Where to find the block button in your email program

The block feature lives in different places depending on which email service you use. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a block option, but you reach it through different steps. The fastest way is usually to open an email from the person you want to block, then look for a menu icon — often three dots or a downward arrow — near the sender's name or in the toolbar.

Once you click that menu, you will see options like "Block," "Block sender," or "Block this contact." Click it, and the email service will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, that sender's future emails go straight to spam or a blocked folder, and you will not see notifications from them.

If you cannot find the menu in your email, try right-clicking on the sender's name or email address. Many programs show a context menu with block options when you do. If that does not work, check your email program's settings or help section — the exact wording and location change between services, but every major email program has a block feature somewhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Open an email from the person you want to block, then click the menu icon (usually three dots) near their name to find the block option.
  • After you block someone, their emails go to spam or a blocked folder and you will not receive notifications from them.
  • Blocking is different from unsubscribing — it stops all mail from that address, not just marketing emails.
  • You can unblock someone later if you change your mind, though the process varies slightly between email services.

Gmail: blocking a sender

In Gmail, open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right of the email. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Click "Block [sender's name]" near the bottom of that menu.

Gmail will show a confirmation message asking if you are sure. Click the button to confirm. After that, any emails from that address will skip your inbox and go straight to spam. Gmail will not show you a notification when they send you mail.

If you later decide to unblock them, go to your Gmail settings, click the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab, find their address in the blocked list, and click "Unblock" next to their name.

Outlook: blocking a sender

In Outlook (both the web version and the desktop program), open an email from the person you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon at the top of the email. Select "Block" or "Block sender" from the menu that appears.

Outlook will ask you to confirm. Click yes, and that sender's future emails will go to your Junk folder. You will not receive notifications from them. If you use Outlook on your phone or tablet, the steps are the same — open the email, tap the menu icon, and select block.

To unblock someone in Outlook, go to Settings, then "Mail," then "Junk email," and look for the "Blocked Senders" list. Find their address and click the minus sign to remove them from the blocked list.

Yahoo Mail and Apple Mail: blocking a sender

Yahoo Mail works similarly to Gmail. Open the email, click the three-dot menu at the top right, and select "Block sender." Yahoo will move their future emails to spam and stop sending you notifications.

Apple Mail (on Mac, iPhone, or iPad) requires a slightly different approach. Open the email from the person you want to block, then click on their name or email address. A card will pop up with their contact information. Click the three-dot menu on that card and select "Block this contact." After that, their emails will go to your junk folder.

Both services let you unblock people later through their settings. In Yahoo, go to Settings and find the blocked senders list. In Apple Mail, go to Settings, then "Accounts," select your email account, and look for blocked contacts.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block a sender, their emails will no longer appear in your inbox. Instead, they go to your spam or junk folder, and you will not receive notifications when they send you mail. You can still see their emails if you go to your spam folder and look for them, but they will not interrupt your day.

Blocking does not send them a message or notification. They will not know you blocked them — they may notice their emails are not getting replies, but the email service does not tell them they are blocked. If they send you mail from a different email address, that new address will not be blocked automatically. You would need to block each address separately.

Blocking is permanent until you unblock them. If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time through your email settings, and their emails will return to your normal inbox.

When blocking is not enough

If someone is sending you threatening, harassing, or abusive emails, blocking them is a good first step, but it may not be enough. Keep copies of the emails before you block them — take screenshots or read them as files. If the harassment continues from other email addresses or other platforms, you have a record of what happened.

If the emails involve threats, contact your local police department. If they involve harassment related to your job, tell your manager or human resources department. If they are part of a pattern of stalking or abuse, consider reporting the behavior to the platform where you first connected with this person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. The email service does not notify them. They may eventually realize their emails are not getting replies, but they will not receive a message saying they are blocked. If they try to send you mail from a different address, that new address will not be blocked unless you block it separately.

What is the difference between blocking and unsubscribing?

Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list, usually marketing emails, but the sender can still email you individually. Blocking stops all emails from that address and sends them to spam. Use unsubscribe for newsletters you no longer want. Use block for people or addresses you do not want to hear from at all.

If I block someone, can they still see my emails?

Blocking only affects what you receive. If you sent them an email before you blocked them, they can still see it and reply to it. Your block only stops their new emails from reaching you. It does not delete old conversations or prevent them from seeing messages you already sent.

Can I block multiple people at once?

Most email services require you to block people one at a time through the block menu. However, if you receive many unwanted emails from similar addresses, you can sometimes create a filter or rule that automatically sends emails from certain words or domains to spam without blocking each address individually. Check your email settings for filter or rule options.

What if I blocked someone by mistake?

You can unblock them anytime through your email settings. In Gmail, go to Settings and find "Filters and Blocked Addresses." In Outlook, go to Settings, then Junk Email, then Blocked Senders. In Yahoo and Apple Mail, look for blocked senders or contacts in your settings. Find their address and click unblock or remove.