The fastest way to block someone in Yahoo Mail
Open the email from the sender 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 will move that sender's future emails to spam automatically, and you will not see notifications for them.
If you have already deleted the email, you can still block the address. Go to your Spam folder, find any email from that sender, open it, and use the same three-dot menu to block them. The block takes effect when ready for new messages.
Once you block someone, Yahoo keeps a list of blocked senders in your account settings. You can view, add to, or remove addresses from this list at any time without unblocking them permanently — you can also unblock if you change your mind.
Key Takeaways
- Blocked senders' emails go to your spam folder automatically, and you will not receive notifications about them.
- You can block an address from the email itself using the three-dot menu, or from your spam folder if you have already deleted it.
- Yahoo stores your blocked senders list in account settings, where you can add more addresses or remove blocks later.
- Blocking someone does not delete their past emails — those remain in your account unless you delete them manually.
- The person you block will not be notified that you blocked them, and they will not know their emails are going to spam.
Where to find your blocked senders list
Log into Yahoo Mail and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Security and privacy in the left sidebar. Scroll down to find Blocked addresses. This page shows every address you have blocked and lets you add new ones or remove blocks.
From this same page, you can type in an email address and block it without waiting for that person to send you something first. This is useful if you know someone's address and want to prevent their emails from reaching your inbox before they contact you.
What happens to emails from blocked senders
When you block an address, Yahoo automatically sends all future emails from that sender to your spam folder. You will not see them in your inbox, and you will not get a notification that a new message arrived. The emails are still stored in your spam folder — they are not deleted — so you can review them later if needed.
Blocking only affects new messages. Any emails you already received from that sender stay in your inbox or other folders unless you move or delete them yourself. If you want to clean up old messages, you will need to find and delete them manually.
Blocking vs. unsubscribing: which one to use
If the email is from a business or mailing list you signed up for, look for an Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the message. Clicking it removes you from their mailing list, which is the proper way to stop receiving newsletters or promotional emails. Unsubscribing tells the sender you no longer want their messages, while blocking just hides them from you.
Use blocking for unwanted personal emails, spam, or harassment. Use unsubscribing for legitimate businesses whose emails you straightforward do not want anymore. If you unsubscribe from a sender and they keep emailing you, then block them — that shows they are not respecting the unsubscribe request.
Blocking emails on mobile Yahoo Mail
Open the Yahoo Mail app on your phone and find the email you want to block. Swipe left on the message (iPhone) or long-press it (Android). A menu will appear with options including Block. Tap it to add that sender to your blocked list.
On mobile, you can also open an email and tap the three dots in the top right corner, then select Block sender. The process works the same way as on a computer — the sender's future emails go to spam, and you will not see notifications.
What to do if someone keeps emailing you after you block them
Blocking stops emails from reaching your inbox, but a determined sender can create a new email address and contact you again. If this happens, block the new address the same way. Keep blocking each new address they use.
If the harassment continues or feels threatening, save copies of the emails and report them to Yahoo. Click the three dots on any message and select Report phishing or Report spam depending on what the email contains. Yahoo investigates reports of abuse and may take action against accounts that violate their terms of service. You can also contact Yahoo's support team directly if you need help with a serious harassment situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block someone without opening their email?
Yes. Go to Settings, then Security and privacy, then Blocked addresses. Type the email address you want to block and click the block button. You do not need to receive an email from them first.
Will the person I block know that I blocked them?
No. They will not receive a notification, and they will not see any sign that their emails are going to spam. From their perspective, they sent you a message — they will not know whether you read it, ignored it, or blocked it.
Can I unblock someone after I block them?
Yes. Go to Settings, Security and privacy, then Blocked addresses. Find the address you want to unblock and click the remove button next to it. Their emails will start arriving in your inbox again.
Do blocked emails get deleted, or can I still see them?
Blocked emails go to your spam folder but are not deleted. You can open your spam folder and read them if you want to. To permanently remove them, you will need to delete them from spam manually.
What if I block someone by mistake?
Go back to Settings, Security and privacy, Blocked addresses, and remove the block. Their emails will start coming through again. If they already sent you messages while blocked, those will still be in your spam folder — move them back to your inbox if you need them.