Yes, you can block email addresses on every major platform

Every email service — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Apple Mail — has a built-in block feature that stops messages from a sender reaching your inbox. When you block someone, their emails go straight to spam or a blocked folder, and they won't know you blocked them. The process takes seconds and works the same way whether you're on a phone, tablet, or computer.

The exact steps depend on which email service you use, but the principle is identical: find the message, open a menu, and select block or report spam. You don't need to contact your email provider or change any settings beforehand.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking an email address sends that sender's future messages to spam or a blocked folder, and they cannot tell you blocked them.
  • Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail all have block features built into their apps and websites.
  • You block from the message itself — right-click or tap the menu button next to the sender's name.
  • Blocking only stops new messages; it does not delete messages already in your inbox.
  • If someone uses a different email address, you will need to block that address separately.

How to block on Gmail

Open the message from the sender you want to block. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu button) in the top right corner of the message. Tap or click those dots, then select Block [sender's name]. Gmail will move that message to spam and send all future messages from that address to spam automatically.

On a phone, the three dots appear at the top of the message. On a computer, they are to the right of the sender's name. Either way, the block option is the first or second item in the menu that appears.

How to block on Outlook

Open the message from the person you want to block. Click or tap the three dots at the top right of the message. Select Junk, then Block. Outlook will move that message to your Junk folder and filter future messages from that sender to Junk automatically.

If you are using Outlook on the web, the three dots appear next to the subject line. On the Outlook app for phone or tablet, they appear at the bottom of the message. The block option is always under the Junk submenu.

How to block on Yahoo Mail

Open the message from the sender you want to block. Click or tap the three dots at the top right of the message. Select Block sender. Yahoo will send that sender's future messages to spam, and you will not see them in your inbox.

On Yahoo's website, the three dots are in the toolbar above the message. On the Yahoo Mail app, they appear at the top right of the message itself. The block option is usually the first item in the menu.

How to block on Apple Mail

Open the message from the person you want to block. Click or tap the sender's name or email address at the top of the message. A small menu will appear. Select Block this contact or Block sender, depending on your device. Apple Mail will move that message to spam and filter future messages from that address to spam.

On an iPhone or iPad, tap the sender's name, then tap Block this contact. On a Mac, click the sender's name, and the block option appears in the dropdown menu. The exact wording varies slightly between devices, but the location is always near the sender's name at the top of the message.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block an email address, that sender's messages no longer appear in your inbox. They go to spam or a blocked folder instead. You can still see them if you open your spam or blocked folder — blocking does not delete old messages, only stops new ones from showing up in your main inbox.

The sender will not receive a notification that you blocked them. Their messages will appear to send normally on their end, but they will not know whether you read them, blocked them, or straightforward ignored them. If you change your mind, you can unblock the address by going to your spam or blocked folder, finding a message from that sender, and selecting unblock.

What to do if someone uses multiple email addresses

If the person you blocked has more than one email address, you will need to block each address separately. There is no way to block an entire person or domain — you can only block individual email addresses. If you notice messages coming from a new address, open one of those messages and block it using the same steps above.

If someone is sending you many messages from different addresses, contact your email provider's support team. They may be able to set up a filter or take action on the account itself, depending on whether the messages may have access to as harassment or spam under their terms of service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, their messages go to spam, but they receive no notification. From their perspective, the message sent normally. They cannot tell whether you read it, ignored it, or blocked them.

Will blocking delete messages I already received from that person?

No. Blocking only stops new messages from reaching your inbox. Messages you already received stay in your inbox unless you delete them manually. If you want to remove old messages, you can search for that sender's address and delete the messages one by one or in bulk.

Can I unblock someone after I block them?

Yes. Go to your spam or blocked folder, find a message from that sender, and look for an unblock option. On most email services, unblock appears in the same menu where block appeared. Once you unblock, that sender's future messages will go to your inbox normally again.

What if I block someone by mistake?

Open your spam or blocked folder, find any message from that sender, and select unblock. The process is the same across Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail. Once unblocked, messages from that address will return to your inbox.

Do I need to block someone on my phone and my computer separately?

No. When you block an address on one device, the block applies across all devices where you use that email account. If you block someone on your phone, they are blocked on your computer too. The block is tied to your email account, not to a single device.