Yes, you can block emails — and the method depends on where you read them
You can block an email address in almost every email service. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have built-in blocking features that send future messages from that sender straight to spam or delete them entirely. The blocked sender cannot tell they have been blocked, and you will not see their messages arrive in your inbox.
Where you read email matters. If you use webmail (Gmail in a browser, Outlook.com), blocking happens in your account settings. If you use an email app on your phone or desktop (Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Outlook the program), blocking may happen in the app itself or may sync back to your email provider's servers. Some email providers block at the server level, meaning the message never reaches your device. Others filter it locally, meaning it arrives but your app hides it.
The practical difference: server-level blocking stops the message before it takes up storage space. Local blocking just hides it from view. For most people, either works fine. For people receiving hundreds of unwanted messages, server-level blocking saves storage.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have block features built in, usually found in account settings or by right-clicking a message.
- Blocking sends future emails from that address to spam or a blocked folder, but does not delete messages already in your inbox.
- The sender will not receive a notification that you blocked them, and they cannot tell the difference between a block and a deleted message.
- If someone uses multiple email addresses to contact you, you may need to block each address separately.
- Blocking is different from unsubscribing — unsubscribe removes you from a mailing list, while blocking stops all messages from one sender.
How to block in Gmail
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the message. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown. Gmail will move that message to spam and send all future messages from that address to your spam folder automatically.
You can also block someone without opening their email. In your inbox or spam folder, right-click the message and choose "Block [sender]" from the context menu. If you have already deleted the message, you can still block the address by going to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked Addresses, then typing the email address manually.
To unblock someone later, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked Addresses, find the address, and click the delete icon next to it.
How to block in Outlook (webmail and desktop app)
In Outlook.com (webmail), open the message and click the three dots in the top right. Select "Block" from the menu. Outlook will move the message to junk and filter future messages from that sender to your junk folder.
In Outlook the desktop program (the version that comes with Microsoft 365 or Windows), right-click the message and select "Junk" > "Block Sender". The message moves to your junk folder, and future messages from that address go there automatically.
To unblock in webmail, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email > Blocked senders and remove the address. In the desktop app, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Junk Email > Blocked Senders List.
How to block in Yahoo Mail
Open the message from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions) in the top right. Select "Block sender" from the menu. Yahoo will move the message to spam and filter future messages from that address to your spam folder.
You can also block by hovering over the sender's name in your inbox and clicking the block icon that appears. To unblock, go to Settings > Security and Privacy > Blocked addresses and remove the sender from the list.
How to block in Apple Mail
Apple Mail works differently depending on whether you use it on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. On a Mac, open the message, then go to Mail menu > Block Sender. On an iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the message in your inbox and tap the block icon (a circle with a slash), or open the message and tap "Report Junk" at the bottom.
Blocking in Apple Mail syncs across your devices if you use iCloud email. If you use a third-party email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) through Apple Mail, blocking may only work locally on that device and may not sync to the provider's servers. To be certain the block works everywhere, block the address directly in the email provider's website or app instead.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block an address, all future messages from that sender go to spam or a blocked folder. You will not see a notification when they send you a message. The sender will not receive a bounce-back or error message — their email straightforward disappears from your view.
Blocking does not delete messages already in your inbox. If you want to remove old messages from that sender, you must delete them yourself. Some email services let you delete all messages from a sender at once using a search filter, but you have to do this manually.
If the sender uses a different email address, blocking one address will not block the others. You will need to block each address separately. This is why blocking is less effective against persistent harassment than reporting to your email provider or law enforcement.
When blocking is not enough
Blocking works well for unwanted marketing emails or messages from people you straightforward do not want to hear from. It does not work well for harassment, threats, or spam from accounts that change addresses frequently.
If someone is harassing you across multiple addresses, report the messages to your email provider instead of just blocking. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all have abuse reporting tools. Go to the message, click the three dots, and select "Report phishing" or "Report spam". Your provider can investigate and take action against the sender's account.
If you are receiving threats or illegal content, report it to your email provider and consider contacting local law enforcement. Save copies of the messages before deleting them, as they may be needed as evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?
No. When you block someone, their message goes to spam or a blocked folder, and they receive no notification. They cannot tell the difference between a block and a deleted message. If they try to contact you through another method to ask why you are not responding, that is the only way they would know.
If I block someone, will they see my out-of-office message?
No. Blocked messages do not trigger your out-of-office reply. The message is filtered before your auto-reply system sees it, so the sender will not receive a response.
Can I block an entire domain instead of just one email address?
Most email services do not have a built-in feature to block an entire domain at once. You can create a filter rule in Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo that catches emails from a domain and sends them to spam, but you have to set this up manually in your settings. Some email providers call this a "filter" or "rule" rather than a block.
What is the difference between blocking and unsubscribing?
Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list, usually through a link at the bottom of the email. Blocking stops all messages from one sender. Use unsubscribe for newsletters and marketing emails you signed up for. Use block for unwanted messages from people or senders you did not consent to hear from.
If I block someone and then unblock them, will I see their old messages?
No. Unblocking just stops the filter — it does not restore messages that were moved to spam or deleted. If you want to see old messages from that sender, you may need to search your spam folder or ask them to resend the message.