Block a sender from the message itself
The fastest way to block a Yahoo email sender is to open the message and use the block button built into Yahoo Mail. Open the email from the person you want to block, then look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the message. Click it and select Block sender. Yahoo will move that sender's future messages to your spam folder automatically.
This method works whether you're using Yahoo Mail on a computer or the Yahoo Mail app on your phone. The block takes effect when ready — you won't see new messages from that address in your inbox, though Yahoo keeps them in spam for 30 days before deleting them.
Key Takeaways
- The three-dot menu on any message gives you a Block sender option that sends future emails from that address to spam.
- Blocked senders' messages still arrive at Yahoo's servers but go straight to your spam folder instead of your inbox.
- You can unblock a sender at any time by going to Settings, then Blocked addresses, and removing the address from the list.
- Blocking works on the email address itself, so if someone sends from a different address, that new address is not automatically blocked.
- Yahoo keeps blocked messages in spam for 30 days, then deletes them permanently.
Block a sender from your contacts or blocked list
If you want to block someone before they send you a message, or if you need to manage your blocked senders list, go to your Yahoo Mail settings. Click the gear icon in the top right, then select Settings. In the left menu, find Security and privacy, then click Blocked addresses.
From this page, you can type in any email address you want to block. Yahoo will add it to your blocked list, and any messages from that address will go to spam. This is useful if you know someone's email address but haven't received a message from them yet, or if you want to review all the senders you've already blocked.
Unblock a sender if you change your mind
Blocking is not permanent. If you decide later that you want to receive messages from someone again, you can unblock them in the same place you blocked them. Go to Settings, then Security and privacy, then Blocked addresses. Find the sender's address in the list and click the X or Remove button next to it.
Once you unblock a sender, their messages will no longer go to spam automatically. Any messages they sent while they were blocked will still be in your spam folder, but you can move them back to your inbox if you want to read them.
What happens when you block someone
When you block a sender in Yahoo Mail, their messages do not disappear — they go to your spam folder instead of your inbox. Yahoo stores them there for 30 days, then deletes them. The sender does not receive a notification that you blocked them, and they will not know their messages are going to spam.
Blocking only affects messages from that specific email address. If the sender uses a different email address, those messages will still arrive in your inbox normally. Blocking also does not prevent the sender from seeing your replies if you had been corresponding with them before you blocked them — it only stops their new messages from reaching your inbox.
Block senders on the Yahoo Mail app
The Yahoo Mail app for iPhone and Android has the same blocking feature as the web version. Open a message from the sender you want to block, then tap the three-dot menu icon (usually in the top right or bottom of the screen, depending on your phone). Select Block sender from the menu. The sender will be added to your blocked list when ready.
You can also manage your blocked senders list on the app by opening Settings, tapping Security and privacy, then Blocked addresses. From there, you can add new addresses to block or remove addresses you've already blocked.
When blocking might not be enough
Blocking works well for unwanted messages from people you know or regular spam from the same address. However, if you receive messages from many different addresses that look similar (like variations of a name or slight changes to a domain), blocking one address at a time can be slow. In those cases, you might want to use Yahoo's spam filters or create a rule that automatically deletes messages matching certain words or patterns.
If you're receiving threatening messages, harassment, or messages that appear to be phishing attempts (fake login pages or requests for personal information), blocking is a good first step. But you should also report the message to Yahoo by clicking the flag icon and selecting Report phishing or Report spam. This helps Yahoo identify and stop the sender from reaching other users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the sender know I blocked them?
No. The sender receives no notification that you blocked them. Their messages straightforward go to your spam folder instead of your inbox, and they have no way of knowing this happened unless you tell them.
Can I block an entire domain instead of just one email address?
Yahoo's block feature works on individual email addresses, not entire domains. If you want to block all messages from a company or domain, you would need to block each address separately or use Yahoo's spam filters and rules to catch messages from that domain automatically.
What if I blocked someone by mistake?
Go to Settings, then Security and privacy, then Blocked addresses. Find the address you blocked and click the X or Remove button. They are unblocked when ready, and their future messages will arrive in your inbox normally.
Will blocking stop emails I already received from that sender?
No. Blocking only affects new messages going forward. Messages you already received from that sender stay in your inbox unless you delete them manually. Only new messages from that sender will go to spam after you block them.
Can someone get around my block by using a different email address?
Yes. Blocking works on the specific email address you blocked. If the sender uses a different email address, those messages will arrive in your inbox normally. You would need to block each address separately.