Block a sender in iCloud Mail

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the flag icon or three dots menu in the top right of the message, then select Block Contact or Block Sender. iCloud will move that sender's future emails to your Junk folder automatically.

If you do not see the Block option in the menu, try right-clicking the sender's name or email address at the top of the message. A context menu should appear with blocking options. Once blocked, you can still see past emails from that sender in your mailbox — blocking only stops new messages.

The block takes effect when ready. You do not need to refresh your browser or sign out and back in. The sender will have no way to know you blocked them, and they will not receive any notification or bounce-back message.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked senders' emails go to your Junk folder, not deleted, so you can review them later if needed.
  • You block one sender at a time through the three-dot menu or by right-clicking the sender's name.
  • Blocking works across all your iCloud devices once you sign in with the same Apple ID.
  • You can unblock a sender anytime by going to Settings and finding the blocked list.

Where blocked emails go

When you block someone on iCloud Mail, their messages do not disappear — they land in your Junk folder instead. This means you can still read them if you need to, but they will not clutter your inbox or send you notifications.

Check your Junk folder occasionally to make sure legitimate mail did not get caught by mistake. If a blocked sender's email ends up there and you want to read it, open the Junk folder, find the message, and move it back to your inbox manually. You can also mark messages as Not Junk to train iCloud's filter to recognize similar emails in the future.

Block a sender from the Junk folder

You can also block someone whose email is already in your Junk folder. Open the message, click the three dots, and select Block Sender. This prevents them from reaching you again, even if they use a different email address format or slight variation of their name.

If you receive unwanted emails from a domain (like all messages from @spamcompany.com), blocking one sender from that domain will not block the whole domain. You would need to block each sender individually, or use mail rules if your email client supports them. Mail rules are more powerful for handling bulk unwanted mail from a single source.

Unblock a sender you blocked by mistake

Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click the settings gear icon in the top right, then select Settings. Look for Blocked Contacts or Blocked Senders in the left menu — the exact label depends on your iCloud version.

Find the person you want to unblock in the list and click the minus sign or Remove button next to their name. They will be unblocked when ready, and their emails will no longer go to Junk automatically. Future emails from that sender will arrive in your inbox normally.

Block emails on iCloud Mail for iPhone or iPad

Open the Mail app and find an email from the sender you want to block. Swipe left on the message (iPhone) or long-press it (iPad), then tap the trash or more options icon. Tap Block Contact if it appears in the menu.

On some iOS versions, you may need to tap the sender's name at the top of the message, then tap Block this Contact from the popup menu. The process varies slightly depending on your iOS version, but the result is the same — future emails from that sender go to Junk. Your blocked list will sync to iCloud.com and your other devices within a few minutes.

Blocked senders still show in your sent mail

If you have already sent emails to someone and then block them, those sent messages stay in your Sent folder. Blocking only affects incoming mail, not your outgoing history. You can delete sent messages manually if you want to remove them from your account.

Blocking is one-way: the person you blocked can still send you emails (they just land in Junk), and they have no way to know you blocked them. They will not receive a notification or bounce-back message. If you want to prevent someone from contacting you entirely, blocking is the right tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

iCloud Mail does not have a built-in feature to block whole domains at once. You can block senders one at a time, but if you receive many unwanted emails from the same company, you may want to create a mail rule instead. Mail rules let you automatically delete or move emails from specific domains to Junk.

Will a blocked sender know I blocked them?

No. Blocked senders receive no notification, bounce-back message, or any indication that you blocked them. Their emails straightforward go to your Junk folder silently.

Can I block someone if I have not received an email from them yet?

iCloud Mail does not let you block a contact proactively. You can only block someone after you receive an email from them. If you want to prevent someone from reaching you before they send anything, you would need to use a mail rule or contact Apple Support for other options.

Do blocked senders stay blocked if I use iCloud Mail on multiple devices?

Yes. Your blocked list syncs across all devices signed in with the same Apple ID. If you block someone on your iPhone, they are also blocked on your Mac, iPad, and iCloud.com.

What if a blocked sender uses a different email address to contact me?

Each email address is blocked separately. If someone uses a new email address, it will not be blocked automatically. You would need to block that new address the same way you blocked the first one.