.
  • Blocked emails go to your Junk folder, not deleted, so you can review them later if needed.
  • You can block an address without opening an email by right-clicking the sender's name in your inbox.
  • Unblocking takes the same path: Settings > Mail > Junk email, then click the trash icon next to the blocked address.
  • Blocking works at the account level, so it applies across all your devices when you sign into Outlook.

Block a sender in Outlook desktop app

In Outlook on Windows or Mac, open an email from the person you want to block. Go to the Home tab at the top. Click Junk, then select Block Sender. The sender's future emails will go to your Junk folder.

You can also right-click an email in your inbox and choose Junk > Block Sender without opening it. If you want to block multiple addresses at once, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Junk Email, then type addresses into the "Blocked Senders" list and click Add.

Blocked senders in the desktop app work the same way as on the web: their emails land in Junk, not your inbox. To unblock, go back to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Junk Email, find the address in the blocked list, select it, and click Remove.

Block a sender in Outlook mobile apps

On iPhone or Android, open the email from the person you want to block. Tap the three dots or flag icon (depending on your device). Look for Block Sender or Junk and tap it. The sender will be added to your blocked list when ready.

If you don't see a Block option, swipe left on the email (iPhone) or long-press it (Android) to see more actions. Some versions of the Outlook app show a trash or junk icon this way. Tap it and confirm you want to send the sender to Junk.

Blocked senders on mobile sync with your other devices. If you block someone on your phone, they're blocked in Outlook on the web and your desktop too. To unblock on mobile, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email, find the blocked address, and remove it.

What happens when you block someone

When you block an email address, Outlook automatically sends all future emails from that sender to your Junk folder. You won't see a notification when they send you something. The emails stay in Junk for 30 days before Outlook deletes them permanently, but you can delete them sooner if you want.

Blocking only affects incoming mail from that address. If you've already sent emails to the person, those stay in your Sent folder. The blocked sender can still email you — their messages just won't appear in your inbox. They have no way to know they're blocked unless they notice you never reply.

If the same person emails you from a different address, that new address won't be blocked. You'll need to block each address separately. This is why blocking works best for spam or unwanted mail from known addresses, not for people who might contact you from multiple accounts.

Unblock an email address

To unblock someone in Outlook on the web, go to Settings (the gear icon) > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Junk email. Scroll down to "Blocked senders" and you'll see a list of all blocked addresses. Click the trash icon next to the address you want to unblock.

In the Outlook desktop app, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Junk Email. Find the address in the "Blocked Senders" list, click it to select it, then click Remove. Click OK twice to save your changes.

On mobile, open Settings > Mail > Junk email and look for your blocked senders list. Tap or swipe to remove the address. Once you unblock someone, their emails will go back to your inbox normally, and you'll see notifications for them again.

When to use Safe Senders instead

If you want to make sure emails from someone always reach your inbox, use Safe Senders instead of blocking. This is useful for people whose emails might accidentally land in Junk. In Outlook on the web, open an email from them, click the three dots, and select Add to Safe Senders.

In the desktop app, right-click an email and choose Junk > Add Sender to Safe Senders List. On mobile, look for an option to mark the sender as safe or trusted. Safe Senders and blocked senders are opposite actions — you can't do both for the same address.

Safe Senders is also the right choice if you're having trouble with a legitimate sender whose emails keep going to Junk. Blocking is for unwanted mail you never want to see. If you're unsure, Safe Senders is the gentler option because it doesn't prevent the person from reaching you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked sender tell that I blocked them?

No. Blocked senders have no notification that you blocked them. Their emails still go through to Outlook's servers and land in your Junk folder, but they won't know you're not reading them. They can only guess if you stop replying to their messages.

What if someone emails me from a different address after I block them?

Blocking only affects the specific email address you blocked. If the same person emails from a new address, that message will reach your inbox normally. You would need to block each address separately. This is a limitation of blocking by address rather than by person.

Do blocked emails get deleted automatically?

No. Blocked emails go to your Junk folder and stay there for 30 days before Outlook deletes them. You can view them anytime during those 30 days, and you can delete them sooner if you want. Nothing is deleted when ready when you block someone.

If I block someone, can I still see old emails from them?

Yes. Blocking only affects new emails going forward. Emails you already received from that person stay in your inbox or other folders. Blocking doesn't delete or hide past messages, only future ones.

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

In Outlook on the web and the desktop app, you can add a domain to your blocked senders list by typing it with an asterisk, like *@example.com. This blocks all addresses from that domain. On mobile, you typically have to block individual addresses one at a time.