The fastest way depends on which email service you use

Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all let you block senders in two or three clicks, but the steps are different for each one. Gmail sends blocked mail to spam automatically. Outlook moves it to a junk folder. Apple Mail hides it from your inbox but keeps it in a separate folder you can check later. None of them delete the email — they just route it away from where you see it every day.

The blocked sender can still send you messages; you just won't see them arrive. If you need to stop someone from contacting you entirely, blocking email is only part of the answer — you may also need to block them on other platforms or report the address to your email provider if the messages are harassing or fraudulent.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail blocks go to the spam folder automatically; Outlook sends them to junk; Apple Mail hides them but keeps them in a separate folder.
  • You can block a sender by right-clicking their name in your inbox or opening their message and using the block option in the menu.
  • Blocking does not delete past emails from that sender — you have to delete those yourself if you want them gone.
  • If someone is harassing you or sending fraudulent messages, report the address to your email provider in addition to blocking it.

How to block someone in Gmail

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

You can also block someone without opening their email. Right-click their name or email address in your inbox list and select "Block [sender's name]" from the menu that appears. Either way, Gmail remembers the block even if you clear your spam folder later.

If you change your mind, you can unblock them. Go to Gmail Settings, click the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab, find the blocked address in the list, and click "Unblock" next to it.

How to block someone in Outlook (web and desktop)

In Outlook on the web, open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots menu at the top of the message. Select "Block" or "Block sender" depending on your version. Outlook moves future emails from that address to your Junk folder.

In Outlook on your computer (Windows or Mac), right-click the sender's name in your inbox and choose "Block Sender" or "Junk" depending on your version. You can also open the message, click "Junk" in the toolbar, and select "Block Sender."

To unblock someone in Outlook, go to Settings, then "Mail," then "Junk email." Look for "Blocked senders" and remove the address from the list.

How to block someone in Apple Mail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click "Mail" in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then select "Block Sender." Apple Mail will hide future emails from that address, but they stay in a separate folder you can view if you need to.

On an iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the email in your inbox, tap the trash icon, then tap "Report Junk" to block the sender. On a Mac, you can also right-click the sender's name in the message and select "Block Contact."

To see blocked senders on a Mac, go to Mail Settings, click "Junk Mail," and look at the "Blocked" tab. You can remove addresses from this list if you want to unblock them.

What happens to emails after you block someone

Blocking a sender does not delete their past emails. In Gmail, old messages stay in your inbox unless you move them to trash yourself. In Outlook, they stay in your inbox too. In Apple Mail, they remain visible in your mailbox. You have to manually delete old emails if you want them completely gone.

Future emails from a blocked sender go to spam or junk automatically, but they are not deleted — they sit in that folder for 30 days (in Gmail) or longer (in Outlook and Apple Mail) before the service removes them. If you realize you blocked someone by mistake, you can unblock them and their emails will start arriving in your inbox again.

When blocking is not enough

If someone is sending you repeated unwanted messages, threats, or fraudulent content, blocking alone may not be enough. Report the address to your email provider. In Gmail, open the spam folder, find the message, and click the three-dot menu, then "Report phishing" or "Report spam." In Outlook, right-click the message and select "Report" or "Report phishing." In Apple Mail, forward the message to reportphishing@apple.com.

If the messages are harassing or threatening, you can also report them to law enforcement or to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Keep copies of the messages as evidence. If the sender is using a fake account to impersonate someone, report that to the platform where the impersonation is happening (social media, banking app, etc.).

Blocking email on your phone or tablet

Most email apps on phones and tablets have a block option built in. In Gmail on Android or iPhone, open the message, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Block." In Outlook mobile, swipe left on the message and tap the block icon. In Apple Mail on iPhone, swipe left and tap "Junk," then "Report Junk."

Blocking on your phone syncs with your email account, so the sender is blocked across all your devices. If you use multiple email apps (Gmail app plus web browser, for example), blocking in one place blocks them everywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked sender tell that I blocked them?

No. A blocked sender does not receive a notification. Their emails straightforward go to spam or junk, and they have no way to know whether you blocked them, marked them as spam, or just never read their messages.

What if I block someone by mistake?

You can unblock them in your email settings. In Gmail, go to Settings and "Filters and Blocked Addresses." In Outlook, go to Settings, Mail, Junk Email, and Blocked Senders. In Apple Mail, go to Settings and Junk Mail. Find the address and click Unblock or Remove.

Do I have to block someone if I just want to delete their emails?

No. You can delete individual emails or set up a filter to automatically delete future emails from someone without blocking them. Blocking is useful if you want to see that someone sent you something (in case it matters later) but do not want it in your main inbox.

Can I block multiple people at once?

Most email services require you to block people one at a time. If you are getting spam from many addresses, you can set up filters or rules instead. In Gmail, use filters to automatically send certain emails to spam. In Outlook, create rules to move messages to junk based on sender or subject line.

What if someone creates a new email address after I block them?

You will have to block the new address separately. If someone is repeatedly creating new accounts to contact you, report the pattern to your email provider and consider reporting it to law enforcement if the messages are threatening or harassing.