The fastest way depends on which email service you use

Most email services let you block a sender in one or two clicks from the message itself. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a block button built into the email interface — you do not need to dig into settings. The blocked sender's messages go to spam automatically after that, and you will not see notifications from them.

The exact steps differ slightly between services because each one puts the block button in a different place. But the principle is the same: open the email from the person you want to block, find the block option, and confirm. After that, their messages stop reaching your inbox.

If you use a less common email service or a work email system, the block feature may be called something different — "filter", "rule", or "block sender" — but the outcome is the same. Messages from that address get sent to spam or deleted automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a block button visible in the email message itself, usually near the sender's name or in a menu.
  • Blocking a sender sends their future messages to spam automatically; you will not receive notifications from them.
  • If you block someone by mistake, you can unblock them by going to your spam folder, finding a message from them, and selecting unblock.
  • Blocking works only on the exact email address you block — if someone sends from a different address, those messages will still reach your inbox.
  • Work email systems like Outlook on a corporate network may require you to use rules or filters instead of a block button.

How to block in Gmail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Look at the top right of the message, where you will see three vertical dots (the menu icon). Click those dots.

A dropdown menu appears. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the list. Gmail will ask you to confirm — click the confirmation button. From that moment on, emails from that address go straight to spam, and you will not see them in your inbox.

If you change your mind later, go to your Spam folder, find an email from that sender, open it, click the three dots again, and select "Unblock [sender's name]".

How to block in Outlook (web version)

Open the email from the sender you want to block. At the top of the message, click the three dots menu icon on the right side.

Select "Block" from the menu. Outlook will move that sender's messages to your Junk folder automatically. If you use Outlook on your computer (the desktop app) instead of the web version, right-click the sender's name in the message and choose "Block Sender" from the context menu.

To unblock, go to your Junk folder, find an email from that sender, right-click it, and select "Never Block Sender".

How to block in Yahoo Mail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots menu icon at the top right of the message.

Select "Block sender" from the dropdown. Yahoo will confirm the block and send future messages from that address to spam. You will not receive notifications from them.

To unblock, go to your Spam folder, find a message from that sender, click the three dots, and select "Unblock sender".

How to block in Apple Mail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the sender's name or email address at the top of the message to expand the sender details.

Click the down arrow next to their name, then select "Block Contact" from the menu. Apple Mail will move their messages to spam automatically.

To unblock, go to Mail settings, find the Blocked list, and remove the sender from it.

What happens when you block someone

When you block a sender, their messages do not disappear — they go to your spam or junk folder instead. You can still see them if you check that folder, but you will not get notifications, and they will not clutter your main inbox.

The blocked sender does not receive any notification that you blocked them. They may not even know their messages are not reaching you — from their perspective, they sent an email and got no reply.

Blocking works only on the exact email address you block. If someone has multiple email addresses and sends from a different one, those messages will still reach your inbox normally. You would need to block each address separately.

When blocking does not work the way you expect

If you block someone and their messages still reach your inbox, check whether they are sending from a different email address. Blocking john@example.com does not block jane@example.com, even if they are the same person.

If messages from the same address keep appearing in your inbox after you blocked them, your email service may have a glitch. Try blocking again, or contact your email provider's support team. Some corporate email systems do not allow blocking at all — in that case, you may need to create a filter or rule instead, which your IT department can help you set up.

If you are receiving a large volume of unwanted emails from many different addresses, blocking individual senders one at a time becomes tedious. In that case, look for an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email — clicking it removes you from that sender's mailing list. For spam that has no unsubscribe link, report it as spam instead of blocking it, which helps your email service identify and filter similar messages for all users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block an email address on my phone?

Yes. Open the email app on your phone, find the message from the sender you want to block, and look for a block option. On iPhone Mail, swipe left on the message and tap the trash icon, then look for block options in the message details. On Android Gmail, open the message, tap the three dots menu, and select "Block sender". The process is the same as on a computer.

What if I block someone by mistake?

Go to your spam or junk folder, find an email from that sender, open it, and look for an unblock option in the menu. On most services, unblocking takes one click. The sender's future messages will then reach your inbox normally again.

Will the person know I blocked them?

No. They will not receive any notification that you blocked them. Their emails will appear to send normally from their perspective — they will not see a bounce-back message or any error. They may notice you stop replying, but they will not know it is because you blocked them.

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

Most consumer email services do not have a built-in block domain feature. You would need to block each individual address from that domain separately. If you need to block an entire domain, you may need to create a filter or rule, which varies by service — contact your email provider's support team for instructions.

What is the difference between blocking and unsubscribing?

Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list — the sender stops sending you messages because you asked to be removed. Blocking prevents messages from reaching your inbox even if the sender keeps trying to send them. Use unsubscribe for legitimate mailing lists you no longer want, and blocking for unwanted senders.