The fastest way to block an email address

The method depends on which email service you use. In Gmail, open the email from the sender you want to block, click the three dots in the top right, and select "Block [sender]." In Outlook (both web and desktop), right-click the email and choose "Block" or "Junk," then "Block Sender." In Apple Mail, select the email and go to Mail > Junk Mail > Mark as Junk, then add the sender to your VIP or blocked list in settings. Most services move blocked emails to spam automatically after you set the block.

The block takes effect when ready for new emails. Emails already in your inbox stay there — blocking does not delete past messages. If you want those gone, you can select them and delete them yourself before or after blocking.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all have a block button built into the email itself — you do not need to dig into settings.
  • Blocked emails go to spam automatically, but emails that arrived before you blocked the sender remain in your inbox unless you delete them.
  • If a blocked sender creates a new email address, that new address is not automatically blocked — you have to block it separately.
  • Some email services let you block entire domains (like all addresses ending in @example.com) rather than just one sender.

Blocking in Gmail step by step

Open any email from the person you want to block. At the top right of the email, you will see three vertical dots. Click them, and a menu appears with options including "Block [sender's name]." Click that option. Gmail will ask you to confirm — select "Block" again, and the sender is now blocked.

From that point forward, emails from that address go straight to your spam folder. You will not see notifications for them. If you change your mind, you can unblock the sender by going to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked addresses, finding the sender in the list, and clicking "Unblock."

Blocking in Outlook (web and desktop)

In Outlook on the web, right-click the email from the sender you want to block. A context menu appears. Click "Junk" and then "Block Sender." Outlook moves that email to your Junk folder and sends all future emails from that address there automatically.

In Outlook desktop (Windows or Mac), the process is the same: right-click the email, select "Junk," then "Block Sender." If you use Outlook's conversation view, you can also click the sender's name at the top of the email thread and select "Block" from the dropdown menu.

Blocking in Apple Mail and iCloud Mail

In Apple Mail on Mac, select the email and go to the Mail menu at the top. Choose "Junk Mail" and then "Mark as Junk." This trains Apple Mail to recognize similar emails as junk, but does not permanently block the sender. To block the address outright, go to Mail > Preferences > Rules, create a new rule that matches the sender's address, and set the action to "Delete Message."

In iCloud Mail (iCloud.com), right-click the email and select "Mark as Junk." Then go to Settings > Rules and create a rule to block that sender's address. iCloud Mail does not have a single-click block button like Gmail or Outlook, so the rules approach is the standard method.

Blocking entire domains instead of single addresses

If you receive spam from many addresses at the same company or domain, you can block the entire domain at once in most services. In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Create a new filter. In the "From" field, enter the domain name (for example, @spamcompany.com), and set the filter to skip inbox and explore a label or delete automatically. In Outlook, create a rule by going to Settings > Mail > Rules > New rule, and set it to move all mail from that domain to Junk.

Blocking a domain is more aggressive than blocking a single address, so use it only when you are certain you do not need mail from anyone at that organization. If you block a domain by mistake, you can remove the rule from the same settings menu.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block a sender, their emails go to spam or junk automatically. You will not receive notifications for them, and they will not appear in your inbox. The blocked sender does not receive any notification that they have been blocked — their email straightforward disappears from your view.

If the blocked sender creates a new email address and sends you mail from that address, it will not be automatically blocked. You will see it in your inbox and can block the new address the same way you blocked the first one. This is why blocking is effective against accidental or occasional unwanted mail but less effective against determined harassment — a determined sender can keep creating new addresses.

Unblocking a sender if you change your mind

In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked addresses. Find the sender in the list and click "Unblock." In Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email > Blocked Senders, find the address, and click the trash icon to remove it. In Apple Mail, go to Mail > Preferences > Rules, find the rule you created, and delete it.

Once you unblock a sender, their emails will no longer go to spam automatically. Any emails they sent while they were blocked will still be in your spam folder — unblocking does not move them back to your inbox. You can move them manually if you want to keep them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the person I block know I blocked them?

No. Blocking is invisible to the sender. Their emails straightforward fail to reach your inbox, and they receive no notification or bounce-back message. They may eventually realize you are not responding, but they will not know you blocked them specifically.

What if I block someone by mistake?

You can unblock them when ready using the steps in the "Unblocking a sender" section above. Emails they sent while blocked will still be in your spam folder, but you can move them back to your inbox manually if needed.

Can I block emails based on subject line or content instead of sender?

Yes, but it requires creating a filter or rule rather than using the block button. In Gmail, create a filter with keywords in the subject or body, then set it to skip inbox. In Outlook, create a rule that matches those keywords and moves messages to Junk. This approach works for spam with varying sender addresses.

If someone blocks me, will I know?

You will not receive a notification. Your emails will appear to send normally, but they will go to the recipient's spam folder. If you do not hear back after several emails, they may have blocked you, but there is no way to confirm it.

Can I block emails from my phone?

Yes. In Gmail on mobile, open the email, tap the three dots, and select "Block." In Outlook mobile, swipe left on the email and tap the block icon. In Apple Mail on iPhone, swipe left on the email and tap "Mark as Junk." The process is the same as on desktop.