The fastest way depends on your email provider

Most email providers let you block a sender in one or two clicks, but the exact steps change depending on whether you use Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, or another service. The blocked sender won't be told they're blocked — their emails straightforward won't reach your inbox. Some providers move blocked mail to a separate folder you can check later; others delete it outright. You can usually unblock someone if you change your mind.

Blocking is different from unsubscribing. When you unsubscribe from a mailing list, you're asking a company to remove you from their newsletter. When you block, you're telling your email provider to reject all messages from that specific address, whether it's a person, a business, or an automated sender.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have built-in block features accessible from the sender's message or from your settings.
  • Blocked emails typically go to spam or trash rather than your inbox, but you can check those folders if you need to see what was sent.
  • Blocking someone does not notify them, and they won't see a bounce-back message — their email straightforward fails to arrive.
  • You can block an email address in seconds, but blocking an entire domain (like all messages from a company's servers) usually requires a filter or rule.
  • If someone keeps contacting you from different addresses after you block them, you may need to report the behavior to your email provider as harassment.

How to block in Gmail

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the message. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown. Gmail will move that sender's future emails to your spam folder automatically.

If you've already deleted the message, you can still block the address. Go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), click "See all settings," then go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Click "Create a new filter," type the email address in the "From" field, click "Create filter," then check "Delete it" or "Skip the inbox (Archive it)." Click "Create filter" again to confirm.

To unblock someone in Gmail, return to Settings, go to Filters and Blocked Addresses, find the blocked address in the list, and click the delete icon next to it.

How to block in Outlook and Outlook.com

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots at the top right of the message. Select "Block" or "Block sender." Outlook will send future emails from that address to your Junk folder.

If you're using Outlook on your desktop (the process, not the web version), right-click the sender's name in the message and choose "Block Sender." The process is the same — future emails go to Junk.

To unblock in Outlook.com, go to Settings, then Mail, then Junk email. You'll see a list of blocked senders. Click the X next to any address to unblock it. In the desktop process, go to File, Options, Trust Center, then Junk Email, and remove the address from the Blocked Senders list.

How to block in Yahoo Mail

Open the message from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more options) at the top right. Select "Block sender." Yahoo will move that sender's emails to your spam folder going forward.

To unblock, go to Settings (the gear icon), then Privacy, then Blocked addresses. You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Click the X next to any address to remove the block.

How to block in Apple Mail and iCloud Mail

If you use Apple Mail on a Mac, right-click the sender's email address in the message and select "Block Contact." On an iPhone or iPad, open the message, tap the sender's name at the top, then tap "Block this Contact." Apple Mail will move blocked messages to the trash.

If you use iCloud Mail (mail.icloud.com), open the message, click the three dots at the top right, and select "Block sender." To unblock, go to Settings, Mail, then VIP and Blocked, and remove the address from your blocked list.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block an address, that sender's emails won't show up in your inbox. Most providers put them in spam or trash instead, so you can still see them if you need to — you just have to look in those folders. The sender won't receive a notification that they've been blocked, and they won't see a bounce-back message saying the address is invalid. From their perspective, the email straightforward disappears.

If the person you blocked tries to contact you from a different email address, that new address won't be blocked automatically. You'll need to block each address separately. If someone repeatedly contacts you from multiple addresses after you've asked them to stop, that may cross into harassment — most email providers let you report this behavior, and they can take action on their end.

Blocking an entire domain or company

If you're getting unwanted emails from multiple addresses at the same company (like noreply@company.com, support@company.com, and billing@company.com), blocking each one individually is tedious. Most email providers let you create a filter that blocks everything from a domain.

In Gmail, go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, and create a new filter. In the "From" field, type the domain with an asterisk: *@company.com. Then choose what to do with those emails — delete them, send them to spam, or skip your inbox. In Outlook, Outlook.com, and Yahoo Mail, the process is similar: create a rule or filter, specify the domain, and choose your action. Apple Mail doesn't have a built-in domain-blocking feature, so you'll need to block addresses one at a time or use a third-party email client.

When blocking isn't enough

Blocking works well for unwanted newsletters, spam, or someone you straightforward don't want to hear from. But if someone is harassing you, threatening you, or sending you explicit content, blocking alone may not be enough. Most email providers have a "Report" or "Report abuse" button on messages — use it. Your provider can investigate and potentially suspend the sender's account.

If the harassment is serious or ongoing, you may want to save copies of the messages (take screenshots or read them) and report the behavior to local police or to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. Email providers take reports seriously, especially when there's a pattern of behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person I block know that I blocked them?

No. They won't receive a notification, and their emails won't bounce back with an error message. From their perspective, the email straightforward doesn't arrive. They might suspect they're blocked if they never hear back, but they won't know for certain unless they try contacting you from a different address and you respond.

Can I block someone and still see their emails if I want to?

Yes. Most providers move blocked emails to spam or trash rather than deleting them permanently. You can check those folders anytime to see what was sent. If you want to read a blocked sender's message, you can unblock them, read it, and block them again.

What's the difference between blocking and unsubscribing?

Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list — you're asking the sender to stop sending you newsletters or promotional emails. Blocking tells your email provider to reject all messages from that address. Unsubscribe when you want to stop getting marketing emails; block when you don't want to hear from someone at all.

If I block someone, will old emails from them disappear?

No. Blocking only affects new emails going forward. Any messages you've already received will stay in your inbox, sent folder, or wherever you filed them. If you want to delete old emails from someone, you'll need to find and delete them manually or use your email provider's search and delete features.

Can someone unblock themselves if I block them?

No. Only you can manage your blocked list. Once you block an address, the sender has no way to remove themselves from your blocked list. They would have to contact you through a different method (phone, social media, another email address) and ask you to unblock them.