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 or spam button built into the interface — you do not need to dig into settings. The blocked sender's future emails go straight to spam or a blocked folder, and you will not see notifications from them.

The exact steps differ slightly between services, but the principle is the same: open the email, find the block option (often three dots or a menu icon), and confirm. After that, messages from that address stop appearing in your inbox. Some services also let you unblock a sender later if you change your mind.

If you use a work email through Outlook, Gmail for Business, or another corporate system, your company may have additional filtering rules in place. Check with your IT department or help desk if the standard block button does not work the way you expect.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a block sender option in the email menu or toolbar — look for three dots, a gear icon, or a "more" button.
  • Blocked emails typically go to your spam or junk folder instead of your inbox, and you will not receive notifications from that sender.
  • You can usually unblock a sender later by going to your blocked senders list in settings if you decide you want to hear from them again.
  • Work email accounts may have stricter filtering rules set by your IT department, so blocking may work differently than it does on personal email.

Blocking in Gmail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three vertical dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the email. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown menu. Gmail will move that sender's future emails to spam automatically.

To unblock someone in Gmail, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), click "See all settings," then go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Find the blocked address in the list and click "Unblock" next to it.

Blocking in Outlook (web and desktop)

In Outlook on the web, open the email and click the three dots in the top toolbar. Select "Block" from the menu. On the Outlook desktop app for Windows or Mac, right-click the sender's name and choose "Block Sender." Outlook will send future emails from that address to your Junk folder.

To see your blocked senders list in Outlook on the web, go to Settings, then "Mail," then "Junk email." You will see a list of blocked addresses and can remove anyone from it if needed.

Blocking in Yahoo Mail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots in the toolbar at the top of the message. Select "Block sender" from the menu. Yahoo will automatically send that sender's future emails to your spam folder.

To manage your blocked senders in Yahoo Mail, click the gear icon in the top right, go to "Settings," then "Blocked addresses." You can add addresses manually here or remove anyone you previously blocked.

Blocking in Apple Mail

On an iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the email from the sender you want to block, tap the trash icon, then tap "Block This Contact." On a Mac, right-click the sender's name in the email and select "Block Contact." Apple Mail will filter future emails from that sender.

To unblock someone in Apple Mail on a Mac, go to Mail menu, then "Preferences," then "Junk Mail." Click the "Blocked" tab to see your list and remove anyone from it. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, Mail, then scroll down and tap "Blocked Contacts" to manage your list.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block a sender, their emails will no longer appear in your inbox. Most services send blocked emails to spam or a junk folder instead, so you can still review them if you need to — they just will not clutter your main inbox or trigger notifications. You will not receive read receipts or delivery confirmations from blocked senders either.

Blocking is different from unsubscribing. When you unsubscribe from a mailing list, you are asking the sender to remove you from their distribution. When you block, you are telling your email service to filter out that sender's messages. If someone is sending you unwanted emails from multiple addresses, you may need to block each address separately, or look for an unsubscribe link in their emails first.

When blocking is not enough

If you are receiving a large volume of unwanted emails from many different addresses, or if someone is creating new email addresses to contact you after you block them, blocking individual senders becomes impractical. In those cases, consider creating email filters or rules that automatically delete or move emails based on keywords, sender domain, or subject line.

Most email services also have a "report spam" or "report phishing" button. Using it helps the email service identify patterns of abuse and protect other users. If you are being harassed or threatened, take screenshots of the emails and report them to your email provider's abuse team. For serious threats, contact local law enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. When you block a sender, they will not receive a notification. Their emails straightforward will not reach your inbox, and they will not know why their messages are not getting through. They may assume the email bounced or went to spam.

What if I block someone by mistake?

You can unblock them at any time through your email settings. In Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail, go to your blocked senders list and click unblock next to their name. Future emails from them will go back to your inbox normally.

Does blocking someone on email block them everywhere?

No. Blocking an email address only affects that email service. If someone contacts you through text, social media, or another platform, blocking their email will not stop those messages. You would need to block them separately on each platform.

Will blocked emails ever reach my inbox?

No. Once you block a sender, their emails go to spam or a blocked folder and will not appear in your inbox. You can still view them in that folder if you want to, but you will not see them in your main inbox or get notifications.

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

Most email services do not have a built-in block domain feature, but you can create a filter or rule to automatically delete or move emails from any address at that domain. In Gmail, you can create a filter with the domain name (for example, @unwanteddomain.com) and set it to skip inbox or delete. Check your email service's filter or rules section for similar options.