The fastest way to block someone in Yahoo Mail

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

If you've already deleted the email, you can still block the address. Go to your Spam folder, find an email from that sender, open it, click the three dots, and choose Block. The block takes effect when ready for new messages.

You can also block someone without opening their email. Right-click on their name in your inbox or any folder, and select Block from the menu. This works the same way as blocking from inside the message.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked senders' emails go straight to your spam folder, and you won't receive notifications about them.
  • You can block an address from inside an email, from your spam folder, or by right-clicking a sender's name in your inbox.
  • Blocking someone in Yahoo Mail does not delete their past emails — those stay in your account unless you delete them yourself.
  • If you change your mind, you can unblock an address anytime through your Yahoo Mail settings.

What happens when you block an email address

When you block someone, Yahoo Mail sends their messages to your spam folder instead of your inbox. You won't get a notification or alert that they sent you anything. The blocked sender won't know they've been blocked — Yahoo Mail doesn't send them a message about it.

Blocking only affects new emails. Any messages from that person that are already in your inbox, trash, or other folders stay where they are. If you want them gone, you'll need to delete them yourself. You can select multiple emails from the same sender and delete them all at once by checking the boxes next to each message and clicking Delete.

How to unblock an email address

If you block someone by mistake or change your mind, you can unblock them. Click the gear icon in the top right of Yahoo Mail and select Settings. Go to the Security tab, then scroll down to Blocked addresses.

You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Find the address you want to unblock and click the X next to their name. They're unblocked when ready, and their emails will go to your inbox again instead of spam.

Blocking vs. unsubscribing from mailing lists

Blocking is different from unsubscribing. When you block someone, all their emails go to spam no matter what. When you unsubscribe from a mailing list, you're asking the sender to remove you from their list — but they have to honor that request, and it can take a few days to take effect.

Use unsubscribe for newsletters, promotional emails, and marketing messages where there's an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Use block for people sending you unwanted personal emails, spam, or harassment. If a sender ignores your unsubscribe request, block them instead.

Blocking email addresses on mobile Yahoo Mail

The process is the same on the Yahoo Mail app for iPhone or Android. Open an email from the sender you want to block, tap the three dots in the top right, and select Block. The app will confirm that the address is blocked.

To unblock on mobile, tap the gear icon, go to Settings, then Security, and find Blocked addresses. Tap the address you want to unblock and confirm. Changes sync across all your devices, so blocking on your phone affects what you see on your computer too.

When blocking doesn't work the way you expect

If you block someone but still see emails from them, they may be using a different email address. Blocking only stops messages from the exact address you blocked. If someone has multiple email accounts, you'll need to block each one separately.

Another reason you might still see their emails: if they're sending to a group email or mailing list you're part of, blocking them won't filter those out. You'd need to leave the group or adjust the group's settings. If someone is harassing you across multiple accounts or the blocking isn't stopping the behavior, contact Yahoo Mail support or consider reporting the emails as abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the person I block know I blocked them?

No. Yahoo Mail doesn't notify blocked senders that you've blocked them. They won't see any message or alert. If they try to email you, their message will go to spam, but they won't receive a bounce-back or rejection notice.

Can I block an email address if I don't have an email from them yet?

Not directly from your inbox. You can only block addresses that have sent you at least one email. If you want to prevent someone from contacting you before they do, you'd need to use a filter or rule instead, which you can set up in your Security settings.

Will blocking delete emails I already have from that person?

No. Blocking only affects new emails going forward. Old messages from that sender stay in your inbox or other folders. You have to delete them yourself if you want them gone.

What's the difference between blocking and reporting as spam?

Blocking sends future emails from that address to spam. Reporting as spam does the same thing but also tells Yahoo Mail that the sender is a spammer, which helps protect other users. For harassment or unwanted personal emails, blocking is usually enough. For obvious spam or phishing, report it.

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

Yahoo Mail's block feature works on individual addresses only. If you want to block everyone from a company domain, you'd need to set up a filter in your settings instead, which catches emails based on the domain name rather than a single address.