The fastest way depends on which email service you use
Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a block feature built in, but the steps are different for each one. In Gmail, you open the email, click the three dots in the top right, and select "Block." In Outlook on the web, you click the three dots, choose "Junk," then "Block Sender." On Yahoo Mail, you right-click the sender's name and pick "Block." Apple Mail requires you to go to Mail > Preferences > Junk Mail and add the address manually, or use the Report Junk button. The block takes effect when ready — future emails from that address go to your spam or junk folder automatically.
If you use a corporate email system like Microsoft Exchange or a custom domain through a hosting provider, your IT department or email administrator may have already set up filtering tools that work differently. Check with them before trying to block at the individual account level, since they might prefer you to report the sender instead.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail all have one-click block buttons that send future emails to spam or junk automatically.
- The exact steps vary by service, but all are found in the email menu or by right-clicking the sender's name.
- Blocking stops new emails from that address but does not delete messages already in your inbox.
- If someone uses multiple email addresses to contact you, you will need to block each address separately.
- Corporate email systems may require you to report unwanted senders to your IT department instead of blocking them yourself.
How to block in Gmail
Open any email from the person you want to block. Click the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the email. A dropdown menu appears with several options. Select "Block [sender's name]." Gmail will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again. That sender's future emails will go straight to your spam folder, and you will not see notifications for them.
If you want to unblock someone later, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked addresses. You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Click "Unblock" next to any name to restore normal delivery. Emails from that person will no longer be filtered to spam.
How to block in Outlook (web and desktop)
In Outlook on the web, open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots in the top toolbar. Select "Junk" from the menu, then choose "Block Sender." Outlook will move that email to your junk folder and send all future messages from that address there automatically. A confirmation message appears at the top of your screen.
In Outlook for Windows or Mac (the desktop app), right-click the sender's name in the email header and select "Block Sender." You can also open the email, go to the Home tab, click "Junk," and choose "Block Sender." To unblock, go to Settings > Mail > Junk Email > Blocked Senders and remove the address from the list.
How to block in Yahoo Mail and Apple Mail
In Yahoo Mail, open the email from the person you want to block. Right-click the sender's name or email address and select "Block." Yahoo will move the email to spam and filter future messages from that address. You can also click the three dots in the email toolbar, select "Block," and confirm. To unblock, go to Settings > Security and Privacy > Blocked Addresses and remove the name from the list.
Apple Mail does not have a dedicated block button in the same way. Instead, open the email and click "Report Junk" in the toolbar — this trains Apple's filter to treat similar emails as spam. For a more direct block, go to Mail > Preferences > Junk Mail, click the "Junk Mail Filter" tab, and add the sender's email address to the list manually. You can also select an email from that sender and drag it to your Junk folder, which teaches the filter to block similar messages.
What happens when you block someone
When you block an email address, that sender's future messages go to your spam or junk folder instead of your inbox. You will not receive notifications for their emails, and they will not know they have been blocked — there is no notification sent to them. The block is one-way: they can still send you emails, but you will not see them unless you check your spam folder.
Blocking does not delete emails already in your inbox from that person. If you want to remove old messages, you will need to delete them yourself. Some people delete the old emails first, then block the sender, to keep their inbox clean. Blocking also does not prevent someone from contacting you through other methods — they could call, text, or message you on social media. Email blocking only affects email delivery.
When blocking does not work
If someone uses multiple email addresses, you will need to block each one separately. A person determined to contact you might create new email accounts and send messages from those instead. Blocking one address does not stop them from using another. If this happens repeatedly, you may want to report the sender to your email provider's abuse team — Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all have forms to report harassment or spam.
Some emails may come from a service or company rather than a person — for example, shipping notifications or marketing emails. Blocking the sender's address works, but many services also include an "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email. Clicking that link removes you from their mailing list entirely, which is often more effective than blocking. If you block a service email but the company keeps sending from different addresses, unsubscribing is usually the better option.
How to report a sender instead of just blocking
If someone is harassing you, sending threats, or repeatedly contacting you after you have asked them to stop, reporting them to your email provider is stronger than blocking alone. In Gmail, open the email and click the three dots, then select "Report phishing" or "Report spam" depending on the type of message. In Outlook, click "Junk" and choose "Report Phishing" or "Report as Junk." Yahoo and Apple Mail have similar options in their email menus.
When you report a sender, your email provider reviews the message and may take action against the sender's account if they find a pattern of abuse. This does not happen with a straightforward block. Reporting is especially important if you receive phishing emails (messages trying to trick you into revealing passwords or personal information) or if someone is threatening you. Keep copies of the emails as evidence if you need to involve law enforcement or take legal action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
No. When you block someone, they do not receive a notification. Their emails will still appear to send successfully on their end, but they will land in your spam folder instead of your inbox. They will not know you blocked them unless you tell them or they notice you never respond.
What if I block someone by mistake?
You can unblock them anytime. In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked addresses and click "Unblock." In Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Junk Email > Blocked Senders and remove the address. In Yahoo, go to Settings > Security and Privacy > Blocked Addresses. In Apple Mail, go to Preferences > Junk Mail and remove them from the list.
Does blocking delete old emails from that person?
No. Blocking only affects new emails. Old messages from that sender stay in your inbox unless you delete them yourself. If you want to remove them, select the emails and delete them before or after you block the sender.
What if someone keeps emailing me from different addresses?
You will need to block each address separately. If this happens repeatedly, report the sender to your email provider's abuse team instead of just blocking. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all have reporting options that let the provider investigate a pattern of harassment.
Is blocking the same as unsubscribing?
No. Blocking stops emails from reaching your inbox, but unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list entirely. For marketing emails or newsletters, unsubscribing (usually a link at the bottom of the email) is more effective. For personal harassment or unwanted contact, blocking is the right choice.