Block an email address in the Mail app

Open the Mail app and find any email from the sender you want to block. Tap and hold on the sender's name or email address at the top of the message — do not tap the message itself. A menu will appear with several options. Tap Block This Contact.

Once you block someone, their emails go straight to the trash folder automatically. You will not see notifications for their messages, and they will not appear in your inbox. If you change your mind later, you can unblock them by going to Settings > Mail > Blocked Contacts and swiping left on the name you want to remove.

This method works in the built-in Mail app that comes with every iPhone. If you use Gmail, Outlook, or another email service through their own app instead of Apple Mail, the blocking process is different — see the section below for your specific service.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking in the Mail app sends incoming emails to trash and turns off notifications from that sender.
  • You block a contact by tapping and holding their name in an open email, then selecting Block This Contact.
  • Blocked contacts are stored in Settings > Mail > Blocked Contacts, where you can unblock them anytime.
  • Gmail, Outlook, and other email services have their own blocking features inside their apps, separate from Apple Mail blocking.
  • Blocking someone in Mail does not prevent them from sending you messages — it only hides them from your inbox.

Block an email address in Gmail on iPhone

Open the Gmail app and find an email from the person you want to block. Tap the three-line menu icon (hamburger menu) at the top left of the message. Scroll down and tap Block [sender's name]. Gmail will ask you to confirm — tap Block again.

When you block someone in Gmail, their emails skip your inbox and go to spam automatically. You can still see their messages if you go to the Spam folder, but you will not get notifications. To unblock them, open any email from that sender, tap the menu icon, and select Unblock.

Block an email address in Outlook on iPhone

In the Outlook app, open an email from the sender you want to block. Tap the three dots (more options) at the top right of the message. Select Block Sender. Outlook will move their emails to your junk folder and stop notifying you about them.

To see your blocked senders list in Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Blocked Senders. You can tap any name to unblock them if needed.

Block an email address in Yahoo Mail on iPhone

Open the Yahoo Mail app and find the email from the person you want to block. Swipe left on the message (or tap and hold it). A menu of options will appear. Tap the block icon or select Block from the menu. Yahoo will send their future emails to spam.

If you use Yahoo Mail through the Mail app instead of the Yahoo app, use the Apple Mail blocking method described at the top of this article.

What happens when you block someone

Blocking stops emails from reaching your inbox, but the sender does not get a notification that they have been blocked. They will not know whether their messages are being delivered or ignored — from their perspective, they are sending normally. If they have another way to contact you (text, phone, social media), blocking email does not affect those channels.

Blocked emails are not deleted — they go to trash or spam depending on which app you use. You can retrieve them later if you unblock the sender or if you need to show the messages to someone else. Blocking is not permanent; you can unblock a sender anytime through your settings.

Block a sender using VIP and filters instead

If you want to keep seeing emails from someone but organize them differently, blocking is too strong. Instead, you can use filters or rules. In the Mail app, open an email from that sender, tap the flag icon at the top, and select Add VIP to highlight their messages. Or go to Settings > Mail > VIP to manage your VIP list.

For more control, some email services let you create rules that automatically sort, label, or archive messages from specific senders. Gmail calls these filters; Outlook calls them rules. Both let you keep the messages but move them out of your main inbox without blocking entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block an email address without opening a message from them?

Not directly in most apps. You need to open at least one email from that sender to access the block option. If you have never received an email from them, you cannot block them preemptively — but you can create a filter or rule to send their future messages to spam automatically.

Will the person know I blocked them?

No. They will not receive a notification, and their emails will appear to send normally from their end. They may eventually notice you never reply, but the block itself is invisible to them.

Can I block an email address on iPhone if I use a work email?

It depends on your company's email system. If you use the Mail app with your work account, the blocking feature works the same way. If your company uses a web-based email system or a custom app, blocking may not be available — contact your IT department to learn what options they support.

What if I block someone by mistake?

You can unblock them anytime. In the Mail app, go to Settings > Mail > Blocked Contacts, find their name, and swipe left to unblock. In Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo, open any email from that sender and select the unblock option from the menu.

Do I need to block someone on my computer too?

Blocking on your iPhone does not automatically block them on your Mac or iPad. You will need to block them separately on each device if you want the same protection everywhere. However, if you use the same email account across devices, blocking in the web version of Gmail or Outlook will explore to all devices using that account.