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 corner of the message. Select Block sender from the menu. Yahoo Mail will move that sender's future messages to spam automatically, and you won't see notifications when they arrive.

If you've already deleted the email, you can still block the address. Go to your Settings (gear icon in the top right), select Security and privacy, then Blocked addresses. Click Add email address and type in the address you want to block. Yahoo will treat messages from that address the same way — they go straight to spam.

The block takes effect when ready. Messages from a blocked sender won't appear in your inbox, but they're not deleted — they land in your spam folder where you can review them later if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block an address directly from any email by clicking the three dots and selecting Block sender.
  • Blocked messages go to your spam folder, not deleted, so you can unblock someone later if needed.
  • You can add addresses to your block list manually through Settings without needing an email from them first.
  • Blocking works on Yahoo Mail's website and in the Yahoo Mail app on your phone.
  • A blocked sender won't know they've been blocked — Yahoo doesn't notify them.

What happens when you block someone

Once you block an address, Yahoo Mail routes all messages from that sender to your spam folder. You won't get a notification when they send you something, and their messages won't show up in your inbox count. The sender has no way to know they've been blocked — Yahoo doesn't send them a message or change how their own email appears to them.

If the person emails you from a different address, that message will come through normally. Blocking only affects the specific email address you blocked, not the person behind it. This matters if someone is harassing you from multiple accounts — you'll need to block each address separately.

Blocking on your phone versus your computer

The Yahoo Mail app on iPhone and Android has the same blocking feature. Open an email, tap the three dots at the bottom of the message, and select Block sender. The block syncs across all your devices, so if you block someone on your phone, they're blocked when you check Yahoo Mail on your computer too.

If you're using Yahoo Mail through a third-party email app (like Outlook or Apple Mail), blocking may not work the same way. Those apps use Yahoo's servers but have their own interface. You may need to block the address through Yahoo's website instead to make sure it sticks.

Unblocking an address if you change your mind

Go to Settings (gear icon), select Security and privacy, then Blocked addresses. You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Find the address you want to unblock and click the trash icon next to it. That person's messages will start appearing in your inbox again right away.

Unblocking doesn't delete old messages from that sender — they're still in your spam folder. You can move them back to your inbox manually if you want to read them, or leave them where they are.

When blocking isn't enough

If someone is sending you threatening or harassing messages, blocking keeps them out of your inbox but doesn't stop them from sending. They can create new email addresses and keep contacting you. In that situation, save the messages (don't delete them) and report them to Yahoo. Click the three dots on the message and select Report phishing or Report spam. Yahoo's abuse team reviews reports and can take action against accounts that violate their terms.

If the harassment is severe or involves threats, you may want to report it to local police as well. Keep screenshots or copies of the messages as evidence. Yahoo can provide information to law enforcement if they have a legal request, but they won't do so based on your report alone.

Blocking versus filtering and rules

Blocking and filtering are different tools. Blocking sends a sender's messages to spam. Filtering (or creating rules) lets you organize messages from specific addresses into folders you choose, or mark them as read automatically. If you want to keep messages from someone but organize them separately, filtering might work better than blocking.

To create a filter, go to Settings, select Filters and blocked addresses, then Add new filter. You can set rules like "if the sender is [address], move to folder [name]" or "mark as read." This is useful for newsletters or automated messages you want to keep but don't want cluttering your inbox.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I've blocked them?

No. Yahoo Mail doesn't notify the sender or change how their email works. They won't see a bounce-back message or any indication that you blocked them. They may notice you're not replying, but they can't tell from the email system itself.

If I block someone, can they still see my emails?

Yes. Blocking only affects what you receive from them. If you've already sent them messages, they can still read those. Blocking is one-way — it stops their messages from reaching you, but doesn't hide your past correspondence from them.

What's the difference between blocking and reporting spam?

Blocking stops one address from reaching your inbox. Reporting spam tells Yahoo that an address is sending unwanted messages, which helps Yahoo identify patterns of abuse. You can do both — report the message as spam and then block the address.

Do I need to block an address if I just delete the emails?

Deleting stops you from seeing the message once, but the sender can keep emailing you. Blocking is permanent until you unblock — every future message from that address goes to spam automatically. If you're getting repeated unwanted messages, blocking saves you from having to delete them one by one.

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

Yahoo Mail's standard block feature works on individual addresses only. If you're getting spam from many addresses at the same domain (like spammer@example.com, another@example.com), you'll need to block each one separately, or use filters to send all mail from that domain to a folder.