The fastest way to block an email depends on which service you use

Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all let you block a sender in two or three clicks from the message itself — you do not need to dig through settings. The blocked sender's emails go to spam automatically, and you will not see notifications when they arrive. If you change your mind later, you can unblock them just as quickly.

The exact steps differ slightly between services because each one puts the block button in a different place. Once you know where to look in your email program, the process takes about 30 seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • In Gmail, open the message, click the three-dot menu in the top right, and select "Block [sender name]".
  • In Outlook on the web, click the three-dot menu next to the sender's name and choose "Block".
  • In Apple Mail on Mac, click the sender's name at the top of the message and select "Block This Contact".
  • Blocked senders' emails still arrive on your server but skip your inbox and go straight to spam or junk.
  • You can unblock a sender at any time by finding one of their messages in spam and reversing the block.

How to block someone in Gmail

Open any message from the sender you want to block. In the top right corner of the message, you will see three vertical dots (called a menu button). Click it.

A small menu will drop down with several options. Look for "Block [sender's name]" — it is usually near the bottom of the list. Click it. Gmail will ask you to confirm; click "Block" again in the popup window. That sender's future emails will now go to your spam folder automatically.

If you use Gmail on your phone, the three-dot menu is in the same place — top right of the message. The steps are identical.

How to block someone in Outlook

Open a message from the person you want to block. Look at the top of the message where you see the sender's name and email address. Click the three-dot menu button next to their name (it may appear when you hover your mouse over the sender line).

From the menu that appears, select "Block". Outlook will move that sender's emails to your junk folder from that point forward. You will not receive notifications when they send you something.

On Outlook's mobile app, the process is the same: open the message, tap the three dots next to the sender's name, and tap "Block".

How to block someone in Apple Mail on Mac

Open a message from the sender you want to block. At the very top of the message, you will see the sender's name and email address. Click on the sender's name or email address.

A small card will pop up showing the sender's contact information. Look for the option that says "Block This Contact" and click it. Apple Mail will now send that sender's emails to your junk folder. If you do not see the block option when ready, try right-clicking on the sender's name instead.

On Apple Mail for iPhone or iPad, open the message and swipe left on the sender's name at the top, then tap "Block".

What happens after you block someone

When you block a sender, their emails do not disappear — they go to your spam or junk folder instead of your inbox. You can still see them if you look in that folder, but you will not get notifications when new messages arrive. The blocked sender will not receive any notification that you blocked them.

If the sender creates a new email address and tries to contact you again, that new address will not be blocked automatically. You would need to block the new address separately. This is a limitation of all three services — they block specific email addresses, not people.

How to unblock a sender

If you change your mind, you can unblock someone. In Gmail, go to your spam folder, find a message from that sender, open it, click the three-dot menu, and select "Unblock [sender name]".

In Outlook, find their message in your junk folder, click the three dots next to their name, and select "Unblock". In Apple Mail on Mac, open their message from junk, click their name, and select "Unblock This Contact".

Once you unblock them, their future emails will go back to your inbox like normal messages from other senders.

When blocking does not stop all their emails

If you keep receiving emails from someone you blocked, they may be using different email addresses. Each address must be blocked separately. Check whether the new messages are coming from a slightly different email — for example, firstname.lastname@domain.com versus firstnamelastname@domain.com.

If the emails are coming from the exact same address and you still see them in your inbox, the block may not have taken effect. Try blocking again, or check whether your email account has filters or rules that might be overriding the block. Some workplace email systems have their own blocking rules that work differently from personal email.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person I block know that I blocked them?

No. Blocking is invisible to the sender. They will not receive a notification, and their emails will not bounce back to them. From their perspective, their messages are being delivered normally — they just will not know you are not reading them.

Can I block multiple people at once?

No. All three services require you to block one sender at a time. If you need to block many people, you will need to repeat the process for each address. Some email services offer filters or rules that can send emails from multiple addresses to spam, but that is different from the block feature.

What if I block someone by mistake?

You can unblock them when ready by finding one of their messages in your spam or junk folder and reversing the block. The process takes about 30 seconds and restores their emails to your inbox right away.

Does blocking stop them from seeing my emails?

No. Blocking only affects what you receive. If you send them an email, it will arrive normally in their inbox. Blocking is one-way — it only stops their messages from reaching you.

Can someone block me without my knowledge?

Yes. If someone blocks you, your emails will still be sent, but they will not see them in their inbox. You will have no way to know you have been blocked unless they tell you or you notice they stop responding.