Block a sender in three steps

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right of the message (it looks like three vertical dots). Select Block sender from the dropdown menu. Yahoo Mail will move that sender's future emails to your Spam folder automatically.

You do not need to delete the current email first — blocking works on the sender's address, not on individual messages. Once blocked, you will not see notifications for their emails, though they will still arrive in Spam if you want to check them later.

If you change your mind, you can unblock the sender at any time by going to Settings, finding the blocked list, and removing their address.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a sender takes three clicks: open the email, click the three-dot menu, and select Block sender.
  • Blocked senders' emails go to your Spam folder instead of your inbox, but you can still read them if you need to.
  • You can block multiple senders, and the list is stored in your Yahoo Mail settings.
  • Unblocking a sender is just as straightforward — go to Settings and remove them from your blocked list.

Where blocked emails actually go

When you block a sender, Yahoo Mail does not delete their emails — it sends them to your Spam folder. This means you can still retrieve a message if you blocked someone by mistake or if you need to check something they sent.

Check your Spam folder regularly if you are worried about missing legitimate emails. If you find a blocked sender's message that you actually wanted to see, you can move it back to your inbox and then unblock the sender if needed.

Blocking email addresses versus blocking domains

When you block a sender in Yahoo Mail, you are blocking their specific email address — not their entire domain. This means if someone sends you mail from spammer@example.com, you block that exact address, but emails from another.person@example.com will still reach your inbox.

If you want to block everyone from a particular company or domain, you will need to block each address individually as they arrive, or use Yahoo Mail's filter feature to create a rule that catches all mail from that domain. Filters are more powerful but require a few extra steps in Settings.

Using filters to block multiple senders at once

If one sender keeps using different email addresses, or if you want to block an entire domain, create a filter instead of blocking individual addresses. Go to Settings, then Filters, and click Add Filter. Enter the sender's address or domain in the "From" field.

Choose what you want to happen to matching emails — you can send them to Spam, delete them, or move them to a folder. Filters work on patterns, so you can block *@example.com to catch all mail from that domain at once. This is more flexible than the basic block feature but takes a bit longer to set up.

What happens when a blocked sender tries to reach you

The sender does not receive a notification that you blocked them. Their emails straightforward arrive in your Spam folder without triggering any alert on your end. From their perspective, the email appears to send normally — they have no way to know whether you read it, blocked it, or deleted it.

If a blocked sender tries to contact you through a different email address, that message will come through normally unless you block that address too. Blocking is address-specific, so someone determined to reach you can switch accounts.

Unblocking a sender

To unblock someone, log into Yahoo Mail and click the gear icon in the top right to open Settings. Select Accounts and Import, then go to Blocked addresses. Find the sender you want to unblock and click the X next to their name. They will be removed from your blocked list when ready.

After you unblock a sender, their future emails will go to your inbox normally again. Any emails they sent while they were blocked will still be in your Spam folder — unblocking does not move old messages back automatically.

Blocking senders on Yahoo Mail mobile apps

The process is similar on the Yahoo Mail app for iPhone or Android. Open an email from the sender you want to block, tap the three-dot menu at the top, and select Block sender. The app will move their future emails to Spam just like the web version does.

To unblock on mobile, open Settings in the app, go to Blocked addresses, and swipe left on the sender's name (iPhone) or long-press and delete (Android). The change syncs across all your devices, so blocking on your phone affects what you see on your computer too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block someone without opening their email?

Not directly from the inbox list. You need to open the email first to access the three-dot menu and block option. However, if you see a sender you want to block, you can click on their name or address in the email header to open their profile, where a block option may appear.

What if I block someone by mistake?

Go to Settings, select Accounts and Import, then Blocked addresses. Find the sender's name and click the X to remove them. They are unblocked when ready, and their future emails will arrive in your inbox normally again.

Do blocked senders know I blocked them?

No. Their emails still appear to send successfully from their end. They receive no notification or bounce-back message. The only way they would know is if you told them directly.

Can I block emails by subject line or content instead of sender?

The basic block feature only works on sender addresses. To block by subject line or content, use Filters in Settings. Create a filter with rules that match the words or phrases you want to block, then choose to send those emails to Spam or delete them.

If I block someone, will they see my read receipts or know I'm online?

Blocking only affects incoming email. It does not hide your online status, prevent them from seeing if you read their emails in the past, or stop them from sending messages — their emails just go to Spam instead of your inbox.