The fastest way depends on your email provider

Most email services let you block a sender in two or three clicks. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a block button built into the message itself — you do not need to dig through settings. Open the email from the person you want to block, look for a menu icon (usually three dots or a downward arrow), and select "Block" or "Block sender". The email service then sends that person's future messages straight to spam automatically.

The exact steps and button names vary slightly by provider. Gmail calls it "Block [sender name]" and puts it in the three-dot menu at the top right of the email. Outlook uses "Junk" then "Block" in the ribbon at the top. Yahoo Mail has a "Block" option in the dropdown menu next to the sender's name. Once you block someone, you will not see their emails in your inbox, and they will not know you blocked them.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block a sender directly from any email message by opening it and selecting the block or junk option from the menu.
  • Blocked emails go to your spam or junk folder automatically, so you can still retrieve them if you change your mind.
  • Blocking someone does not delete their past emails — you can still search for and read old messages from them if needed.
  • If someone uses multiple email addresses to contact you, you will need to block each address separately.
  • Unblocking a sender is just as straightforward as blocking them, and you can do it from your blocked senders list in settings.

Where blocked emails go and how to unblock

When you block a sender, their emails do not disappear — they land in your spam or junk folder instead. This matters because if you block someone by mistake, or if they later send you something you actually need, you can still find it. Go to your spam folder, search for their name or email address, and the message will be there.

To unblock someone, go to your email settings and find the blocked senders list. In Gmail, this is under Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses. In Outlook, it is Settings > Mail > Junk Email > Blocked Senders. Click the X or remove button next to their name, and they are unblocked. Their future emails will go to your inbox again instead of spam.

What blocking does and does not do

Blocking stops emails from reaching your inbox, but it does not stop the sender from emailing you. They can still send messages — they just will not know whether you read them or if you even received them. Blocking is silent on your end. The sender sees no notification, no bounce-back message, and no indication that you blocked them.

Blocking also does not delete old emails from that person. If you received 50 messages from someone before you blocked them, those 50 messages stay in your inbox (or wherever they are filed) unless you manually delete them. Blocking only affects new messages going forward. If you want to remove old emails from someone, you need to search for their address and delete those messages separately.

Blocking on mobile phones and tablets

The process is the same on your phone or tablet as it is on a computer, but the buttons look slightly different because of the smaller screen. Open the email app on your phone, find the message from the person you want to block, and look for a menu icon — usually three dots stacked vertically, or sometimes a three-line hamburger menu. Tap it, then tap "Block" or "Block sender".

If you use Gmail on your phone, swipe left on the email (on iPhone) or long-press it (on Android), then tap the block icon. If you use the Outlook app, tap and hold the email, then select "Block". Yahoo Mail on mobile has a menu icon at the top right of each email. Once you block someone from your phone, the block applies to all your devices — if you block them on your phone, they are blocked on your computer too.

When blocking is not enough

If someone creates a new email address and keeps contacting you after you block them, you are dealing with harassment, not just unwanted mail. Block each new address as it arrives, but also consider reporting the person to your email provider. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all have abuse reporting options. Open the email, find the menu, and look for "Report phishing" or "Report spam" — this tells the email company that someone is harassing you, and they may take action on their end.

If the harassment continues or escalates, save copies of the emails (take screenshots or forward them to yourself) and consider reporting it to local law enforcement. Repeated contact after being told to stop can be considered harassment or cyberstalking depending on where you live. Your email provider's abuse team can also help document a pattern if you report multiple messages over time.

Blocking mailing lists and newsletters you signed up for

If you want to stop getting emails from a company or newsletter you subscribed to, blocking works, but unsubscribing is usually better. Most legitimate marketing emails have an "Unsubscribe" link at the very bottom of the message. Click it, and the company removes you from their list. You will stop getting emails from them, and they will know you do not want to hear from them anymore.

Blocking a newsletter still works if you prefer — the emails go to spam instead of your inbox. But unsubscribing is cleaner because it tells the sender to stop, whereas blocking just hides the problem on your end. If you block a company but never unsubscribe, they may keep sending emails to your spam folder, and your spam folder can fill up over time. For newsletters and marketing, unsubscribe first; block only if unsubscribing does not work.

Blocking does not protect your privacy from the sender

Blocking stops you from seeing someone's emails, but it does not hide your email address from them or prevent them from knowing you exist. If someone has your email address, they have it — blocking does not change that. They can still see that you received their message (if they use read receipts), and they can still send you emails; they just go to spam.

If you are concerned about someone having your email address at all, consider creating a new email address and not sharing it with that person. Blocking is a tool for managing your inbox, not for erasing your digital footprint. If you need to truly disappear from someone's reach, you would need to stop using the email address they know about and start fresh with a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?

No. They will not receive a notification, and their emails will not bounce back to them. They may eventually notice you never reply, but they have no way to know for certain that you blocked them rather than just ignoring them.

If I block someone, can I still see their old emails?

Yes. Blocking only affects new emails going forward. All the messages you received from them before blocking stay in your inbox unless you delete them manually. You can search for their name or address and read old emails anytime.

What happens if someone I blocked emails me from a different address?

The new address is not blocked — only the specific email address you blocked is affected. You will see emails from their new address in your inbox. You will need to block each address separately if they keep contacting you from different accounts.

Can I block someone without opening their email?

It depends on your email provider. Gmail and Outlook let you right-click on a sender's name in your inbox list and block them without opening the message. Yahoo Mail requires you to open the email first. Check your provider's menu options to see what works for your service.

If I unblock someone, will their old emails come back to my inbox?

No. Unblocking only affects new emails. Their old messages stay wherever they are — in your inbox, spam folder, or wherever you filed them. Unblocking just means their future emails will go to your inbox instead of spam.