Block a sender in Outlook on the web
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions) in the top right of the email. Select Block from the menu. Outlook will move all future emails from that address to your Junk folder automatically.
If you want to block someone before opening their email, right-click on their name in your inbox and choose Block. You can also block a sender by going to Settings > Mail > Junk email and typing their address into the Blocked senders list.
Once blocked, emails from that address will skip your inbox entirely. You can still see them in your Junk folder if you need to check later. To unblock someone, go back to Settings > Mail > Junk email, find their address in the Blocked senders list, and remove it.
Block a sender in Outlook desktop app (Windows or Mac)
Right-click on the email from the person you want to block. Select Junk > Block Sender. Outlook will add their address to your blocked list and move that email to Junk.
You can also block someone without opening their email. In your inbox, right-click their name and choose Junk > Block Sender. The desktop app works the same way whether you use Windows or Mac.
To see your full blocked list or remove someone, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Safe Senders & Blocked Senders. Click the Blocked Senders tab to view or edit the list.
Key Takeaways
- On Outlook web, click the three dots on an email and select Block, or add the address manually in Settings > Mail > Junk email.
- In the Outlook desktop app, right-click an email and choose Junk > Block Sender to add them to your blocked list.
- Blocked emails go to your Junk folder, not deleted, so you can review them if needed.
- You can unblock someone at any time by removing their address from your Blocked Senders list in Settings or Options.
- Blocking works on a per-account basis — if you have multiple Outlook accounts, you must block the sender in each one separately.
What happens when you block someone
When you block an email address, Outlook treats all messages from that sender as junk. Their emails will not show up in your inbox, but they will not be permanently deleted either. You can find them in your Junk folder if you change your mind or need to review something they sent.
The blocked sender will not receive a notification that you blocked them. They may not even know their emails are not reaching your inbox — from their side, the message appears to have been sent normally. Blocking is silent and one-way.
Blocking vs. unsubscribing
Blocking stops all emails from a specific address from reaching your inbox. Use this when someone is sending unwanted messages and you do not want to hear from them again.
Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list — usually newsletters, promotions, or notifications from services you signed up for. Most legitimate marketing emails have an Unsubscribe link at the bottom. Click it to stop receiving that type of message, but the sender can still email you if they choose.
If you get unwanted emails from a business or service, try unsubscribing first. If that does not work or the sender is harassing you, then block them. Blocking is the stronger action and should be reserved for senders you truly do not want to hear from.
When blocking does not work
Blocking stops emails from a specific address, but it does not stop someone from creating a new email address and sending you messages again. If someone is harassing you across multiple addresses, blocking each one individually becomes impractical.
If you are receiving repeated unwanted emails from different addresses that appear to be from the same person or organization, consider reporting the emails as phishing or spam instead of just blocking. In Outlook web, click the three dots and select Report > Report phishing or Report junk. This helps Outlook's spam filters learn to catch similar messages for all users.
For serious harassment or threats, contact your email provider's abuse team directly. Outlook has a report form at the Microsoft Safety & Security Center where you can report ongoing abuse.
Blocking email addresses on mobile Outlook
On the Outlook mobile app (iPhone or Android), open an email from the sender you want to block. Tap the three dots in the top right corner. Select Block Sender. The app will move that email to Junk and block all future messages from that address.
To view or manage your blocked list on mobile, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email. The blocked senders list syncs across all your devices, so if you block someone on your phone, they will also be blocked when you check email on your computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block an entire domain instead of just one email address?
Outlook does not have a built-in feature to block all emails from a domain (like @example.com). You can only block individual email addresses. If you are getting spam from many addresses at the same domain, add each one to your blocked list, or use Outlook's rules feature to automatically send emails from that domain to Junk.
Will a blocked sender know I blocked them?
No. Blocking is silent. The sender will not receive a notification, bounce-back message, or any indication that you blocked them. Their emails straightforward will not appear in your inbox.
Can I block someone and still see their emails later?
Yes. Blocked emails go to your Junk folder, not the trash. You can check your Junk folder anytime to read or recover messages from blocked senders. If you decide to unblock them, their future emails will return to your inbox.
What is the difference between blocking and deleting an email?
Deleting removes one email from your inbox. Blocking prevents all future emails from that sender from reaching your inbox. Blocking is permanent until you unblock the sender; deleting is just for that one message.
Do I need to block someone on both Outlook web and the desktop app?
No. Your blocked senders list syncs across Outlook web, the desktop app, and mobile. If you block someone in one place, they are blocked everywhere you use Outlook with that account.