The basic steps differ by email provider, but all work the same way

Blocking someone on email means their messages go to a separate folder or disappear entirely, depending on your provider. You won't see their emails in your inbox, and in most cases they won't know they've been blocked. The person can still send you messages — they just won't reach you. If you need them to know you're not responding, blocking isn't the right tool; you'd need to reply or set an auto-responder instead.

The steps to block someone take less than a minute and live in your email settings. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a block feature, though they call it different things and hide it in different places. Once you block someone, you can unblock them later if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • In Gmail, open an email from the person, click the three-dot menu, and select "Block [sender]" — their future emails go to spam automatically.
  • In Outlook, right-click the sender's name in an email and choose "Block" — you can also block from the sender's contact card.
  • In Yahoo Mail, click the three-dot menu on an email and select "Block sender" — blocked emails go to spam.
  • Blocking only stops their emails from reaching your inbox; it does not stop them from sending or notify them that you blocked them.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked senders list in settings and removing their address.

How to block someone in Gmail

Open any email from the person you want to block. At the top right of the email, click the three vertical dots (the menu icon). A dropdown menu appears with several options. Click "Block [sender's name]."

Gmail will ask you to confirm. Click "Block" again. From that moment on, all emails from that address go straight to your spam folder. You won't see a notification when they send you something — the email just arrives in spam instead of your inbox. If the person sends you an email from a different address, that one won't be blocked; you'd need to block each address separately.

How to block someone in Outlook

Open an email from the person you want to block. Right-click on their name or email address at the top of the message. A small menu appears. Click "Block."

Alternatively, you can click the three-dot menu icon at the top of the email and select "Block sender." Either way, Outlook moves their future emails to your Junk folder. If you want to see your blocked senders list later, go to Settings, then Mail, then Junk email, and look for "Blocked senders."

How to block someone in Yahoo Mail

Open an email from the person you want to block. Click the three-dot menu icon at the top of the email. Select "Block sender" from the dropdown. Yahoo Mail will confirm the block and send their future emails to spam.

To see or manage your blocked senders in Yahoo Mail, go to Settings (the gear icon), then Blocked addresses. You can add email addresses manually here or remove someone from the blocked list if you change your mind.

How to block someone in Apple Mail

Open an email from the person you want to block. Click on their name or email address. A small card appears showing their contact information. Click the downward arrow or menu icon on that card. Select "Block this contact."

On iPhone or iPad, open the email, tap the sender's name at the top, then tap "Block this Contact." Apple Mail will confirm the action. Blocked emails go to your trash or a separate folder depending on your settings.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block an email address, their messages arrive in your spam or junk folder instead of your inbox. You can still see them if you check spam, but they won't clutter your main inbox or trigger notifications. The person doesn't receive a message saying they've been blocked — their email straightforward goes through as normal from their end, but you never see it.

If the person emails you from a different address, that email won't be blocked. Blocking is address-specific, not person-specific. If someone is harassing you from multiple addresses, you'll need to block each one separately as they contact you.

How to unblock someone

You can remove someone from your blocked list at any time. In Gmail, go to Settings, then Filters and Blocked Addresses, find the blocked sender, and click "Unblock." In Outlook, go to Settings, Mail, Junk email, Blocked senders, select the address, and click "Unblock." In Yahoo Mail, go to Settings, Blocked addresses, find the sender, and click "Unblock." In Apple Mail, go to Mail preferences, Junk Mail, and look for your blocked contacts list.

Once you unblock someone, their emails will start arriving in your inbox again like normal. You won't receive any notification that you unblocked them, and they won't know the block was ever in place.

When blocking is the right choice and when it isn't

Blocking works well for spam, unwanted sales emails, or people you genuinely don't want to hear from. It's a quiet solution that doesn't require you to respond or explain anything. Use it when you're certain you don't want to see their messages and you don't need them to know you're avoiding them.

Blocking is not the right tool if you need to communicate that you're not interested. If someone is waiting for a response from you, blocking them silently without explanation can create confusion or hurt feelings. In those cases, a brief reply or an auto-responder message is clearer. Blocking also won't stop someone from contacting you through other channels — phone, text, social media, or a different email address. If you're dealing with harassment or threats, blocking is a first step, but you may also need to report the person to your email provider or contact local authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

No. Blocking is silent on your end. Their email sends normally from their perspective, and they won't receive any notification that you blocked them. The only way they'd know is if they try to contact you through another method and you tell them.

Can I block someone if I've already deleted their email?

Yes. You don't need to have an email from them open to block them. In most providers, you can go to your blocked senders list in settings and add an email address manually, even if you've never received a message from them.

What if someone keeps emailing me from different addresses?

You'll need to block each address separately as you receive emails from them. Some email providers let you block by domain (for example, blocking everyone from @company.com), but this varies. Check your provider's settings to see if domain-level blocking is available.

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

Yes. Blocked emails go to spam or junk, not deleted. You can check your spam folder anytime to see what they sent. If you want to read a specific email, you can open it there without unblocking the person.

Does blocking stop them from seeing my emails?

No. Blocking only stops their emails from reaching your inbox. If you've already sent them emails, they can still see those. Blocking is one-way — it affects only what you receive, not what they receive.