Block a sender in three steps

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right of the message. Select Block sender from the dropdown menu. Yahoo Mail will move that sender's future emails to spam automatically.

Once you block someone, their emails skip your inbox and go straight to your Spam folder. You can still see them there if you need to, but they will not show up in your main inbox or trigger notifications. The block stays in place until you remove it.

If you want to block someone without opening their email first, you can right-click their name in your inbox list and choose Block sender from the context menu. The result is the same.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked senders' emails go to your Spam folder automatically, not your inbox.
  • You can block someone by opening their email, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting Block sender.
  • Right-clicking a sender's name in your inbox list offers a faster way to block without opening the message.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings and finding them in your blocked senders list.

Where blocked emails go

When you block a sender, Yahoo Mail sends their messages to your Spam folder. This means you will not see them in your inbox, but the emails are not deleted. If you change your mind or need to check what someone sent, you can open your Spam folder and read the messages there.

Blocked senders cannot tell that you have blocked them. They will not receive a notification, and their emails will appear to send normally from their end. The block is silent on both sides.

How to unblock someone

Go to your Yahoo Mail Settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. Click the Security and privacy tab on the left side.

Scroll down to find Blocked addresses. You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click the X or Remove button next to their name. Their emails will start arriving in your inbox again.

Block multiple people at once

If you are getting unwanted emails from several senders, you do not have to block them one at a time. Go to your Spam folder and select the checkboxes next to the emails you want to block. Click the three-dot menu at the top of the list and choose Block sender. Yahoo Mail will block all of them in one action.

This method works best when the unwanted emails are already grouped together in your Spam folder. If they are scattered across different folders, blocking them individually through the three-dot menu is faster.

What happens to emails you already received

Blocking someone does not delete emails they already sent you. Those messages stay in your inbox or Spam folder depending on where they were when you blocked the sender. If you want to remove them, you will need to delete them manually.

To clean up old emails from someone you just blocked, select them in your inbox, then click the trash or delete icon. You can select multiple emails at once by clicking the checkbox next to each one, or use the checkbox at the top to select all emails from that sender on the current page.

Block senders on mobile Yahoo Mail

Open the Yahoo Mail app on your phone or tablet. Find the email from the person you want to block and swipe left on it (iPhone) or long-press it (Android). A menu will appear with options including Block sender. Tap that option to block them.

On mobile, the blocking process works the same way as on a computer — their future emails go to Spam automatically. You can manage your blocked senders list by going to Settings in the app and looking for Security and privacy, just like on the web version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they will not receive any notification. Their emails will appear to send normally from their perspective, but you will not see them. There is no way for them to know they are blocked unless they try to contact you through another method and notice you are not responding.

What if I block someone by mistake?

Go to Settings, click Security and privacy, and find Blocked addresses. Locate the person you blocked by mistake and click the Remove button next to their name. Their emails will start coming to your inbox again right away.

Do blocked emails get deleted?

No. Blocked emails go to your Spam folder, not the trash. You can still read them if you need to. If you want to permanently delete them, you will need to go to Spam and delete them manually.

Can I block an email address that is not in my contacts?

Yes. You can block any email address, whether or not you have them saved as a contact. Open any email from that address and use the three-dot menu to block the sender.

Will blocking stop text messages or calls from that person?

No. Blocking in Yahoo Mail only affects email. It does not block phone calls, text messages, or contact through other apps or services. If you need to block someone across multiple platforms, you will need to use the blocking tools in each app separately.