The basic method depends on which email service you use

Most email services let you block a sender directly from their message. In Gmail, open the email, click the three dots in the top right, and select "Block [sender's name]." In Outlook, right-click the message and choose "Block." In Apple Mail, select the message and go to Mail > Junk > Block Contact. Yahoo Mail has a similar option under the message menu. Once you block someone, their emails go straight to spam or a blocked folder, and they won't see a notification that you blocked them.

The exact steps vary slightly between services, but the principle is the same: find the message, open the menu, and select block. You don't need to know their password or do anything technical. The sender has no way to know you blocked them unless you tell them.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, and Yahoo Mail all have built-in block features accessible directly from an email message.
  • Blocked emails typically land in your spam or junk folder rather than disappearing entirely, so you can review them later if needed.
  • Blocking someone prevents their messages from reaching your inbox but does not stop them from sending — they straightforward won't see a delivery failure.
  • If someone uses multiple email addresses, you may need to block each address separately.

Where blocked emails actually go

When you block someone, their messages don't vanish. Instead, they move to a specific folder. In Gmail, blocked messages go to spam. In Outlook, they go to the Junk folder. In Apple Mail, they go to Junk. Yahoo Mail sends them to Spam. You can still see these messages if you check that folder, which is useful if you need to review what someone sent you or if you accidentally blocked the wrong person.

This matters because blocking is not the same as deleting. If you block someone and later realize you made a mistake, you can unblock them and their future emails will return to your inbox. The blocked folder also gives you a record of contact attempts, which can be important if you need evidence of harassment.

Blocking multiple addresses from the same person

If someone is contacting you from several different email addresses, you'll need to block each one separately. There's no way to block an entire person or domain with a single action in most email services. This is a common problem when someone is determined to reach you — they create new accounts or use work and personal addresses to get around a block.

As you receive emails from each new address, block them one at a time. Keep a list of the addresses you've blocked so you know which ones to watch for. If the pattern continues and feels like harassment, consider reporting it to your email provider's abuse team, which has tools to handle coordinated contact attempts that go beyond what individual blocking can stop.

Blocking versus unsubscribing

Blocking and unsubscribing do different things. Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list — newsletters, promotional emails, notifications from services you signed up for. Blocking stops all email from a specific person or address. If you unsubscribe from a mailing list, the sender knows you unsubscribed. If you block someone, they don't get that notification.

For unwanted marketing or newsletters, unsubscribe first. Look for an "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email. For personal contact you don't want, blocking is the right choice. If unsubscribing doesn't work and emails keep coming, then block the address.

What happens if you block your boss or a coworker

Blocking someone doesn't send them a message or flag their account. They won't know you blocked them unless you tell them or they notice you're not responding to their emails. However, if you block a coworker or someone you interact with regularly, they may eventually realize something is wrong when their emails stop reaching you.

If you need to stop contact with someone at work, blocking is one option, but it can create workplace problems if they discover it. Consider whether a direct conversation, a filter rule that sends their emails to a folder, or involving HR might be better depending on the situation. Blocking is most useful for strangers, spam, or situations where you've already ended contact and don't want further communication.

Using filters and rules instead of blocking

Email filters give you more control than blocking. Instead of sending emails to spam, a filter can send them to a specific folder, mark them as read automatically, or flag them for later review. In Gmail, create a filter by clicking the three dots on a message and selecting "Filter messages like this." In Outlook, right-click a message and choose "Create Rule." In Apple Mail, go to Mail > Preferences > Rules.

Filters are useful when you want to see emails from someone but keep them out of your main inbox, or when you want to organize messages from a group of senders. Blocking is simpler if you just want the emails gone. You can also combine both: block someone and create a filter rule so that if they contact you from a new address, those emails automatically go to a folder instead of your inbox.

Blocking on mobile devices

The Gmail app on iPhone and Android lets you block senders by opening an email, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Block." The Outlook app works similarly — tap the three dots and choose "Block Sender." Apple Mail on iPhone doesn't have a built-in block feature in the app itself, but you can block through the web version of iCloud Mail. Yahoo Mail's mobile app also has a block option in the message menu.

Mobile blocking works the same way as desktop blocking — the sender's future emails go to spam or junk. If you block someone on your phone, that block applies across all your devices because it's tied to your email account, not your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. They won't receive a notification, and their emails will appear to send normally from their perspective. They may eventually notice you're not responding, but the email system itself doesn't tell them they're blocked. If they contact you through another method asking why you're not replying, that's usually how they find out.

What if I blocked someone by mistake?

You can unblock them. In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked Addresses, find the person, and click "Unblock." In Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Junk Email > Blocked Senders. In Apple Mail, check your Junk folder, select the message, and go to Mail > Junk > Not Junk. Their future emails will return to your inbox.

Do I need to block someone if I just delete their emails?

Deleting emails doesn't stop new ones from arriving. Blocking prevents them from reaching your inbox in the first place. If you're getting repeated unwanted emails from the same person, blocking is more effective than deleting because you won't see the messages at all.

Can I block an entire domain or company?

Most email services don't have a built-in way to block an entire domain. You have to block individual addresses. If you're receiving many emails from different addresses at the same company, you can create a filter rule that catches emails from that domain and sends them to spam, which works similarly to blocking but requires a filter instead.

Will blocking stop someone from seeing my emails if I already sent them?

No. Blocking only affects incoming emails. Emails you already sent are already in their inbox. Blocking prevents them from sending you new messages, but it doesn't delete or hide messages they've already received from you.