Block a sender in Yahoo Mail directly from your inbox

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots (more options) in the top right corner of the email, then select Block sender. Yahoo Mail will move that sender's future emails to spam automatically, and you won't see notifications from them.

If you're already in your inbox and don't want to open the email first, right-click on the sender's name or email address in the message list. A menu will appear with a Block option. This does the same thing — all future emails from that address go straight to spam.

Once you block someone, Yahoo Mail remembers that choice. You won't have to block them again, even if they send from a different device or email client.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked senders' emails go to your spam folder automatically, and you won't receive notifications about them.
  • You can block a sender by opening their email and clicking the three dots, or by right-clicking their name in your inbox.
  • Blocking works on the email address itself, so the same person cannot bypass it by sending from a different device.
  • You can unblock a sender at any time by going to Settings and finding them in your blocked list.
  • Blocking is different from reporting spam — blocking stops future emails, while reporting helps Yahoo identify unwanted messages.

Where to find your blocked senders list

Go to your Yahoo Mail settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click the Security and privacy tab on the left side. Scroll down until you see Blocked addresses.

This page shows everyone you have blocked. You can see the full email address of each blocked sender and remove them from the list if you change your mind. Click the X next to any address to unblock that sender.

Unblock a sender if you change your mind

If you blocked someone by mistake or want to hear from them again, go back to Settings > Security and privacy > Blocked addresses. Find the sender's email address in the list and click the X button next to it. They are now unblocked, and their emails will no longer go to spam.

Unblocking happens right away. The next email from that sender will arrive in your inbox normally, so check your inbox after unblocking if you're expecting a message from them.

The difference between blocking and reporting spam

Blocking stops emails from one specific address from reaching you — they go to spam and you get no notification. Reporting spam tells Yahoo that a message is unwanted, which helps Yahoo's filters learn what spam looks like across all users. You can do both at the same time.

If you receive one unwanted email from someone and never expect to hear from them again, blocking is usually the faster choice. If you're getting repeated unwanted emails from many addresses, reporting them as spam helps protect other Yahoo Mail users too.

Block email addresses that use slight variations of a name

Spammers sometimes send from addresses that look similar to ones you've already blocked — for example, support@company.com versus support1@company.com. Yahoo Mail's block feature works on the exact email address, so you may need to block each variation separately.

If you're getting repeated emails from addresses that are all slightly different but from the same domain (like @spammer.com), check your spam folder first. Yahoo's filters may already be catching most of them. If they keep reaching your inbox, block each address as it arrives, or contact Yahoo Mail support if the volume becomes unmanageable.

What happens to blocked senders' emails

When you block someone, their emails don't disappear — they go to your spam folder instead of your inbox. You can still read them if you check spam, but you won't get a notification that a new message arrived. This is useful if you want to keep a record of the emails without seeing them pop up constantly.

Blocked emails stay in spam for 30 days before Yahoo Mail deletes them automatically. If you need to keep one for a record, move it to a folder before the 30 days are up.

Block senders on Yahoo Mail mobile apps

On the Yahoo Mail app for iPhone or Android, open an email from the sender you want to block. Tap the three dots at the top right, then select Block sender. The process is the same as on a computer — that sender's future emails go to spam.

You can also manage your blocked list on mobile by going to the menu (three horizontal lines), then Settings > Security and privacy > Blocked addresses. From there you can unblock anyone using the same method as on a computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will blocked senders know I blocked them?

No. Blocked senders won't receive any notification that you blocked them. Their emails straightforward go to spam, and they have no way to know whether you read them, blocked them, or reported them.

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

Yahoo Mail's block feature works on individual email addresses, not entire domains. If you're getting emails from many addresses at the same domain, block each one as it arrives, or check your spam folder settings to see if Yahoo can filter that domain automatically.

What if someone creates a new email address and emails me again?

Blocking only stops the specific email address you blocked. If the same person creates a new email account and contacts you, you'll see their message. Block the new address when it arrives, or report it as spam to help Yahoo's filters recognize similar messages.

Can I block emails from a group or mailing list?

Yes. Block the email address that appears in the "From" field, even if it's a group address. However, if the group sends from different addresses depending on who is replying, you may need to block multiple addresses.

Do blocked emails take up storage space in my spam folder?

Yes. Blocked emails sit in spam and count toward your storage limit until Yahoo Mail deletes them after 30 days. If you're running low on storage, empty your spam folder manually to free up space right away.