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. Outlook will move that sender's future emails to your Junk folder automatically.
If you are using Outlook on the web (Outlook.com), open the email, click the three dots in the top right corner, and select Block. The sender's messages will go to Junk from that point forward.
Once you block someone, you will not see their emails in your inbox, but they are not deleted — they land in Junk instead. You can still find them later if you need to, and you can unblock the sender at any time if you change your mind.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click the sender's name in any Outlook email and select Block Sender to send their future messages to Junk automatically.
- Blocking does not delete old emails from that sender; they stay in your mailbox but move to the Junk folder going forward.
- You can unblock a sender later by going to Junk settings and removing them from your blocked list.
- Blocking works the same way across Outlook desktop, Outlook on the web, and Outlook mobile apps.
- If someone is harassing you, blocking is a first step, but consider reporting the email as phishing or spam to help protect other users.
Where blocked emails go and how to find them
When you block a sender, Outlook routes their emails to your Junk folder (sometimes called Spam). The emails do not disappear — they sit there until you delete them or until Outlook automatically removes them after 30 days.
To see your blocked senders' emails, open your Junk folder and look through the messages. If you need something from a blocked sender, you can move the email back to your inbox or unblock them entirely. Blocking is reversible, so there is no risk in blocking someone and then changing your mind later.
How to unblock a sender you blocked by mistake
In Outlook desktop, go to Home tab, click Junk, then select Junk Email Options. Click the Blocked Senders tab to see your full list of blocked addresses. Highlight the sender you want to unblock and click Remove.
In Outlook on the web, click the settings gear icon, then View all Outlook settings. Go to Mail > Junk email and scroll to Blocked senders. Click the X next to any sender you want to unblock.
On Outlook mobile (iPhone or Android), open an email from the sender you want to unblock, tap the three dots, and select Unblock Sender. The sender will move back to your normal inbox rules.
The difference between blocking and reporting spam
Blocking protects only you — it sends one sender's emails to your Junk folder. Reporting as spam or phishing helps Microsoft protect everyone. If you receive a suspicious email that looks like it is pretending to be from your bank, PayPal, or another company, report it instead of (or in addition to) blocking.
To report an email as phishing in Outlook desktop, right-click the message and select Report Phishing. In Outlook on the web, click the three dots and choose Report phishing. Microsoft uses these reports to identify scams and prevent them from reaching other users.
If an email is just unwanted marketing or repetitive, blocking is enough. If it looks like a scam or impersonation, report it first.
When blocking is not enough
Blocking stops emails from reaching your inbox, but it does not stop the sender from knowing your address is active. If someone is harassing you repeatedly, blocking combined with reporting is more effective than blocking alone.
If the harassment continues after you block and report, consider creating a new email address for important contacts and keeping your current one private. You can also forward threatening emails to law enforcement if the behavior crosses into threats or illegal activity.
For work email accounts, talk to your IT department or email administrator. They can block senders at the organization level, which stops the email before it even reaches your mailbox.
Blocking on Outlook mobile apps
On iPhone or Android, open an email from the sender you want to block. Tap the three dots (or the sender's name, depending on your app version), then select Block Sender. The sender's future emails will go to Junk on all your devices — desktop, web, and mobile all stay in sync.
If you block someone on your phone, that block applies to Outlook on your computer too. Outlook syncs your blocked senders list across all devices, so you do not have to block the same person twice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person I block know that I blocked them?
No. Blocking does not send a notification to the sender. They will not receive a bounce-back message or any signal that you blocked them. Their emails straightforward go to your Junk folder instead of your inbox.
Can I block an entire domain instead of just one email address?
In Outlook desktop, you can add a domain to your blocked senders list by typing it in the format @example.com in the Blocked Senders tab. In Outlook on the web, you can only block individual email addresses, not whole domains. If you need to block a domain on the web version, you may need to use rules or talk to your email administrator.
What happens to emails I blocked before I unblock someone?
Old emails from a blocked sender stay in your Junk folder even after you unblock them. Unblocking only affects new emails going forward. If you want to see the old messages, go to Junk and move them to your inbox manually, or search for the sender's name.
Can I block someone without opening their email?
In Outlook desktop, right-click the email in your inbox list (without opening it) and select Block Sender. In Outlook on the web, you have to open the email first to access the block option. On mobile, you can usually swipe on the email and tap Block without opening it fully.
Does blocking delete the sender's old emails from my inbox?
No. Blocking only affects new emails. Old messages from that sender stay in your inbox unless you delete them yourself. Only future emails from the blocked sender go to Junk.