The fastest way depends on which email service you use

Blocking an email address stops messages from that sender from reaching your inbox — they go to spam or a blocked folder instead. Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all have a block feature built in, but the steps differ slightly. On most services, you can block someone in under 10 seconds by opening their message and clicking a block or report option. Some services let you unblock later if you change your mind; others make it harder to reverse.

The method you use matters because each service stores blocked addresses differently and offers different ways to manage them. Understanding where to find the block button and how to undo it later saves time if you block someone by mistake or need to change your settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail's block feature sends future emails to spam automatically and is found in the message menu under "Block [sender]".
  • Outlook lets you block senders through the junk email settings, and you can view or remove blocked addresses anytime.
  • Apple Mail does not have a built-in block feature, but you can create rules to send emails from specific addresses to trash or a folder.
  • Blocking only stops email — it does not prevent someone from seeing your public profile or contacting you through other services.
  • If you block someone by mistake, most services let you unblock them, though the process varies by platform.

How to block in Gmail

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

If you want to unblock someone later, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), click "See all settings," then go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Scroll to the bottom and you will see a list of blocked addresses. Click "Unblock" next to the name you want to restore.

How to block in Outlook (web and desktop)

On Outlook.com or Outlook on the web: Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three-dot menu at the top of the message and select "Block." Outlook will send their future emails to your junk folder.

On Outlook desktop (Windows or Mac): Right-click the email from the sender and choose "Junk" or "Block Sender." On some versions, you may need to click "Junk" first, then "Block Sender" from the submenu. Future emails from that address go to your Junk folder.

To unblock someone in Outlook, go to Settings, then "Mail," then "Junk email." Under "Safe Senders and Domains," find the Blocked Senders tab. You will see your list of blocked addresses and can remove any of them.

How to block in Apple Mail

Apple Mail does not have a dedicated block button like Gmail or Outlook. Instead, you create a rule that automatically sorts emails from that sender into trash or a folder you choose. Open Apple Mail and go to Mail menu, then Preferences (or Settings on newer Macs). Click Rules, then "Add Rule."

Set the rule to match "From" and enter the sender's email address. Choose an action — most people select "Move Message" and pick Trash or a folder called "Blocked." Click OK. From that point on, emails from that address will go where you told them to, and you will not see them in your inbox.

To undo this, go back to Mail Preferences, click Rules, find the rule you created, and click "Delete." You can also edit the rule to change where those emails go instead of deleting it entirely.

What happens when you block someone

When you block an email address, future messages from that sender stop appearing in your inbox. In Gmail and Outlook, they go to spam. In Apple Mail, they go wherever your rule sends them. The sender does not get a notification that you blocked them — their email straightforward disappears from your view.

Blocking only affects email. It does not prevent someone from calling you, texting you, messaging you on social media, or viewing your public profile if you have one. If you want to stop contact across multiple channels, you may need to block them on each service separately.

When blocking does not work

If someone keeps emailing you from different addresses, blocking one address at a time becomes tedious. Some email services let you block by domain — for example, blocking everyone at a company's email address. In Gmail, you can add a filter that blocks all emails containing a specific word or phrase in the subject line or body, which helps if someone is using multiple addresses to send similar messages.

If you are receiving threats, harassment, or spam at a scale that blocking cannot handle, report the messages to your email provider. Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all have abuse reporting tools. Providers use these reports to identify patterns and may suspend accounts that violate their terms of service.

Unblocking someone if you change your mind

All three services let you unblock someone, though the steps vary. In Gmail, go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, and click "Unblock" next to the name. In Outlook, go to Settings, Mail, Junk email, and remove the address from the Blocked Senders list. In Apple Mail, delete or edit the rule you created in Preferences.

Once you unblock, future emails from that person will reach your inbox normally. Unblocking does not restore old messages that were already sent to spam or trash — you would need to search your spam or trash folder to find those.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they do not receive a notification. Their emails straightforward fail to reach you, and they have no way to know whether you blocked them, marked them as spam, or stopped using that email address entirely.

What if the person I blocked emails me from a different address?

You will see the new email in your inbox because it comes from a different sender. You can block that address too, but if someone is determined to contact you from multiple addresses, blocking becomes impractical. Consider reporting the pattern to your email provider as harassment or spam.

Does blocking someone on email affect other Google or Microsoft services?

No. Blocking an email address in Gmail does not block them from Google Meet, YouTube, or other Google services. Blocking in Outlook does not affect Skype or other Microsoft products. You would need to block them separately on each service.

Can I block an entire company or domain?

Gmail lets you create filters that block all emails from a specific domain (like @companyname.com). Go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, and create a new filter with the domain in the "From" field. Outlook and Apple Mail do not have a built-in domain block, but you can create rules that catch emails from that domain.

Will unblocking restore emails that went to spam?

No. Unblocking only stops future emails from going to spam — it does not move old messages back to your inbox. If you need to read past emails from someone you blocked, search your spam or trash folder for their address and move those messages back manually.