Block a sender in Hotmail's web version

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Look for the three dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the email — it sits next to the trash icon. Click it, then select Block from the dropdown menu. Hotmail will move that sender's future emails to your Junk folder automatically.

If you want to block someone without opening their email first, right-click on their name in your inbox list. The same Block option appears in the context menu. After you block them, Hotmail shows a confirmation message at the top of your inbox.

Blocked senders stay blocked until you unblock them. You can see your full block list by going to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), then View all Outlook settings, then Mail > Junk email. Scroll down to Blocked senders to see everyone you've blocked and remove anyone from the list if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a sender in Hotmail sends their future emails to your Junk folder instead of your inbox.
  • You can block someone by opening their email, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting Block.
  • Right-clicking a sender's name in your inbox list offers the same Block option without opening the email.
  • Your blocked senders list lives in Settings under Mail > Junk email, where you can unblock people anytime.
  • Emails already in your inbox from a blocked sender stay there — blocking only stops new messages from arriving.

Block a sender on Hotmail mobile apps

On the Hotmail app for iPhone or Android, open the email from the person you want to block. Tap the three dots in the top right corner. Select Block sender from the menu. The app confirms the block when ready, and that sender's future emails go to Junk.

You can also block someone from your inbox without opening their email. Swipe left on their name (iPhone) or long-press their name (Android), then tap the block icon. The process is the same — future emails land in Junk.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block a sender, Hotmail automatically routes all their future emails to your Junk folder. You won't see notifications for their messages, and they won't appear in your inbox. The blocked sender has no way to know you've blocked them — Hotmail doesn't send them a notification.

Emails that arrived before you blocked someone stay in your inbox or wherever they were filed. Blocking only affects new messages going forward. If you want to delete old emails from that sender, you'll need to find and delete them manually.

Unblock a sender if you change your mind

Go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Junk email. Under Blocked senders, you'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click the X next to their name. They're when ready unblocked, and their emails will go to your inbox again instead of Junk.

On mobile, open the app's menu, go to Settings, then find Blocked senders. Tap the person you want to unblock and confirm the removal.

When blocking doesn't stop all unwanted email

Blocking works when you know exactly who is sending the email. If you're getting spam from many different addresses or from addresses that change each time, blocking individual senders becomes impractical. In those cases, mark the email as spam instead — Hotmail learns from your choices and filters similar messages automatically.

To mark an email as spam, open it and click the three-dot menu, then select Report as spam. This tells Hotmail the sender is unwanted and helps train the filter for future messages. Over time, Hotmail gets better at catching similar emails without you having to block each one.

Difference between blocking and reporting as spam

Blocking stops emails from one specific person or address. You use it when you know exactly who you don't want to hear from — a coworker, an ex, a vendor you're done with. Reporting as spam tells Hotmail the message is unwanted and helps the system learn to catch similar messages from anyone. You use it for unsolicited bulk email, scams, or messages from unknown senders.

You can do both at once. If you report an email as spam and then block the sender, Hotmail treats them as a blocked contact and also learns that this type of message is unwanted. For most people, blocking is enough when you know the sender. Reporting as spam is more useful when you're dealing with bulk email or scams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person I blocked know that I blocked them?

No. Hotmail doesn't notify blocked senders that you've blocked them. Their emails straightforward go to your Junk folder, and they have no way to know the difference between you ignoring them and you blocking them.

Can I block an email address that doesn't exist yet?

No. You can only block addresses that have already sent you an email. If you're worried about a specific address in the future, you'll need to block it once you receive a message from them.

What if someone uses a different email address to contact me after I block them?

Blocking only affects the specific address you blocked. If they email you from a different address, it will arrive in your inbox normally. You would need to block each address separately.

Do blocked emails disappear from my inbox?

No. Emails already in your inbox from a blocked sender stay there. Blocking only stops new emails from that sender — they go to Junk instead of your inbox. You can delete old emails manually if you want them gone.

Can I block an entire domain instead of just one person?

Hotmail's block feature works on individual email addresses only, not entire domains. If you're getting spam from many addresses at the same domain, reporting those emails as spam is more effective than blocking them one at a time.