Block a sender in Outlook on the web

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

Once you block someone, you won't see their messages in your inbox, but they will still be able to send them — the emails just go straight to Junk. If you change your mind, you can unblock them by going to Settings > Mail > Junk email and removing their address from the blocked senders list.

Block a sender in Outlook desktop app (Windows or Mac)

Right-click on an email from the person you want to block. Select Junk from the menu, then choose Block Sender. The sender's address will be added to your blocked list, and their future emails go to Junk.

On a Mac, the steps are the same: right-click the message, select Junk, then Block Sender. If you're using an older version of Outlook, you may need to go to Home > Junk > Block Sender instead of using the right-click menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a sender in Outlook routes their future emails to your Junk folder instead of your inbox.
  • In Outlook on the web, use the three-dot menu and select Block; in the desktop app, right-click and choose Junk > Block Sender.
  • Blocked senders can still email you — their messages just won't appear where you see them.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by removing their address from your blocked senders list in Settings.

What happens after you block someone

When you block a sender, Outlook adds their email address to your blocked senders list. Every email from that address — whether it's a new message or a reply to an old thread — will skip your inbox and land in Junk. You can still see these messages if you check your Junk folder, but they won't notify you or clutter your main inbox.

If the sender uses a different email address, blocking one address won't stop messages from the other. You'll need to block each address separately. This matters if someone is harassing you from multiple accounts — you may need to block several addresses over time.

Unblock a sender if you change your mind

In Outlook on the web, go to Settings (the gear icon) > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Junk email. You'll see a list of blocked senders. Find the address you want to unblock and click the X next to it. The sender will be removed from your blocked list when ready.

In the Outlook desktop app on Windows, go to Home > Junk > Junk Email Options. Click the Blocked Senders tab and select the address you want to remove, then click Remove. On Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > Junk Email and follow the same steps. Once you unblock someone, their emails will start appearing in your inbox again.

When blocking isn't enough

If someone is sending you threatening, harassing, or abusive messages, blocking keeps their emails out of your sight but doesn't stop them from sending. If the behavior is severe or ongoing, consider reporting it to Outlook. In Outlook on the web, open the message and select the three dots, then choose Report phishing or Report junk. This tells Microsoft about the sender and may help prevent them from contacting others.

For serious harassment, you may also want to save copies of the emails (take screenshots or export them) and report the behavior to local law enforcement or your workplace if the emails are work-related. Blocking is a privacy tool, not a legal remedy — it protects your inbox, but it doesn't create an official record of misconduct.

Blocking vs. unsubscribing from mailing lists

Blocking is different from unsubscribing. When you block someone, all their emails go to Junk. When you unsubscribe from a mailing list, you're telling the sender's system to remove your address from their distribution list — future emails shouldn't come at all. Most legitimate marketing emails and newsletters have an Unsubscribe link at the bottom.

If you're getting unwanted emails from a company or service you signed up for, unsubscribe first. If you're getting emails from someone you don't know or don't want to hear from, block them. If unsubscribing doesn't work after a few days, then block the sender as a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person I block know that I blocked them?

No. Outlook doesn't notify senders when you block them. They won't receive a bounce-back message or any indication that you've blocked their address. Their emails will straightforward disappear into your Junk folder without any feedback to them.

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

Outlook doesn't have a built-in feature to block all addresses from a domain at once. You have to block individual email addresses. If you're getting spam from many addresses at the same domain, you can block each one separately, but there's no wildcard option.

What if someone is using a spoofed email address that looks like it's from my bank or company?

Block the address and report it as phishing. In Outlook on the web, select the three dots and choose Report phishing. This tells Microsoft the message is fraudulent and helps protect other users. Never click links or read attachments from emails claiming to be from your bank or company unless you initiated contact first.

Do blocked emails stay in my Junk folder forever?

No. Outlook automatically deletes emails in your Junk folder after 30 days. If you want to keep a record of blocked messages, move them to a separate folder before they're deleted. Otherwise, they'll disappear on their own.