The fastest way to block an email sender on iPhone

Open the email you want to block in the Mail app, tap the sender's name or email address at the top, then tap "Block This Contact." iPhone will move that sender's future emails to trash automatically. You do not need to do anything else — the block takes effect when ready.

If you have already deleted the email, you can still block the sender. Go to Settings > Mail > VIP or Blocked Contacts, tap "Add Contact," and type in the email address or phone number you want to block. The Mail app will treat it the same way: new messages go straight to trash.

Blocking works within the Mail app only. If someone emails you from a different address, or if they contact you through iMessage or another app, those messages will not be blocked automatically. You will need to block each address or contact separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the sender's name in an open email, then tap "Block This Contact" to send all future emails from that address to trash.
  • Blocked emails disappear from your inbox and go to the trash folder, where you can still read them if you need to.
  • Blocking only works in the Mail app — the same sender can still reach you through iMessage, FaceTime, or other apps unless you block them there too.
  • You can unblock a contact at any time by going to Settings > Mail > Blocked Contacts, swiping left on the name, and tapping "Unblock."

Where blocked emails go and how to find them

When you block someone, their emails do not disappear entirely — they go to your trash folder. You can still open Mail, tap "Mailboxes," scroll down, and tap "Trash" to read any message from a blocked sender if you need to. This is useful if you block someone by mistake or if you need to check what they sent before you decided to block them.

Blocked emails stay in trash for 30 days by default, then delete permanently. If you want to keep a message from a blocked sender, move it to a folder before the 30 days are up. Tap and hold the email, then tap "Move" and choose a folder like "Archive" or a custom folder you create.

Blocking someone who is already in your contacts

If the sender is already saved in your Contacts app, blocking them in Mail will block them across Mail, iMessage, and FaceTime at the same time. Open the email, tap their name, and tap "Block This Contact." You will see a confirmation that says "Block [Name]?" — tap "Block Contact" to confirm.

If you block a contact this way, they will not be able to call, text, or email you, and you will not see their calls or messages. They will not know they are blocked, but if they try to call you, they may hear a message saying the call could not go through.

Blocking an email address that is not in your contacts

If the sender is not saved in your Contacts, blocking them in Mail will only block their emails — not their calls or texts. Open the email, tap the sender's address, and tap "Block This Contact." Only emails from that exact address will be blocked; if they email you from a different address, those messages will come through.

This is why spammers often use different email addresses. If you keep getting emails from similar addresses (like noreply@spam123.com, noreply@spam124.com), you may need to block each one separately. Some email providers let you block by domain instead — for example, blocking all mail from @spam.com — but the iPhone Mail app does not have this feature built in.

Unblocking a contact if you change your mind

Open Settings, tap "Mail," scroll down, and tap "Blocked Contacts." You will see a list of everyone you have blocked in Mail. Swipe left on the name or address you want to unblock, then tap the red "Unblock" button. The person can now email you again, and their messages will appear in your inbox normally.

Unblocking does not restore old emails from that sender — they stay in your trash folder. If you want to see them, go to Trash and move them back to your inbox before you unblock the contact.

Why blocking in Mail does not block texts or calls

The Mail app and the Messages app are separate. Blocking someone in Mail stops their emails, but they can still text you through iMessage or SMS. If you want to block their texts and calls too, you need to block them in a different place.

Open the Contacts app, find the person, tap "Edit," scroll down, and tap "Block This Caller." Or open a text from them, tap their name at the top, and tap "Block This Caller." This blocks them from calling, texting, and FaceTiming you — but it does not block their emails. You have to block them in Mail separately if you want to stop their emails too.

What happens when you block someone in iCloud Mail on a computer

If you use iCloud Mail on a Mac or Windows computer, blocking someone there will sync to your iPhone. Go to iCloud.com, open Mail, right-click an email from the sender, and click "Block Contact." The block will appear on your iPhone within a few minutes.

The reverse is also true: if you block someone on your iPhone, that block will show up in iCloud Mail on your computer. This is because both are connected to the same iCloud account. If you use Gmail, Outlook, or another email provider instead of iCloud Mail, blocking on your iPhone will not sync to the web version — you have to block them separately in each place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked sender tell that I blocked them?

No. When you block someone in Mail, they will not receive a notification. Their emails will not bounce back to them or show as undelivered — they will just disappear into your trash folder. They have no way to know you blocked them unless you tell them.

What if I block someone but they email me from a different address?

The Mail app blocks only the specific email address you blocked. If the sender uses a different address, those emails will come through to your inbox normally. You will need to block each address separately. If you are getting emails from many similar addresses, blocking may not be practical — consider marking them as spam instead.

Can I block an entire domain, like all emails from @company.com?

The iPhone Mail app does not have a built-in way to block by domain. You can only block individual email addresses. If you need to block a whole domain, you may need to use a third-party email app, or contact your email provider to see if they offer domain-level blocking in their web interface.

If I block someone in Mail, will they be blocked in iMessage too?

Only if they are saved in your Contacts. If the sender is a contact, blocking them in Mail blocks them everywhere — Mail, iMessage, FaceTime, and calls. If they are not a contact, blocking them in Mail blocks only their emails, not their texts or calls.

How do I report spam instead of just blocking it?

Open the email, tap the sender's name, and tap "Report Junk." This tells Apple and your email provider that the message is spam. Reporting also blocks the sender automatically. If you just want to block without reporting, use "Block This Contact" instead.