Yes, you can block email addresses in every major email service
Every email provider — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, Apple Mail — has a built-in block feature that stops messages from a specific sender from reaching your inbox. When you block an address, those emails go straight to spam or a blocked folder instead. The sender does not get a notification that you blocked them, and they will not know their messages are not arriving.
The exact steps differ slightly between services, but the result is the same: you will not see their messages unless you deliberately check your spam folder. Blocking is not permanent — you can unblock an address at any time if you change your mind.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have block features accessible from the email itself or from settings.
- Blocked emails go to spam or a blocked folder, not to your inbox, but the sender receives no notification.
- Blocking works only for the email address you specify — if someone uses a different address, those messages will still arrive.
- You can unblock an address at any time by going to your blocked senders list in settings.
- Blocking does not prevent someone from sending you mail; it only hides their messages from your view.
How to block in Gmail
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right of the email. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown. Gmail will move that email and any future messages from that address to your spam folder automatically.
If you want to block someone but do not have an email from them yet, you can also go to Settings, click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, and add the address manually. This is useful if you want to block someone before they send you anything.
How to block in Outlook (web and desktop)
In Outlook on the web, open the email and click the three-dot menu at the top. Select "Block" or "Junk" depending on your version. Choose "Block Sender" and confirm. The email moves to your Junk folder, and future messages from that address go there automatically.
In Outlook desktop (Windows or Mac), right-click the email, hover over "Junk," and click "Block Sender." You can also go to Settings, then Mail, then Junk Email, and add addresses to your blocked senders list manually.
How to block in Yahoo Mail
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon. Select "Block sender." Yahoo will move that email to spam and filter future messages from that address to your spam folder. You can view and manage your blocked senders list in Settings under "Blocked addresses."
If you receive many unwanted emails from the same sender, blocking stops them all at once rather than deleting them one by one. Once blocked, you will not see notifications when that address sends you mail.
How to block in Apple Mail (iPhone, iPad, Mac)
On iPhone or iPad, open the email, tap the sender's name at the top, and select "Block this Contact." On Mac, right-click the email and select "Block Contact" from the menu. Apple Mail will filter future messages from that address into your junk folder.
If you use iCloud Mail on the web, open the email, click the flag icon, and select "Block." The process is the same across all Apple devices — blocked messages go to your junk folder automatically.
What happens when you block someone
Once you block an address, all future emails from that sender go directly to your spam or junk folder. You will not see a notification when they send you mail. The sender has no way to know you blocked them — from their perspective, they straightforward will not know whether you read their messages.
The blocked sender can still send you emails; the emails just do not arrive in your inbox. If you want to check whether someone has tried to contact you after blocking them, you can look in your spam or junk folder. Blocking only affects that one email address — if the person uses a different email account, those messages will arrive normally.
Unblocking an address if you change your mind
All email services let you unblock addresses. In Gmail, go to Settings, click Filters and Blocked Addresses, find the address, and click the trash icon next to it. In Outlook, go to Settings, Mail, Junk Email, and remove the address from your blocked senders list. In Yahoo Mail, go to Settings, Blocked Addresses, and click the X next to the address. In Apple Mail, go to Settings, and find your blocked contacts list to remove addresses.
Once you unblock an address, emails from that sender will arrive in your inbox normally again. There is no waiting period — the change takes effect when ready.
When blocking is not enough
Blocking works well for one or two unwanted senders, but if you are receiving many emails from different addresses, blocking each one individually becomes tedious. Some email services let you create filters or rules that catch emails based on keywords, subject lines, or sender domains rather than individual addresses.
If someone is harassing you or sending threatening messages, blocking is a first step, but you may also want to report the email as spam or abuse to your email provider. Most services have a "Report spam" or "Report abuse" button alongside the block option. If the harassment continues or escalates, you can save the emails as evidence and contact local authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
No. The sender will not receive a notification, and there is no way for them to know their messages are blocked. From their perspective, they straightforward will not know whether you read their emails or not.
What if the person uses a different email address?
Blocking works only for the specific email address you block. If someone creates a new email account or uses a different address, those messages will arrive in your inbox normally. You would need to block each address separately.
Do blocked emails disappear, or can I still see them?
Blocked emails go to your spam or junk folder, not deleted. You can still view them if you check that folder, but they will not appear in your inbox. You can delete them permanently from spam if you want.
Can I block an entire domain instead of one address?
Most email services do not have a built-in block domain feature, but you can create filters or rules to catch emails from a domain. In Gmail, use Filters and Blocked Addresses to add patterns. In Outlook, create a rule in Settings. This requires a few more steps than blocking a single address.
If I unblock someone, will I see their old blocked emails?
No. Unblocking only affects future emails. Old emails that were blocked and moved to spam will stay in your spam folder unless you move them back to your inbox manually.