Yes, you can block email addresses in every major email provider

Every email service — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, Apple Mail — has a built-in block feature that stops messages from a specific sender reaching your inbox. When you block someone, their emails go to spam automatically, and they won't know they've been blocked. The process takes seconds and works the same way across most platforms: find the email, click a menu, and select block.

Blocking is different from unsubscribing. Unsubscribe removes you from a mailing list (newsletters, promotional emails). Blocking stops all mail from one person or address, whether they're sending intentionally or their account has been hacked. If you're getting unwanted mail from a business, unsubscribe first — it's faster and cleaner. If someone is harassing you or you straightforward don't want to hear from them again, block them.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking an email address sends that sender's messages directly to spam; they cannot see that they've been blocked.
  • In Gmail, open the email, click the three-dot menu, and select "Block [sender]" — no confirmation needed.
  • In Outlook, right-click the sender's name and choose "Block" from the menu, or use the junk button at the top.
  • Blocked emails still arrive on the server but skip your inbox and go to spam, so you can unblock later if needed.
  • If you're being harassed or threatened, blocking is a first step, but contact your email provider's abuse team for serious cases.

How to block in Gmail

Open any email from the person you want to block. Click the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the email. A dropdown menu appears with several options. Select "Block [sender's name]" — it's usually near the bottom of the menu.

Gmail will ask you to confirm: "Block [email address]?" Click the block button again. That's it. From now on, emails from that address go straight to your spam folder. You won't see notifications, and the sender won't know they're blocked. If you change your mind later, you can unblock them by going to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked Addresses, finding the address, and clicking Unblock.

How to block in Outlook (web and desktop)

In Outlook on the web: Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three-dot menu at the top right. Select "Block" from the dropdown. Outlook will move the email to spam and block future messages from that address. To unblock, go to Settings (the gear icon) > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Junk email. Find the address under "Blocked senders" and remove it.

In Outlook desktop (Windows or Mac): Right-click the sender's name or email address in the message. A context menu appears. Select "Block Sender" or "Junk" depending on your Outlook version. The email moves to your Junk folder, and future messages from that address will go there automatically. To unblock, go to Home > Junk > Block Senders, find the address, and remove it from the list.

How to block in Yahoo Mail and Apple Mail

Yahoo Mail: Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon. Select "Block sender." Yahoo moves the email to spam and blocks future messages. To unblock, go to Settings > Security and privacy > Blocked addresses and remove the sender from the list.

Apple Mail (iCloud.com): Open the email. Click the flag icon or the three-dot menu at the top right. Select "Block this contact" or "Report Junk." The email goes to spam, and future messages from that address will too. On iPhone or iPad, swipe left on an email from that sender and tap the trash icon, then tap "Block this Contact" if the option appears. To unblock on iCloud.com, go to Settings > Mail > VIP and Blocked, find the address under Blocked, and remove it.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block an address, all future emails from that sender go directly to your spam or junk folder. You won't get notifications, and the emails won't clutter your inbox. The blocked sender can still send emails — they just won't know the block is in place. From their perspective, the email was sent normally. They might assume you're not responding, or they might not think about it at all.

You can still see blocked emails if you check your spam folder, so you're not completely blind to what they're sending. This matters if you need proof of harassment later. Blocked emails stay in spam for 30 days (in Gmail) before being deleted automatically, giving you time to review them if necessary. In Outlook and Yahoo, the retention period varies, but blocked emails are kept for at least a few weeks.

When blocking isn't enough

Blocking works for unwanted emails from people you know or regular spam. But if someone is harassing you, threatening you, or sending you explicit content, blocking is just the first step. Report the email to your provider's abuse team. In Gmail, click the three-dot menu and select "Report phishing" or "Report spam" — this helps Google identify patterns and take action against the sender's account. In Outlook, click "Report" and choose "Phishing" or "Junk." Yahoo and Apple have similar reporting options.

If the harassment is serious or involves threats, save the emails (don't delete them), take screenshots, and contact local law enforcement or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Your email provider can cooperate with authorities if needed. For workplace harassment, report to your IT department or HR. Blocking stops the emails from reaching you, but reporting helps stop the sender from harassing others.

Blocking email addresses on your phone

Most email apps on phones work the same way as the web versions. In Gmail on iPhone or Android, open the email, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Block [sender]." In Outlook mobile, swipe left on the email (iPhone) or long-press it (Android), then tap the block or junk icon. In Apple Mail on iPhone, swipe left on the email and tap "Mark as Junk," or open the email and tap the flag icon, then "Block this Contact."

If you use a third-party email app like Spark or ProtonMail, the process varies slightly, but all of them have a block or spam feature. Check the app's menu or settings if you don't see a block option when ready. Some apps let you block directly from the inbox without opening the email, which is faster if you're dealing with multiple unwanted senders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person I block know I blocked them?

No. Blocked senders won't receive any notification that they've been blocked. Their emails straightforward go to spam, and they won't know why you're not responding. They might assume you're busy, ignoring them, or didn't see the message — but they won't know a block is in place.

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

Most email providers don't have a built-in domain block feature in their main interface, but you can create a filter or rule to send all emails from a domain to spam. In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Create a new filter, enter the domain (like @example.com), and choose "Delete" or "Skip the Inbox." In Outlook, use Rules to automatically move emails from a domain to junk.

What if someone creates a new email address and keeps contacting me?

Block each new address as it arrives. If the harassment continues across multiple addresses, report it to your email provider's abuse team — they can investigate whether the accounts are linked and take action against the person. For serious cases, contact law enforcement.

Can I unblock someone after I block them?

Yes. Every email provider lets you view your blocked list and remove addresses from it. In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked Addresses. In Outlook, go to Settings > Junk email > Blocked senders. Once you remove the address, emails from that sender will go to your inbox again.

Does blocking delete emails that are already in my inbox?

No. Blocking only affects future emails. Any messages from that sender that are already in your inbox stay there. If you want to remove them, you'll need to delete them manually or move them to trash. Blocking only stops new messages from reaching your inbox.