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 and click the three dots menu icon in the top right. Select Block, then confirm. 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 where you can review them later if needed. The sender does not receive a notification that you blocked them.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click the sender's name in any email and choose Block Sender to send their future messages to Junk automatically.
  • Blocking works the same way whether you use Outlook on your computer, phone, or on the web at Outlook.com.
  • Blocked emails still arrive in your Junk folder, so you can unblock the sender later if you change your mind.
  • The person you block will not know they are blocked, and they can still send you messages — you just will not see them in your inbox.
  • You can unblock a sender at any time by going to Junk settings and removing them from your blocked list.

Blocking email on your computer or phone

The steps are nearly identical whether you use Outlook on Windows, Mac, or your phone. Find any email from the sender you want to block, then right-click or long-press their name. The Block Sender option appears in the menu that opens.

On a phone, you may need to tap the sender's name first to see the full message header, then tap the three dots or menu icon to find the block option. After you block someone, their name is added to your blocked senders list, and Outlook remembers it across all your devices.

Blocking email on Outlook.com (web version)

Log into your Outlook.com account in a web browser. Open any email from the person you want to block, then look for the three dots menu icon (sometimes called "More actions") in the top right corner of the email.

Click that menu and select Block. A confirmation window will appear asking if you are sure. Click Block again to confirm. From that moment on, emails from that address go straight to Junk.

What happens after you block someone

Blocked senders' emails arrive in your Junk folder instead of your inbox. You can still read them if you check Junk, but they will not interrupt your inbox view. If the sender creates a new email address and sends you a message from that address, Outlook will not automatically block it — you would need to block the new address separately.

Blocking is not the same as unsubscribing from a mailing list. If you receive marketing emails from a company, look for an "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email first. That removes you from their mailing list entirely. Blocking works better for unwanted personal emails or spam from individual senders.

Unblocking a sender if you change your mind

Open Outlook and go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right on the web version, or File > Options on desktop). Look for Mail or Junk Email settings, then find Blocked Senders or Safe Senders.

Find the person's email address in the blocked list and select it, then click Remove or the delete button. They are now unblocked, and their emails will return to your inbox as normal. This change takes effect when ready across all your devices.

When blocking is not enough

If someone is sending you threatening, harassing, or abusive messages, blocking alone may not be enough. Save copies of the emails (you can forward them to yourself or print them) and report the sender to Outlook support. You can also report the email as phishing or junk by clicking the report button in Outlook.

If the harassment continues from multiple email addresses or escalates, contact local law enforcement. Keep records of all messages and the dates they were sent. Many police departments have cybercrime units that handle online harassment cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?

No. Outlook does not send a notification to the sender when you block them. They will not receive a bounce-back message or any other indication. Their emails straightforward arrive in your Junk folder instead of your inbox.

If I block someone, will they still be able to send me emails?

Yes, they can still send emails to your address. You just will not see them in your inbox — they go to Junk. If you want to check whether they have sent anything, you can look in your Junk folder at any time.

What is the difference between blocking and deleting an email?

Deleting an email removes that one message. Blocking a sender sends all of their future emails to Junk automatically. Blocking is permanent until you unblock them; deleting affects only that single message.

Can I block multiple people at once?

You can block them one at a time by opening each email and using the Block Sender option. Outlook does not have a feature to block a group of addresses in a single step, but blocking each person takes only a few seconds.

Will blocking someone in Outlook also block them on other email services?

No. Blocking only works within Outlook. If you use Gmail, Yahoo, or another email service, you would need to block the sender separately in each service. Each email provider has its own block and filter settings.