Block an email address in Gmail
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots menu in the top right corner of the email, then select Block "[sender's name]". Gmail will move all future emails from that address to your spam folder automatically.
If you want to block someone without opening their email, right-click on their name in your inbox or contact list and choose Block. You can also go to your Gmail settings, click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, and manually enter the email address you want to block.
Blocked senders will not know they are blocked. Their emails will still arrive at Gmail's servers, but you will not see them in your inbox. If you change your mind, you can unblock someone by going to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses, finding their address in the blocked list, and clicking Unblock.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail blocks senders by moving their emails to spam automatically, and you can block someone in three clicks from any of their emails.
- Outlook and Apple Mail use similar blocking features, but the location and menu names differ between the two programs.
- Blocked senders cannot tell they are blocked, and their emails still arrive at the server but do not appear in your inbox.
- You can unblock someone at any time by finding them in your blocked senders list and removing them.
- Blocking is different from unsubscribing — blocking stops all mail from a person, while unsubscribing only stops marketing emails.
Block an email address in Outlook
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the Home tab at the top, then find the Junk button in the toolbar. Click the arrow next to it and select Block Sender. Outlook will send all future emails from that address to your Junk folder.
On the web version of Outlook, right-click the email and choose Junk > Block Sender. On the desktop version, the button is in the same place but the menu path is slightly different — look for Junk in the toolbar and click the dropdown arrow.
To unblock someone in Outlook, go to Settings (the gear icon), then Mail > Junk Email. You will see a list of blocked senders. Find the person you want to unblock and click the minus sign next to their name.
Block an email address in Apple Mail
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click Mail in the top menu bar, then select Block Contact. Apple Mail will automatically move emails from that sender to your junk folder from that point forward.
If you are using iCloud Mail on the web, open the email and click the three dots menu, then choose Block Contact. The process is the same whether you are on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad — the blocked sender's future emails go to junk automatically.
To see your blocked senders list in Apple Mail on a Mac, go to Mail > Preferences > Junk Mail. You will see a list of addresses you have blocked. To unblock someone, find their name and click the minus button next to it. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Mail > Blocked to see and manage your blocked list.
What happens when you block someone
When you block an email address, the sender's emails stop appearing in your inbox. Instead, they go directly to your spam or junk folder. The sender does not receive a notification that they have been blocked — their email straightforward disappears from your view.
Blocking is permanent until you unblock the person. If they send you an email tomorrow or six months from now, it will still go to junk. This is different from marking a single email as spam, which only affects that one message. Blocking affects all future emails from that sender.
Some email programs let you block an entire domain instead of just one address. For example, if you want to block all emails from anyone at a particular company, you can block the domain name (the part after the @ symbol). Check your email program's settings to see if this option is available.
Blocking versus unsubscribing
Blocking and unsubscribing are two different actions. Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list — usually marketing emails or newsletters. The sender still exists, but you will not receive their mass emails anymore. Most marketing emails have an unsubscribe link at the bottom.
Blocking stops all emails from a specific person or address, including personal messages. Use blocking when someone is sending you unwanted emails repeatedly. Use unsubscribing when you straightforward do not want to receive newsletters or promotional emails from a company or service.
If you unsubscribe from a mailing list but the sender keeps emailing you anyway, then blocking is the right next step. Blocking is also the tool to use if someone is harassing you or sending you spam that is not part of a mailing list.
Recover a blocked email address by mistake
If you blocked someone by accident, you can unblock them when ready. The process is different in each email program, but all three (Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail) let you access your blocked senders list in settings.
In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses and look for the blocked sender's address. Click Unblock next to their name. In Outlook, go to Settings > Junk Email and find their address in the blocked list, then click the minus sign. In Apple Mail, go to Preferences > Junk Mail (Mac) or Settings > Mail > Blocked (iPhone/iPad) and remove them from the list.
Once you unblock someone, their emails will start arriving in your inbox again. Any emails they sent while they were blocked will still be in your junk folder — unblocking does not recover those messages. You can search your junk folder and move them back to your inbox if you need them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a blocked sender tell that I blocked them?
No. Blocked senders do not receive any notification. Their emails straightforward go to your junk folder instead of your inbox. They have no way to know whether you blocked them, marked them as spam, or straightforward never read their message.
What if someone keeps emailing me from different addresses?
Block each address individually as it arrives. If the harassment continues from many different addresses, contact your email provider's support team — they may be able to block an entire domain or take action against the sender. You can also report the emails as spam or phishing to help your email provider identify patterns.
Will blocking someone delete their old emails from my inbox?
No. Blocking only affects future emails. Any messages from that sender that are already in your inbox will stay there. If you want to remove them, you will need to delete them manually or move them to trash.
Can I block emails from a company domain instead of one person?
Yes, but the process depends on your email program. Gmail and Outlook let you create filters that block all emails from a specific domain. Check your email program's filter or rules settings to see if you can block by domain name instead of individual address.
If I unblock someone, will I see their old blocked emails?
No. Unblocking only stops the blocking rule going forward. Emails that arrived while they were blocked are still in your junk folder. You can search for their name in junk and move specific emails back to your inbox if you need them.