Block an email address in the Mail app
Open the email from the sender you want to block. Tap the sender's name or email address at the top of the message — this opens a small menu with their contact details. Look for the option that says "Block This Contact" and tap it. A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure; tap "Block" again to confirm.
Once you block someone, their emails stop arriving in your inbox. They go to the trash automatically, and you won't see notifications from them. The blocked sender won't know they're blocked — the Mail app doesn't send them any notification.
If you change your mind later, you can unblock them. Go to Settings, scroll down and tap Mail, then tap Blocked Contacts. Find the person's name and swipe left on it, then tap "Unblock".
Key Takeaways
- Tap the sender's name in any email, then select "Block This Contact" to stop receiving messages from that address.
- Blocked emails go straight to trash and you won't get notifications from them.
- You can unblock someone anytime through Settings > Mail > Blocked Contacts.
- Blocking only works in the Mail app — if you use Gmail or another email service's own app, you may need to block within that app instead.
- The sender does not receive any message telling them they've been blocked.
Block email in Gmail, Outlook, or other apps
If you use Gmail's app instead of Apple's Mail app, blocking works differently. Open the email, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block [sender's name]". Gmail will delete that message and send future emails from that address to spam.
Outlook on iPhone has its own blocking system. Open the email, tap the three dots, select "Block Sender", and confirm. Blocked senders' messages go to the Junk folder.
Yahoo Mail and other services have similar options — usually found in a menu (three dots or lines) within the email itself. The exact steps vary, so if you don't see a block option when ready, look for "More options" or "Settings" within that email's menu.
What happens after you block someone
In Apple Mail, blocked emails arrive but skip your inbox entirely — they go to trash. You won't see a badge notification or alert. If you ever need to see what was blocked, you can check your Trash folder, but most people never look there.
The blocked sender can still send you emails. They won't know the messages aren't reaching you. If they contact you through a different email address or another app like text message or social media, those messages will still come through normally.
Unblock an email address
Open Settings on your iPhone and scroll down to Mail. Tap Mail, then look for "Blocked Contacts" near the bottom of the list. You'll see everyone you've blocked in the Mail app. Swipe left on any name and tap "Unblock" to restore their emails to your inbox.
Once unblocked, their future emails will arrive normally. Old emails that were blocked and sent to trash will stay in trash — unblocking doesn't recover them. If you want to see those old messages, you can find them in your Trash folder before permanently deleting them.
Block email addresses you haven't received yet
You can block an email address without having received a message from them first. Go to Settings > Mail > Blocked Contacts, tap "Add Contact" (or the plus sign), and type in the email address you want to block. Any future emails from that address will go straight to trash.
This is useful if someone is harassing you and you want to prevent their messages before they arrive, or if you want to block a company's marketing emails before they start. The process is the same whether you're blocking a person or a business.
When blocking doesn't stop all unwanted email
Blocking works only for emails from that exact address. If a sender uses multiple email addresses, you'll need to block each one separately. Some spammers and scammers create new addresses frequently, so blocking one address may not stop them permanently.
For bulk unwanted email from companies, marking messages as spam or junk is often more effective than blocking. Spam filters learn from your choices and may catch similar emails automatically. In Mail, swipe left on an email and tap "Trash", or tap the flag icon and select "Mark as Junk".
If you're receiving a large volume of unwanted email, check whether you can unsubscribe from mailing lists. Most legitimate marketing emails include an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Clicking it removes you from that sender's list permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block an email address from someone I've already emailed with?
Yes. Open any email from that person, tap their name at the top, and select "Block This Contact". You can also go to Settings > Mail > Blocked Contacts and add their address manually without needing a message from them first.
Will the person know I blocked them?
No. Apple Mail doesn't send any notification to blocked senders. They won't know their emails aren't reaching you unless you tell them or they contact you another way and you don't respond.
What's the difference between blocking and marking as spam?
Blocking sends all future emails from that address to trash automatically. Marking as spam teaches your email filter to recognize similar messages and move them to a spam folder, but the sender's emails may still arrive if they look different. Blocking is more complete.
Can I block email on iPhone if I use Gmail?
Yes, but you need to use the Gmail app, not Apple Mail. Open the email, tap the three dots, and select "Block [sender's name]". If you're using Gmail through Apple Mail instead, you'll need to block within Mail's settings, and Gmail won't know about it.
Do I need to block someone on my computer too?
Blocking on iPhone only affects the Mail app on that device. If you use the same email account on a Mac, iPad, or computer, you'll need to block that person separately on each device. Blocking in Gmail's website version works across all devices that use Gmail.