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

Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a block feature built in, but the steps are different for each one. In Gmail, you open the email, click the three dots in the top right, and select "Block [sender]". In Outlook on the web, you click the three dots, choose "Block", and confirm. On your phone, the process is similar but the menu location changes — in Gmail's mobile app, swipe left on the email and tap the block icon; in Outlook's app, long-press the email and select "Block sender". Once you block someone, their emails go straight to spam and you won't see notifications.

If you use a desktop email client like Outlook for Windows or Apple Mail, blocking usually lives in the Tools or Mail menu rather than on the email itself. The result is the same: future emails from that address skip your inbox. Some services let you block entire domains (so blocking someone@company.com also blocks anyone@company.com), which is useful if you're getting spam from a business rather than a person.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail all have block features; the steps differ slightly between services and between web and mobile versions.
  • Blocked emails go to spam automatically, and you won't receive notifications when they arrive.
  • You can block a single email address or, in some services, an entire domain.
  • Blocking is not the same as unsubscribing; unsubscribe removes you from mailing lists, while blocking stops all mail from one sender.
  • If someone is harassing you, blocking combined with reporting the email as spam or abuse gives you better protection than blocking alone.

Blocking in Gmail on the web

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the email. A dropdown menu appears with options including "Mark as spam", "Delete", "Report phishing", and "Block [sender's name]". Click "Block [sender's name]". Gmail will ask you to confirm; click "Block" again.

After you block someone in Gmail, their future emails automatically go to your Spam folder. If they send you an email before you block them, that email stays in your inbox — blocking only affects new messages. You can unblock someone later by going to Settings, clicking the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, finding the blocked address, and clicking "Unblock".

Blocking in Outlook on the web

Open the email you want to block. Click the three dots in the top right. Select "Block" from the menu. Outlook will show a confirmation message saying the sender has been blocked and their future emails will go to Junk. Click "Block" to confirm.

To unblock someone in Outlook, go to Settings (the gear icon), select "View all Outlook settings", go to Mail, then Junk email, and look for the "Blocked senders" list. You can remove addresses from there. Unlike Gmail, Outlook also lets you block entire domains — if you block someone@example.com, you can choose to block all mail from @example.com at the same time.

Blocking on your phone (Gmail and Outlook apps)

In the Gmail app on iPhone or Android, open the email and swipe left on it (iPhone) or long-press it (Android). A trash icon and a block icon appear. Tap the block icon. Gmail will confirm that the sender is blocked.

In the Outlook app, long-press the email to open a menu. Select "Block sender". Outlook confirms the block when ready. On both apps, blocked emails go to spam from that point forward, just as they do on the web version.

Blocking in Yahoo Mail and Apple Mail

Yahoo Mail's process is similar to Gmail: open the email, click the three dots, and select "Block". Yahoo will move that sender's future emails to spam. To unblock, go to Settings, click "Security and privacy", find "Blocked addresses", and remove the sender from the list.

Apple Mail on Mac and iPhone works differently depending on your device. On Mac, open the email, click the Mail menu, select "Block Sender", and confirm. On iPhone, swipe left on the email in your inbox and tap "Block". On both devices, blocked senders' emails go to the Trash or Junk folder. To unblock on Mac, go to Mail > Preferences > Junk Mail and look for blocked addresses.

The difference between blocking and unsubscribing

Blocking stops all emails from one sender. Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list — usually a newsletter, promotional emails, or notifications from a service you signed up for. Most legitimate marketing emails have an "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom. Clicking it tells the sender's system to remove your address from their list, but it doesn't block them the way blocking does.

If you get unwanted emails from a business or service, unsubscribe first. If you keep getting emails after unsubscribing, or if the sender is someone you know personally and don't want to hear from, use block. Blocking is more aggressive and permanent from your perspective — the sender has no way to know they're blocked, and you won't see their emails at all.

What to do if blocking isn't enough

If someone is sending you threatening, abusive, or harassing emails, blocking alone may not be enough. After you block them, also report the email as spam or abuse. In Gmail, open the email before blocking it, click the three dots, and select "Report phishing" or "Report spam" depending on the type of message. In Outlook, click the three dots and choose "Report" — you can select "Junk", "Phishing", or "Abuse".

Reporting tells your email service's abuse team about the sender, which helps them identify patterns and take action against accounts that violate their terms of service. If the harassment continues from different email addresses, keep reporting each one. If you believe you're in danger, contact local law enforcement and provide them with the emails as evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I've blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they don't receive a notification. If they send you an email, it will appear to go through from their perspective, but it lands in your spam folder and you won't see it. They have no way to know they're blocked unless they try to contact you through another method and you tell them.

What happens to emails I already received from someone I block?

Emails already in your inbox stay there. Blocking only affects new emails from that sender. If you want to remove old emails from someone you've blocked, you need to delete them manually or use your email service's search and delete features.

Can I block an entire company or domain?

Some services allow it. Outlook lets you block entire domains when you block a sender. Gmail does not have a built-in domain block, but you can create a filter in Settings that automatically sends all mail from a domain to spam. Yahoo Mail also supports domain blocking in its blocked addresses list.

If I block someone and they create a new email address, will they be blocked too?

No. Blocking is tied to a specific email address. If someone creates a new account and emails you from a different address, that new address is not blocked. You would need to block the new address separately. If someone is repeatedly contacting you from new addresses after you've blocked them, that's harassment and you should report it to your email service and consider contacting law enforcement.

Can I unblock someone after I block them?

Yes. Every email service lets you view your blocked senders list and remove addresses from it. In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses. In Outlook, go to Settings > Junk email > Blocked senders. In Yahoo, go to Settings > Security and privacy > Blocked addresses. Once you unblock someone, their emails will go to your inbox again instead of spam.