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 slightly different for each one. The basic idea is the same: you find the email from the sender you want to block, click a menu option (usually three dots or a down arrow), and select "block" or "block sender". After that, emails from that address go straight to spam or a blocked folder, and you won't see notifications for them.

If you use your email through your workplace or school, the blocking feature might work differently or might not be available at all — your IT department controls what you can do. The same is true if you use a third-party app like Thunderbird or Apple Mail to read email from multiple accounts. In those cases, you may need to set up a filter or rule instead of using a block button.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a built-in block feature you can access directly from an email or from the sender's contact card.
  • Blocked emails usually go to your spam folder automatically, though some services let you choose whether to delete them or keep them unseen.
  • Blocking someone's email address does not prevent them from sending you mail — it just hides their messages from your inbox.
  • If you use email through work or school, blocking may not be available, and you may need to ask your IT department or use a filter instead.

How to block in Gmail

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

If you have already deleted the email, you can still block the sender by going to your Contacts, finding their name, clicking the three-dot menu next to their entry, and selecting "Block this contact". You can also unblock someone the same way — go to Contacts, find their name, and select "Unblock".

How to block in Outlook (web and desktop)

In Outlook on the web, open an email from the sender you want to block. Click the three-dot menu at the top of the email and select "Block". Outlook will ask you to confirm, then move that sender's future emails to your Junk folder.

In Outlook on your computer or phone, the steps are similar but the menu location varies slightly. On desktop, right-click the email and look for "Block Sender" or "Junk" options. On mobile, swipe left on the email (iPhone) or press and hold it (Android), then tap the block or junk icon. If you cannot find a block option in your version, you can create a rule instead: go to Settings, select "Mail" or "Rules", and create a new rule that sends emails from that address to Junk automatically.

How to block in Yahoo Mail

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon and select "Block sender". Yahoo Mail will move that sender's future emails to your spam folder and add them to your blocked list.

You can view and manage your blocked senders list by going to Settings, clicking "Security and privacy", and selecting "Blocked addresses". From there you can unblock someone if you change your mind.

How to block in Apple Mail and iCloud Mail

In Apple Mail on your Mac, right-click the email from the sender you want to block and select "Block Contact". On iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the email, tap the more options icon (three dots), and select "Block this Contact".

In iCloud Mail on the web, click the email, then click the three-dot menu and select "Block Contact". Blocked senders' emails will go to your trash folder. You can unblock someone by going to Settings, clicking "Blocked Contacts", finding their name, and selecting "Unblock".

What happens after you block someone

Once you block an email address, that sender's future messages will not appear in your inbox. Instead, they usually go to your spam or junk folder, where you won't see notifications for them. You can still view blocked emails if you go into your spam folder and look for them — blocking does not delete old messages from that sender, only hides new ones.

Blocking is not the same as unsubscribing. If you receive marketing emails and want to stop them, look for an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email first. Unsubscribe removes you from a mailing list. Blocking stops all mail from one address, whether it is marketing, personal, or something else.

When blocking does not work or is not available

If you use email through your employer or school, the block feature may be turned off by your IT department. In that case, you can create a filter or rule instead. In Gmail, go to Settings, click "Filters and Blocked Addresses", and create a new filter that automatically sends emails from that sender to trash or a specific folder. In Outlook, go to Settings and create a rule under "Mail" that does the same thing.

If someone keeps emailing you after you have blocked them from multiple addresses, or if the emails contain threats or harassment, save the messages and report them to your email provider's abuse team. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple all have abuse reporting options in their help centers. If the harassment is severe or involves threats, you can also report it to local law enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they do not receive a notification. Their emails straightforward go to your spam folder instead of your inbox. They have no way to know whether you blocked them, unsubscribed, or just stopped reading their mail.

If I block someone, will they still be able to see my emails if I sent them before?

Blocking only affects future emails from that sender. Old emails you sent to them remain in their inbox. Blocking does not delete your message history or prevent them from reading what you already sent.

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

Most email services do not have a built-in block-by-domain feature, but you can create a filter or rule to do this. In Gmail, create a filter for emails from "@example.com" and send them to trash. In Outlook, create a rule with the same logic. This catches all addresses from that domain, not just one person.

What if I blocked someone by mistake?

You can unblock them anytime. In Gmail, go to Contacts and find their name, then click the three-dot menu and select "Unblock". In Outlook, go to Settings and find your blocked senders list. In Yahoo, go to Settings, then "Security and privacy", then "Blocked addresses". In Apple Mail, go to Settings and find "Blocked Contacts". Their future emails will then go to your inbox normally again.

Does blocking stop spam and phishing emails?

Blocking works on individual addresses, so it stops emails from one specific sender. Spam filters catch most unsolicited bulk mail automatically before you ever see it. If you receive phishing emails (fake emails pretending to be from your bank or a service you use), do not click links in them — instead, report them to your email provider's abuse team and delete them.