The fastest way depends on which email service you use
Most email providers — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, Apple Mail — have a built-in block feature that takes about 10 seconds to use. You find the message from the sender you want to block, click a menu (usually three dots or a down arrow), and select "Block" or "Block sender". The email service then sends future messages from that address straight to spam or a blocked folder, and you won't see notifications for them.
The exact steps and menu names differ between services, so this article walks through the main ones. If you use a less common provider or your email through work, your IT department or email provider's help page will have the specific steps.
Blocking works best for unwanted marketing emails or someone you don't want to hear from. It does not stop someone from sending you mail — they won't know they're blocked, and if they check a different email address or create a new account, messages from that new address will still reach you. If you're dealing with harassment or threats, blocking alone may not be enough; see the section on when to involve other people.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a block feature accessible from the message menu, usually labeled with three dots or a down arrow.
- Blocking sends future messages to spam or a blocked folder and stops notifications, but does not prevent the sender from emailing you again from a different address.
- You can usually unblock a sender later if you change your mind, and blocked messages are typically kept in a folder you can still view if needed.
- If someone is harassing you, threatening you, or impersonating you, blocking is a first step but you may also need to report the account to the email provider or contact law enforcement.
How to block in Gmail
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots menu in the top right corner of the message. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown. Gmail will move that message and all future ones from that address to your spam folder and turn off notifications.
If you want to block someone without opening their message, you can right-click on their name in your inbox list and choose "Block" from the context menu. You can also block a sender by clicking the three dots next to their name in the inbox view, though this option is not always visible depending on your Gmail layout.
To unblock someone later, go to Gmail Settings (the gear icon in the top right), click "See all settings", go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab, find the blocked address in the list, and click "Unblock" next to it.
How to block in Outlook and Outlook.com
Open the message from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots menu at the top of the message. Select "Block" or "Block sender" (the exact wording varies depending on whether you're using Outlook desktop, Outlook.com in a browser, or Outlook on mobile). Outlook moves future messages from that address to your Junk folder.
On the Outlook desktop app for Windows or Mac, you can also right-click a message in your inbox and select "Block" from the menu. On Outlook.com in a browser, the block option appears in the toolbar at the top when you have a message open.
To unblock, go to Settings (the gear icon), select "View all Outlook settings", go to "Mail" then "Junk email", and look for the "Blocked senders" list. Click the X next to any address you want to unblock.
How to block in Yahoo Mail
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots menu (or sometimes labeled "More") at the top right of the message. Select "Block sender". Yahoo moves that sender's messages to your spam folder and stops showing you notifications.
You can also hover over a sender's name in your inbox and click the block icon (usually a circle with a slash) if it appears. On mobile, swipe left on the message and tap the block option.
To unblock, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), select "Account info", go to "Security", then find "Blocked addresses" and click the X next to the address you want to unblock.
How to block in Apple Mail and iCloud Mail
On an iPhone or iPad, open the message, tap "Report Junk" at the bottom, then confirm. On a Mac, right-click the message and select "Mark as Junk" or "Block Sender" (depending on your macOS version). Apple Mail moves blocked messages to your junk folder.
If you use iCloud Mail through iCloud.com in a browser, open the message, click the three dots menu, and select "Block sender". The process is the same whether you're blocking on the device or through the web.
To unblock on a Mac, go to Mail menu, select "Preferences", click "Junk Mail", and look for a list of blocked senders (this varies by macOS version — some versions do not show a clear unblock list, in which case you may need to mark a message from that sender as "Not Junk" to restore them). On iPhone or iPad, there is no built-in unblock list; you would need to mark a future message from that sender as "Not Junk".
What happens to messages after you block someone
Blocked messages are usually moved to your spam or junk folder, not deleted. You can still view them if you go looking — they just do not appear in your inbox and do not trigger notifications. This is useful if you block someone by mistake or if you need to review old messages later for documentation purposes.
Most email services keep blocked messages for 30 days before deleting them automatically, though some keep them longer. If you need to save a message for legal or safety reasons, read or screenshot it before it expires.
When blocking is not enough
Blocking stops messages from reaching your inbox, but it does not stop someone from sending them. If someone creates a new email address and keeps contacting you after you've blocked them, that's harassment. If messages contain threats, impersonation, or explicit content, report the account to your email provider — most have a "Report abuse" or "Report phishing" button in the message menu.
For serious cases — threats of violence, stalking, or repeated contact after you've asked someone to stop — contact local law enforcement. Keep screenshots or exports of the messages as evidence. If the harassment is happening through your work email, report it to your IT department or HR when ready.
If you're being impersonated (someone is using your name or photo to contact others), report it to the email provider and consider changing your password and enabling two-factor authentication on your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?
No. When you block someone, they won't receive a notification or any indication that you've blocked them. Their messages will appear to send normally from their perspective, but they'll land in your spam folder instead of your inbox. They have no way to know unless they contact you through another method and you tell them.
What if I block someone by mistake?
You can unblock them at any time through your email settings. The process varies by provider — Gmail uses "Filters and Blocked Addresses", Outlook uses "Junk email" settings, Yahoo uses "Blocked addresses" — but all of them let you remove someone from the blocked list. Once unblocked, their messages will reach your inbox normally again.
If I block someone, will they see old messages I sent them?
No. Blocking only affects messages coming to you, not messages you've already sent. Old emails you sent to that person remain in their inbox. Blocking does not delete your sent history or change anything on their end.
Can I block an entire domain instead of just one email address?
Most consumer email services do not have a built-in feature to block all addresses from a domain (like blocking everyone at company.com). However, you can create a filter or rule that automatically sends messages from that domain to spam. In Gmail, this is done through "Filters and Blocked Addresses" in Settings; in Outlook, through "Rules" in Settings; in Yahoo, through "Filters" in Mail options. Your email provider's help page will have the exact steps.
Does blocking on my phone also block on my computer?
Yes. If you block someone in Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or Apple Mail, the block applies across all devices and browsers where you access that email account. The block is stored on the email service's servers, not on your device, so it syncs everywhere you log in.