The fastest way to stop emails from one person

The simplest method is to unsubscribe if the sender included an unsubscribe link — usually at the bottom of the email in small text. Click it, confirm if prompted, and you should stop receiving messages from that sender within a few days. This works for newsletters, promotional emails, and bulk messages.

If there is no unsubscribe link, or if the sender is a person you know (not a mailing list), use your email provider's block or filter feature instead. Blocking sends future emails from that address straight to spam or deletes them automatically. The steps differ by provider, so the sections below walk through Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail.

Do not reply to ask someone to stop emailing you unless you know them personally. Replying to spam confirms your address is active and often triggers more emails.

Key Takeaways

  • Unsubscribe links at the bottom of emails are the fastest way to stop bulk messages, and you should see results within a few days.
  • Blocking an email address sends that sender's future messages to spam automatically and works across all email providers.
  • Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all have block features in slightly different places, but the process takes under one minute in each.
  • If someone keeps emailing you after you have blocked them, most providers let you report the address as spam or harassment.

How to block someone in Gmail

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three vertical dots (menu icon) in the top right of the email. Select Block [sender's name] from the dropdown menu.

Gmail will move that sender's future emails to your spam folder automatically. If you change your mind later, open Gmail settings, go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, find the blocked address, and click Unblock.

If the sender keeps emailing you from different addresses, you can create a filter instead. Click the three dots, select Filter messages like these, and Gmail will let you block all emails matching certain words or patterns — useful if someone is using multiple addresses.

How to block someone in Outlook

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions) in the top toolbar. Select Block or Junk depending on your Outlook version, then confirm.

Outlook moves that sender's future emails to your Junk folder. To unblock them later, go to Settings (the gear icon), then Mail > Junk email, find the Blocked senders list, and remove the address.

Outlook also lets you create rules for emails matching certain criteria. Go to Settings > Mail > Rules and choose New rule to automatically delete or move emails from specific senders or containing certain words.

How to block someone in Apple Mail

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click Mail in the top menu, then select Block Sender. Apple Mail will move that sender's future emails to your junk folder.

To unblock someone, open an email from that sender and click Mail > Unblock Sender. You can also manage your blocked list in Mail > Preferences > Junk Mail.

If you use iCloud Mail on the web, the process is slightly different: right-click the email, select Mark as Junk, and iCloud will learn to filter future emails from that sender. You can also click the flag icon and choose Block from the menu.

What to do if someone keeps emailing you after you block them

If a blocked sender creates a new email address and continues contacting you, report the new address as spam or harassment. In Gmail, click the three dots and select Report spam or Report phishing. In Outlook, click Junk > Phishing or Junk. In Apple Mail, click Mail > Report Junk Mail.

Reporting helps your email provider identify patterns and protect other users. If the harassment is severe or threatening, take screenshots of the emails and contact your local police or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. Do not engage with the sender or respond to their emails.

The difference between blocking and unsubscribing

Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list — you are telling the sender's system that you no longer want to receive their messages. This works for newsletters, sales emails, and any bulk message with an unsubscribe link. The sender's system processes your request, and you should stop receiving emails within a few days.

Blocking is something you do on your end — your email provider automatically sends that sender's messages to spam or deletes them. Blocking works when ready and does not require the sender to do anything. Use blocking for people you know, unwanted contacts, or senders who do not have an unsubscribe option.

If an email has an unsubscribe link, try that first — it is faster and does not require you to manage a block list. If there is no unsubscribe link, or if unsubscribing does not work after a week, block the sender instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does blocking someone let them know I blocked them?

No. Blocking only affects what you see — the sender does not receive a notification. They may eventually notice their emails are not getting replies, but they will not know you blocked them specifically. Your email provider does not inform them.

Can I block emails by subject line or keyword instead of by sender?

Yes, using filters or rules. Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all let you create filters that automatically move or delete emails containing certain words or phrases. This is useful if you are receiving similar spam from many addresses. Go to your email settings and look for "Filters," "Rules," or "Create a rule."

What if I blocked someone by mistake and want to receive their emails again?

You can unblock them in your email settings. In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked addresses and click Unblock. In Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email > Blocked senders. In Apple Mail, go to Preferences > Junk Mail. Find the address and remove it from the list.

Will blocking stop emails from someone if they use a different email address?

No. Blocking only stops emails from that specific address. If someone creates a new email account and emails you again, you will need to block the new address separately. If this happens repeatedly, report the addresses as spam or harassment instead of blocking each one individually.

Is there a way to block all emails from a company or domain?

Most email providers do not have a built-in "block entire domain" feature, but you can create a filter or rule that catches emails from anyone at that domain. In Gmail, use the filter feature and enter the domain name (like @company.com). In Outlook and Apple Mail, create a rule that blocks emails from addresses ending in that domain.