How to block an email address depends on which email service you use

Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all have built-in blocking features, but the steps differ slightly for each one. The basic idea is the same: you find the email from the sender you want to block, click a menu option, and confirm. After that, their messages go straight to spam or a blocked folder, and you won't see notifications from them. The sender won't know they're blocked — the email just disappears on your end.

Blocking is different from unsubscribing. When you unsubscribe from a mailing list, you're asking to be removed from a distribution. When you block, you're telling your email service to reject all messages from that specific address. Blocking works even if the sender keeps trying to reach you.

Key Takeaways

  • In Gmail, open the email, click the three-dot menu, and select "Block [sender]" — blocked messages go to spam automatically.
  • In Outlook on the web, right-click the sender's name and choose "Block" — you can also manage blocked senders in Settings.
  • In Apple Mail on Mac, select the email and go to Mail menu, then Junk, then "Block Sender" — on iPhone, swipe left on the email and tap the block icon.
  • Once blocked, you won't receive new messages from that address, but old emails from them stay in your mailbox unless you delete them.
  • If you block someone by mistake, you can unblock them in your email service's settings — the process takes less than a minute.

Blocking in Gmail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the email. Click it, and a dropdown menu appears. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the list.

Gmail will ask you to confirm. Click "Block" again. From that moment on, all emails from that address go directly to your Spam folder. You won't see them in your inbox, and you won't get notifications. If you ever need to unblock them, go to Settings, click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, find the blocked sender, and click "Unblock."

Blocking in Outlook (web version)

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Right-click on the sender's name or email address. A small menu appears with several options. Click "Block" or "Block sender" (the exact wording depends on your Outlook version).

Outlook moves that email to your Junk folder and blocks future messages from that address. If you want to see all your blocked senders or unblock someone, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), select "Mail," then "Junk email," and look for "Blocked senders." You can add or remove addresses from this list at any time.

Blocking in Apple Mail on Mac

Select the email from the sender you want to block. Go to the Mail menu at the top of your screen. Hover over "Junk," and a submenu appears. Click "Block Sender." Apple Mail moves the email to your Junk folder and blocks future messages from that address.

To unblock someone, go to Mail menu, then Preferences, then Junk Mail. You'll see a list of blocked senders. Select the one you want to unblock and click the minus button to remove them from the list.

Blocking in Apple Mail on iPhone

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Swipe left on the email (from right to left across the screen). A row of action buttons appears on the right side. Tap the block icon (it looks like a circle with a slash through it, or sometimes shows as "Block"). Confirm when prompted.

On iPhone, blocked senders' emails go to your Junk folder automatically. To unblock someone, go to Settings on your iPhone, scroll down and tap Mail, then tap Blocked, and swipe left on the sender you want to unblock. Tap "Unblock."

What happens to old emails after you block someone

Blocking only affects new emails going forward. Any emails you already received from that sender stay in your mailbox — they don't automatically move to spam or delete. If you want to remove them, you'll need to delete them manually or move them to trash yourself.

This is useful if you need to keep records of past communication but don't want to hear from that person again. You can search for their address, select all their emails, and delete them in bulk if you prefer a clean slate.

Unblocking an email address if you change your mind

All three email services let you unblock senders just as easily as you blocked them. In Gmail, go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, find the blocked sender, and click "Unblock." In Outlook, go to Settings, Mail, Junk email, Blocked senders, and remove the address. In Apple Mail on Mac, go to Mail, Preferences, Junk Mail, select the sender, and click the minus button. On iPhone, go to Settings, Mail, Blocked, and swipe left to unblock.

Once you unblock someone, their emails start arriving in your inbox again. There's no waiting period — the change takes effect when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the sender know I blocked them?

No. The sender won't receive a notification that you blocked them. Their emails straightforward disappear on your end. They may wonder why you're not responding, but the email service doesn't tell them they've been blocked.

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

Gmail and Outlook don't have a built-in feature to block entire domains through the standard block function. However, you can create filters or rules that automatically send emails from a domain to spam. In Gmail, go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, and create a filter for emails from that domain. In Outlook, use the Focused Inbox or create a rule in Settings.

What if someone blocks me — will I know?

No. If someone blocks you, your emails will still appear to send normally from your perspective. You won't get a bounce-back message or notification. The only sign is if you never receive replies and your messages seem to disappear into silence.

Can I block emails on my phone if I use the Gmail or Outlook app?

Yes. In the Gmail app, open the email, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Block [sender]." In the Outlook app, swipe left on the email and tap the block icon. The process is similar to the web version but adapted for mobile.

If I block someone, will they still see my old emails to them?

Yes. Blocking only affects emails coming to you. It doesn't delete or hide emails you sent to that person in their mailbox. They can still see your past messages if they look for them.