The fastest way to block an email address

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more options) in the top right corner of the message. Select Block sender from the menu. Yahoo Mail will move that sender's future emails to your spam folder automatically.

If you have already deleted the email, you can still block the address without finding the original message. Go to your account settings, select Security and privacy, then Blocked addresses. Type or paste the email address you want to block and click Add to blocked list.

Once blocked, emails from that address will go straight to spam. You will not see notifications for them, and they cannot reach your inbox.

Key Takeaways

  • The quickest method is to open any email from that sender and click the three dots, then Block sender.
  • You can also add addresses manually through Settings > Security and privacy > Blocked addresses without needing an email from them first.
  • Blocked emails go to your spam folder, not deleted, so you can review them later if needed.
  • Blocking works on all devices where you access Yahoo Mail — the block applies to your account, not just one device.

Adding addresses manually without an email from them

If someone is harassing you but you have not received an email yet, or you deleted all their messages, you can block them preemptively. Sign into Yahoo Mail and click your account icon in the top right corner. Select Account info, then Security and privacy on the left sidebar.

Look for Blocked addresses and click Manage. Type the full email address into the field and click Add. You can add multiple addresses at once by entering each one on a separate line.

What happens when you block someone

Blocked senders cannot tell they have been blocked. Their emails arrive at Yahoo Mail's servers but are automatically sorted into your spam folder instead of your inbox. You will not receive any notification when a blocked person sends you a message.

The blocked address will remain on your list until you remove it. If you change your mind, go back to Blocked addresses, find the address in your list, and click the X or Remove button next to it. Once removed, their emails will go to your inbox again.

Blocking on mobile devices

The Yahoo Mail app on iPhone and Android works the same way as the website. Open an email from the person you want to block, tap the three dots at the top, and select Block sender. The app will confirm the block when ready.

To manage your blocked list on mobile, tap your profile icon, go to Settings, then Security and privacy, and select Blocked addresses. You can add or remove addresses from here just as you would on a computer.

Blocking does not delete past emails

When you block someone, Yahoo Mail does not automatically delete the emails they already sent you. Those messages stay in your inbox, sent folder, or wherever you filed them. Blocking only stops new emails from that address.

If you want to remove old emails from a blocked sender, you will need to delete them manually. Select the messages, click the trash icon, and confirm the deletion. This is separate from blocking and gives you control over what you keep.

When blocking is not enough

If someone is sending threatening, abusive, or harassing messages, blocking is a good first step. However, if the harassment continues from different email addresses or escalates, you may want to report it to Yahoo. Click the three dots on a message and select Report phishing or abuse. Yahoo reviews these reports and can take action against accounts that violate their terms of service.

Keep records of the harassment — take screenshots or save the emails — in case you need them later. If the person is threatening you offline or the harassment is severe, contact local law enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they will not receive a notification, and their emails will appear to send normally from their end. They may eventually notice you are not responding, but Yahoo Mail does not inform them of the block.

What if the blocked person uses a different email address?

Blocking one address does not block other addresses from the same person. If they contact you from a new email, you will see it in your inbox. You can block that address too, but you will need to do it separately for each one.

Can I block an entire domain?

Yahoo Mail does not have a built-in feature to block all emails from a domain like @company.com. You can only block individual email addresses. If you are receiving many unwanted emails from the same company, block each address separately or use filters to send them to spam automatically.

Will blocking stop emails I already received?

No. Blocking only affects new emails going forward. Any messages from that sender that are already in your inbox will stay there unless you delete them manually. The block prevents future emails from reaching you.

How do I unblock someone?

Go to Settings > Security and privacy > Blocked addresses. Find the address you want to unblock and click the X or Remove button next to it. Their emails will go to your inbox again after you remove them from the blocked list.